Atlanta Daily World

Superintendent Sutton's Weekly Letter
October 22, 1939

Throughout the state of Georgia there has been a revived interest in citizenship. Last week I tried to write you a word about being a good citizen in the home. Today I should like to tell you about being a good citizen at work. A really, truly, good citizen considers his work as his opportunity to serve his fellows. If a man is a farmer his opportunity comes to him in the privilege that he enjoys in helping to feed the world. He brings milk from his cows, meat from his hogs and cattle, eggs from his poultry farm, grain from his fields, cotton from his cotton patch and the wool from the back of his sheep to feed and clothe the world. If a man interested in distribution of goods he hauls them in his truck, delivers them from the department store, carries them on the railroad or assists in loading or unloading. This man should be conscious of the privilege of helping his fellow-man through the service he renders. If one practice medicine, preaches in the pulpit, teaches in the classroom, or serves as a dentist, he should be conscious of the fact that this is his way of making his contribution to the success, pleasure, welfare and good of the world. If a man digs a ditch, sells goods, work as a day laborer, spends his time in an office or a shop or store there should come to him the consciousness that "I help my fellow-man." The social value of work is one of the great fundamental things that we all need to understand. We who sit at the school desk and work in our laboratories or play on our school grounds must be conscious of the fact that our work too, is helping our fellows to live better and more happily.

Always your friend.
Willie A. Sutton, Superintendent of Schools