yesterday's tennessee

Dewey Britt

By Lillye Younger

You Bite Your Tongue Sometimes

PARSONS, Tenn. — Dealing with children's lives in the biggest challenge I've ever had," says Dewey Britt, teacher of the new science courses for the seventh and eighth grades at Parsons Junior High School.

The science program was set up under the federal Title I program and was introduced here last year. Special equipment and training are available for the course.

"What you say or do can cause a child to become a noted scientist or to lose interest in science completely," Britt commented. "I would like to be able to have the right influence on young lives in the scientific realm."

"It isn't difficult returning to my home county to teach after having been away since I finished high school in 1955 at Decaturville," continues Britt, "This is my first year to teach full time. I did substitute teaching while in Dallas, Texas."

Trained to be a teacher, Britt chose another field after receiving his B.S. degree. He accepted employment as process product inspector with the United States Department of Agriculture. His work has been in New Orleans, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee and Dallas.

"It takes quite a bit of self-control to teach," the teacher said. "If you don't bite your tongue, you stick your foot in your mouth."

He hasn't experienced any discipline problems. "Girls are no easier to discipline than boys," he admitted. "You can turn a boy over your desk and give him a paddling but not girls. They are assigned special projects."

From his observation, Britt has found that a larger percentage of girls are more interested in science than boys.

Some of the introductory experiments to the classes have been proving that air occupies space, that plants give off oxygen and that matter could not be destroyed.

"A moderate amount of homework is absolutely necessary in these modern times," he explains. "There is so much more to learn to be able to fit in with modern-day society. Space was never heard of a few years ago. Today it is used as a vehicle to teach other phases of science."

His day begins at 8:10 am, and ends at 2:40 p.m. Glass period last 45 minutes. The two science classes include 175 students.

The crew-cut, brown-eyed young man expresses faith in the space program. "I believe scientists will make it to the moon. However, I don't know what they will find."

Britt served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 until 1958. He was in the communication department. After his discharge .he entered University of Tennessee, Martin Branch, where he received his B. S. degree.

Born Nov. 10, 1935, he is the son of Olan L. Britt of Decaturville and the late Mrs. Britt. He is married to the former Nettie Jean Pratt. They have two daughters, Deborah Kay, 10 and Pamela Jean, 7. They are making their home at 410 West Main Street in Parsons.