Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-08-09
Our Public Schools.

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few past weeks, and I am not a little
pleased in finding them generally in a
prosperous condition. Yet there is still
great chance for Improvement in
many instances, and take this method
of making few suggestions to teach
ers and parents. You will bear in mind
that at our last Institute and general
examination a charge was given to
teachers in regard to modes of iHstruc-
ton and discipline in the schools, and
an effort made to impress them with
the Importance of strict fidelity in the
performance Of all their duties. You
will also not forget that many teachers
received term certificates, with the ex-
press understanding that at the next
term they were to present themselves
again for examination, at which time
the test applied would be more severe,
and the standard of qualification would
probably be raised; and it might have
been said still farther that your success
or failure the present term would have
very much bearing upon your success
IN obtaining certificate at any future
period; for while I find with no little
satisfaction that our teachers generally
are earnestly at work, and laborlng, too,
with determination to improve, espe-
cially in the "theory of teaching" yet
there are some without life and energy
and with but little apparent interest in
their vocation, as is clearly evinced in
the needless manner in which their
schools are conducted. Some of the
teachers must be displaced for better
ones, unless manifest change and i'm
provement is made soon. Others, whose
ability and devotion to the cause of ed
ucation | will not pretend to question:,
have seemed to evince too little inter
est in thorough understanding of the
elementary branches, and have taken
several steps in advance of the capaci-
ty OF their scholars, by requiring them
to pursue more new and important
branches of study than the most studi-
GUS mind could properly comprehend
and retain during any one term,-by
which course their pupils have very
much lost sight of those elements with
out which no student can successfully
advance; and by which neglect they
display lamenta BILE lack of accuracy
in those branches in which deficiency
is the least excusable. Good, thorough
and positive knowledge should first be
had in all elementary branches, after
which gradual advancement may and
should be very properly made in the
higher neutrality-suspicious. being the
motto in all instances. Such we'll di-
rected course on the part of teachers
will always be attended with a ready,
wide awake and understanding school.
Nor will it generally fail to keep up
that interest that is so desirable to
make the school-room a place anxious
ly sought for by pupils.
/ cannot close this article without
calling the attention of district boards
in some districts to the poor condition
Of your school-houses. Go to your
schools with your children as duty, by
virtue of your office, requires you to
do; sit one-half day upon the same
bench and IN the same ill-ventillated
school-room which your children occu-
ply, and then say whether or not reason
and the health of your offspring de-
mand immediate expenditures to be
made upon said houses. The fact is
the houses now in use by some districts
in the county are disgrace to the peo-
pie, and might be fitted up in tasty
and attractive manner at little expense:
and the district board are just the off,
GERS to see tEat it is DONE This matter
should be attended to Immediately, and
there can be no good excuse for its de-
lay.
] wish also to call the attention of all
interested in schools to the high impor
lance of regularity in attending school,
for you need not be informed that no
scholar can progress in his studies Sue
cessfully if his attendance is Irregular
1t is impossible for children to advance
when they are allowed to remain at
home at any time they please, to hunt,
fish, pick berries, or for any other triv-
ial purpose, as any Of you will readily