The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-01-14
Howard County schools.


Higher departmert--Mr. A. /
r Norton teachcr--11S scholars. Thi
l. school is taught in by far the RIOS
! pleasant school room in Howard CO
!, "Good order and perfect lessons
seem to be Mr.. Ms. motto. l hav
> not seen as good order in the indie
pendent District of Cresco, as Mr.
n. has in his school. and as soon a
few large boys find out that the,
must obey the rules of school, ant
parents learn to hear both sides O
the question, and not decide the case
too hastily, under great excitement,
when the child comes homo from
school, with grief on the brain, mad
heart, and fearful eyes, Mr.. N. will
have but little trouble in governing
his school. Previous to Mr.. Norton s
taking charge of the school, tardi-
ness was prevalent to great cxtant
in the morning, and to some extent
at noon. Now when the bell calls in
the morning, and at noon, it is en-.
couraging to See the scholars coming
from every direction, on the double
quick for fear they will be tardy, and
be left out. Too much money is
thrown away in our villages and cit
les, every year by the late rising of
parents, and, consequently, late
broadcast and tardy scholars at
school. The motto for life should be
rise early AMI never set up late; and
although Mr.. N's.rule for punctuality
interferes with the drowsy mood of a
s'littis more slumber,' notwithstand-
ing, | believe this to be a correct
rule, and the teacher should be sus-
tanned in it. Finally, [ would sug-
gest that the advanced students spend
less time in studying history and ge-
ography, as they can pursue SUCCESS
fully these studies without a teacher,
and pay more attention to philosophy,
algebra, and physiology. Mr.. n. is
assisted by Miss Jennie Mansfield,
who is energetic, faithful, and mana
ges her classes we'll.
REMARKS.
During the past four years, have
spent in the school rooms 800 davs;
have issued 420 certificates, and have
addressed scholars on educational top
les 400 times. Whether my labor
has proved beneficial to the children,
and educational Interests of Howard
county, leave others tojudgc. We
have now in this county G3 sub dis
tricts, and during the past year 60
schools have been in session. We
have also SO school houses; 81 frame,
stone, l brick, 4 log; 20 of which
have been erected since 1 have had
the honor of experimenting the
schools. Number Of persons between
five and twenty-one years; males
1888, females 921. Number of pu-
pills attending school, 1860. Num-
ber of teachers 95, males 81, females
81. During the last four years, s
Of the children and four teachers have
been called away to the esprit land"
One little boys death was caused by
wagon running over him; another
fell from his seat ON the wagon and
fingered but for few days and died.
Two were accidentally shot, and two
were accidentally drowned. All of
our schools during the past year have
been a success, except one. | have
endeavorcd to still the agitated wat
ers, and my success has been such,
that I have had to try but two ap-
peal cases. neither of which was sent
to the state Supt. for final adjust
ment. BY being timely, thavs in
variably secured the services of able
men to direct our yearly Teachers
Institute. In my visits to the schools
| have examined the registers, and I
find that but few visits are made by
the members of the sub-districts,
who should have the greatest interest
in the schools. How can we expect
that teachers will feel an interest,
that is not shared by their employ
ers? We may legislate upon reform,
establish Normal schools in every
county in the state, and pay thous-
ands of dollars to our school officers;
yet we can never accomplish anything
lasting and grand, until the public
take more interest in the affairs of
their own schools. Parents should
look upon their children as beings,
who may be able in the future to
complain Of them before God, if they
do not provide for them the best NOR
al, and intellectual education that is
in their power to provide, for none but
an intelligent, law-abiding people
can long govern themselves. And
the state can no more afford to let
enc of her children grow up in una
yoidable ignorance than she can al
low the worst criminal to 60 unpun-
ished. Young men, do not let fun, a
new suit Of clothes, or a dance be
your highest ambition. Let study
be the watchword of tho hour. Study
unlocks the door, and guides the in
tellect into a charmed land. The
earth We tread upon, the air we
breathe, the forest, the plain, the
Sea and the craggy mountains around
us, assume a different aspect when
we look at thes, with the eye Of a
scholar. 1t is not enough, that you
go to school and get partly through
your textbooks; you must 60 deep.
even to the fountain, if you ever ex-
pect to get into the upper room where
Clark, Newton, Webster, and other
meen have stood. To the parents, l
would say the golden moments of