River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-08-01

" accomplish IL, or ne VIII spenu much
time aud labor in vain. But to the
practical workman, not blow is lost.
He knows beforehand just what he
wants to do, and how to do it, while
the other works unsuccessfully without
knowledge of either
We have but one life to live, and the
child can be child but once, hence
success nerring success is everything
to him, both for time and for eternity.
We see the fact, we know it, and we
most deeply feel its Importance. And
now we turn again to familiar illustra.
,tions to enforce the doctrine We advo.
cate. We know that the doctor must
be educated in his profession, the law
yer must be able to make out a con.
tract or draw writ, the tailor to make
coat must serve an apprenticeship,
the blacksmith to make a blow or nail,
must be educated. In these professions
and arts, the supply has always been
equal to the demand. Not 50 with
teachers, ard in this fact we find ne.
cessity Of a public endowment. Yet
look not at the material necessity alone
but LOOK at the much greater importance
Of preparing man or woman to do all
these things, and to fill the minds Of
children with useful knowledge that
they may be better prepared to enter
upon the duties of human life. We
know that the teachers themselves
should be most thoroughly educated
for the great work they would under.
take. And, in view of this fact, can
we for moment suppose that they need
no apprenticeship?--no we'll defined and
thorough training? And since this
want Is general, the benefits derived
from school for that purpose must be
universal. 1t is not confined to vii
lage, town, city or county.
For the purpose ofmeetin g this grea
want in our system of education, Nor
NAL Schools were first established; and
for the purpose of maintaining them
this state, with many others, has mad
liberal endowments, and recently w
were solicited to give substantial aid t,
secure the location Of one in our midst
Is not the subject worthy of our candid
attention? Does it not arouse in the
breast of every one a feeling of manly
generosity? 1t is great public enter.
prise, and full well may we ponder its
importance. We complain constantly
about poorly qualified teachers, but do
we ever stop to inquire where is the
fault? And does it not lie at our own
doors? Nell has it been said that the
common school is the poor child's col.
legc And the same may be said Of
all the children here at the west. And
now if We fail to provide the means To
educate and prepare the teachers
whence will flow the sparkling, living
waters?
Quite too long have We employed tho
young of both sexes, not to teach, but
to keep school, and still they are not in
fault. Fruitless experiments, term
after term and year after year, are a
poor reward for the time and money
We have expended; and it is the most
ardent wish of all that this state Of af
fairs may soon be exchanged for better
That we are liberal in our appropria-
tions for common schools, will not be
denied, and that wo do not get our
moneys worth, all will agree. nor car
we until we more properly appropriate
IT,
Looking at this institution, then, in {
pecuuiary light, We believe that these
two counties alone will yearly save
thousands Of dollars, Immediately after
the school is in successful operation
in their expenditures for common
schools, aud still have far better ones
This fact alone may well be taken into
consideration in estimating its value
But the higher, the nobler view to b.
taken, is the fact that those who have
contributed to this enterprise, have
done a generous act toward ologatinf
tho character and thereby greatly en-
HANGING the usefulness Of our 50 called
common schools, but really the college
Of the masses: an act which has ixet