River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-04-21

school districts he said they should not
be too large; school houses should be
located on the best roads, and in or
near the centre of population; they
should be warm and yet well ventilated;
the best means Of ventilation is to let the
fresh air IN under, or near the stove; as
it is warns it will rise, spread over
the top of the room aud descend again.
A portion of the impure air. should be
let off at the lower part Of the room,
and smaller portion at, or near the
top. Pure air is absolutely necessary
to vigor of mind aud health Of body.
School houses should be conveniently
arranged; scholars should never sit fac
ing the windows, since front light, or
severe heat, Is injurious to the eyes; a
plenty of black board should be suppli-
ed, and liquid slate should be used in-
stead of paint, and crayon instead of
chalk. There should be broad aisle
next to the wall of every school house
TOR returning classes, and narrow ones
between the rows of desks.
A globe should Arrays be provided
in the school room, a map Of the couu-
ty, one of the state, aud one ofthe Unit
ed States, andtas many more as the dis
trict could afford. Dry wood, and a
plenty of it, is an indispensable auxi-
larry. Our reporter suggested the
wood The scholars should be sup
Piled with uniform set Of text books;
they should be punctual, and SO should
the teacher; the teacher must have a
good educstion; should possess good
habits and be industrious. District Of
fcers should not be partial in hiring
teachers; should not hire their nieces,
their cousins, nor their wives sisters.
Another suggestion by our reporter
Parents should visit their schools; should
take as much Interest in the develop
ment of the intellccts of their children
as they do in the physical character and
appearance of their horses and cattle
The good resulting from visiting schools
is manifold; it encourages the children
and awakens the teacher; it inspires
confidence in the children, aud enables
them to appear better when strangers
visit them, and has a salutary influence
in many other respects. IL would be
well if some parent or guardian would
visit The school every day Of its session /.
/ Another suggestion by our reporter,
who thinks this depends, however, very
much upon one fact, namely: Whether
it be lady or gentleman who teaches
the school The work of reform lies
largely with the teachers; they must be
UP with the times; improvements in ed
ucation should not fall behind those Of
agriculture; improvement should be the
order Of the day; the reaper long age
took the place of the sickle, the thrash.
ing machine of the fail, and the mower
Of the soythe; sewing machines stitch
the long seams and are made to hem
the finest fabric; but our system of ed
ucation is still loaded with old fashioned
theories. Let all be up and doing, SO
that the most important ann or pursuit
of human life shall not be the most ne
elected.
1t would be impossible in the brief
space we have to devote to this subject
to give anything like a just delineation
of the points made by the lecturer, and
Of the logic by which they were main.
tanned The Professors heart is in his
work, and his zeal knows no bounds.
HIS experience has been extensive; he
is an accomplished scholar; close rea.
soner, aud practical man. We trust
that his lecture will be repeated in
every locality IN the county, till both
old and young shall become as familiar
with it as household words. We Oh eer-
fully rendered the columns Of the
JOURNAL to his use, and through them
we trust aud believe that he will awaken
an interest in the people Of the county
In the cause of education, which will
never relapse His work is we'll begun,
and if the people manifest half as much
zeal 10 the cause as their Superinten.
dent does, an extensive reform will be
inaugurated.
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