Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-12-07


discipline will invariably secure to
teachers short breeze ofpopularity.
However, the work of instruction, OF
moulding character, is responsible
work, and the sacrifice of the true
interests of the school for any
amount of popularity would be
criminal, hence the firmness which
characterizes the action of the
teachers, and the motion which i'm
pels them to perform duty regardless
of fear or favor.
A love of freedom is Characters
tic of the American people, especially
of young America. This fact the
teacher fully recognizes and appre-
ciates. Indeed a school without this
spirit would prove too insipid for
the true teacher. At the beginning
of the term some Of our pupils,
viewed the new requirements as in
trusions upon their proper rights
and they were of course slow to ac-
cept them, but we are happy to state
that they no sooner recognized the
necessity OF system and order than
they by their conduct acknowledged
their justice, and submitted to the
new order of things, with grace
truly oommendable and highly en-
couraging. They are now reaping
the reward of good order, and are
not wanting in appreciation.
We do not know that there is any
question among the patrons as to the
necessity of thorough school govern.
ment. Lest there should be,
we cali their attention to one or two
points.
The tax payers of the district
have large amount invested in q
fine school building. This property
can be preserved in good condition
only by the rigid enforcement of
rules, not only during study hours,
but during all the time pupils are al
lowed in or about the building. This
however is q benefit measured by
dollars and cents, and is by far the
less important.
A large portion of the formative
period in the chiId's life is spent as 8
pupil, in or about the school. Daring
this term the parent virtually sur
renders much of his influence and
control to the teacher who is re-
spoDsible for the proper use of the
same, During this critical period,
good habits are to be cultivated, and
bad ones discouraged. This work
demands the best order and system
Again; experience has fully demon
strated that while firm adherence TO
rules properly defined and we'll un-
derstood is comparatively easy, the
partial observance OF rules poorly
defined and partly understoo1, is an
accessibility. Attempts at the latter
always result in disorder.
1t is true, proper school economy
calls for some self-denial on the part
of parents, such as the furnishing of
excuses, for absence or hardness and
cooperation in various ways with
the school officers and teachers. This
being essential to the success of your
children, you will not deem it a
hardship. The assistance you thus
afford is incalcaIable Indeed pro-
per understanding between school
officers, parents and teachers, by
which cooperation and mutual
sympathy are secured is one of tho
great secrets of successful teaching.
A printed copy of well defoed rules
and regulations should be in The pos
session of every family.
We invite friends of education to
favor the schools with frequent
visits. We do not ask you to come
to hear what promises we can make
for the future, Come to inspect the
work, to witness the practical results
of efforts already made during the
prescott term. Visit all the depart
ments, come often, and thus promote
the work of instruction by encoursg-
ing both pupils and teachers.
Among the improvements which
the present term has secured for our
schools, we enumerate the following ::
School property is better protected,
attendance is more regular and
punctual, less truancy, more and
better work, improved scholarship,
more attention given to reading and
spelling. This we deem an import
ant feature, not only in the lower
grades but also in the higher.
A new interest is secured in rhe-
torical work. This work is general
in the High school, and in the gram
mar school it is systematic and
successful !; quiet and order prevail.
The various departments have been
regarded so that the work will grad
ually become more equ9lly distri-
buted AID better systematizsd so
that the same teaching force can
render more efficient service, more
over healthful influence permeates
the schools. Parents, if these are
among the ends you desire to secure
| in the maintenance of our public
schools, then the l1bors of the pres
ent term bave not been in vain, and
the future of our schools is encour.
aging.
Justice and candor compels me to
state that these results are due to
action and hearty cooperation of the
assistant teachers, the steadfastness
of the school officers, the good viii
of the pupils and an enlightened
public sentiment which makes i'm
provement possible. Favored with
these circumstances there is no ex.
cuse for stoppiog short of success
J. @. DAVIES.