Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-06-14
is that Of the smith in welding tho

| is tllat Vi tHc sHiltil Ill Wlelulng the
hammer to increase muscle. Ii is no
more essential that the facts taught in
our text books shall remain for an in
definite length Of time as so many
different items in order that the pu-
pill may receive thercfrom increased
mental growth, than it is that the food
that he consumes shall long remain
in the stomach that he may receive
nourishment therefrom for his physi-
cal life. The food is not thus long
retained, but ii has answered its pur-
pose in making blood, bone and mus
Gle, and he is more ola man,physical-
ly. by reason of the process through
which the food has passed, although
he is not able to reproduce it, either
i'm form or amount.
In like manner, the pupil may not
be able to recall the facts learned from
the text books, still, he has received
increased mental life, by reason of the
discipline that he has received in the
study of that which begets thought.
The greatest worth, for instance,
that cultivated taste for reading can
possess, is not that one is to remem-
Der all that he reads, but that he may
develope in himself the power of
language and expression and thus il
is with all our studies, not that they
are absolutely to be retained, but that
each faculty Of tho mind may be edu-
Gated in certain directions. Still, It'll
is true that the mind does retain, aud
under certain conditions it will be
able to recall that which it has pre-
vi0usly learned. But this power of
retention is greatly subordinate to
the discipline the mind has received
from the right use Of the means en-
p.oyod In securing that knowledge
that will be forever possessed. Teach
ors, You will nearly have accomplish
ed a perfect work for the child when
ever you have given him this power
to think in the right direction. This
faculty will be the key by which he is
to have access 10 al that higher
knowledge which lies In the way of
every earnest student. Our schools
should be estimated by this wonder
full power you develope in your pu-
pill, a power which will forever de-
mand new fields for thought, and one
which will only be satisfied as it
takes fast hold OH those higher stud
los under the Great Teacher Himself.
Amy Judgment passed upon our
. schools that does not take into the
reckoning the long eternity of the
hcrcaftcr,is partial and one sided; so,
teachers, you will allow me TO urge
upon you again, that you possess your
souls with much patience, knowing
that your work can only be accurately
measured by the countless years Of
God.
Mr.. Edgcrly, President of the
School Board, whilo it is true that l
do not leave these schools without
regret and a look backward, still, it
does afford me pleasure that / am
able aaose, after three years of life with
them and in them, to return them to
your Immediate care in such pleasant
and satisfactory condition. Since my
connection with these schools, our en-.
rollment of pupils i'm all the rooms
has increased from seven hundred and
clghty-fOur names to one thousand
and fifty-one; instead of fifteen
rooms, rs we had three years since,
we now have twenty, all comfortably
filled, some of them excessively so,
and In place Of seventeen teachers, VIC
have at present, twenty-three. II
will be seen from these facts, that our
schools have had growth within the
past few years fully equal to that Of the
city in its other departments, so, that
according to all business experience
in other branches of industry, you
must expect that the expenses of con-
Quoting these schools and giving in
structiOn in them must increase in
exact proportion to their growth, and
this fact Is not a discouraging one
even to the supposed exhorbitant tax
payer, for IL Is scriptural truth that
he who sOws with a liberal hand will
reap an abundant harvest. appre-
ciate every assistance your school
board has given me in my official du.
, ties, and for such aid, you have my
, sincere thanks. bespeak for my sue.
cessOr a generous welcome and o
hearty support at your hands.
| 10 parents aud patrons and those
: friends gathered here to-day, heart.
lily commend these schools, They de.
serve the first fruits of the land fol
what they have done, and are to do
for your children and for your homes
: and for this city of Ottnmwa.
They are to feed the hungry and
clOthe the poor, and as one has said,
make flowers to bloom even i'm poor
mems gardens; they are to do all this
by giving your children an intelli-
gent idea Of the necessities of life, rs
well as an idea of, and desire for its
comforts and adornments. They have
already added and are still to add to
the capital stock invested in the bust.
ness of this city; they, in some de.
gree, at least, modify the ruling prices
in our market indeed there is not a
single material interest Affecting a
business man in 0ttumwa, the worth
of which is not increased and multi
piled through the intelligent influ.
ences going out from these schools
but better, and above all else, is the
fact that they are to assist our chill.
dren to manhood and womanhood
that shall be perpetual blessing and
benediction to the community and the
State.
Then. young friends, cherish these
schools they arc your prophecies OF
the future, the fulfillment Of which
be found in your devotion to them.