Bismarck tri-weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1881, 1877-07-06

TIC IUl0 SUO ~ 0uAS6us0noO m0SsSVO
that appeals to the intellect, awskens
the setfrespect and stimulates the hlg gh-
er faculties of the youthful mind. It
behooves us then to secure the best
talent in this respect. Not only in Da-
kota but throughout the entire west is
there lack Of trained and accomplish.
ed teachers. But . good school need
cost no more than poor one, and We
should not employ . novice, nor IN in
competent person, to teach our children
any more than we would hire black
smith OF carpenters apprentice to
build our houses.
True, wise economy should be
everywhere observed, yet the old rule,
which every housewife recognizes, that
"the best is the cheapest in the end, is
AZ applicable to the scheol as it is to
all other things.
Hence, our school as at present man
aged,-eighty children crowded in one
unsuitable room, under charge of one
teacher, is in my opinion, sheer waste
of the children's time, the teachers
talent and the peoples money.
Most of our children are sent to
school too young, but after . child has
reached the age Of ten years, every day
not spent in the acquisition Of some
useful knowledge, is day lost. How
important then, that In the years when
habits and dispositions are crystalizing
into character, they should be surround
ed with the best influences. I cannot
but reiterate my belief that it is the idle
hands that find the mischief. Give the
children plenty to do. Furnish them
food fo- their mental faculties and en-
ployment for their bodily energies; let
them find lard study and judicious en-
coursgement ct school, and hone be
given work suitable to their age and
strength, and sweetly tempered With
kind words, and the race Of bad boys,
of whom We used to hear 30 much,
but wh ich Is fast decreasing, viii soon
disappear wholly from the land. "Give
8 doe . bad nape and kill him." Is an
adsge Is true e II is old. In the same
way give . child bad name; punish
him at school and scold him, ct home;
magnify his childish faults and mistakes
into crimes, and impute to him always
ignoble motives and base intentions,
and if he does not soon come to deserve
his originally undeserved bad name, it
will be because he is of an angelic tenn.
permanent and not of the earth, earthly.
How earnestly, then, and for the sake
of these dear little ones, whom . few
brief years will make or mar, would l
entreat you that now, in their early,
plastic years, they be given every facil>
ity for improvement in mind and dis
position.
There remains but enc question more
to be decided, and that is s0her6 shall
this school house be built. The school
law has provided that the place shall be
selected by vote of the people, as:
"Sec. 20. The inhabitants qualified
to vote at school district meeting.
lawfully assembled, shall have power
\ IS a. To designate by vote, .
site for district school house."
It is also enjoined that the school
house shall be located IS nearly as pos
sible in the center of the district. In
town like ours this will be difficult
point to determine, Is what is now the
suburbs may become the center in .
year or two, but every good citizen, as
in duty bound, believes that the town is
looming his way" and will strive to
secure It to his own locality. Now we
want ample grounds around the build
ing so as to ensure quiet and plenty of
fresh air and sunshine, and l would
suggest that there is an enclosure, be-
longing I believe to Mr.. Nichols, in the
rear Of Mr.. Shaw's residence, which, if
it could be obtained, would be desira-
BILE location. OF course only make
this suggestion in the interest of my
own prospective little pupils, and it is
to be expected that half the people of
the town will at once rise up bodily
to oppose it. Like stick thrust into
hornets nest, it will set peo-
pie to buzzing for their own To-
cations. 1 do not really care where
the school house is built; only want
to see it rising above the ground some
where.
And when this is done, when the first
instaIlment OF our Onion schoo! is erect
ed and dedicated, then the object for
which have striven so long. shall have
been accomplished and | shall ask t.
resign the Superintendency, al office
shich brings me much responsibility,
some iii Will, and no money.
If the prospect of vacant office
does not incite our people to go to
work the case is indeed hopeless.
: 5as LINDA w. SLAuGHTsB,
~ agza- Supt. Public Schoel5.
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