Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-05-16
Educational Column.
CONDUCTED BIZ GEO. i. WILLIAMS
County Srr'T OF Schools.

The proprietors Of this paper have
kindly offered rs the use of a column
Of their space for the publication of ar
ticles and items relating to education;
We have accepted the offer hoping by
means of this column to accomplish
something Of advantage to the educa
tional interests of Wood County, at.
fordins as, as it will, means of di
rect communication with many teach
ers and many patrons OF our schools
Generally speaking very little space
is devoted to education in eur papers
and hence very few persons, aside
from few teachers seldom read any
thing on the subject. True, a large
number of papers and periodicals.
devoted exclusively to the discussion
Of education are being published
throughout the country and yet the
circulation of these is limited, even
our own State Journal of Education is
not receiving one tenth of the support
that its merit and the cause it is an
exponent Of, entitle it to. Why is it:
Is It because the subject of education
is dead one, having no living issues!
Certainly not! l. it because it is a
subject concerning which the general
| masses are but slightly and indirectly
| interested No other subject more
nearly concerns the welfare Of the
whole people than this. 1t must be
then because of the general apathy
prevalent among the masses on the
subject. Few individuals become
workers and agitators in the cause o.!
education prOportloned to their &C
| knowledg ment of its value, or IN any
degree proportional to its influence up
Oh the interests Of every member of the
community. A majority OF the peo-
pie seem, judging from the little int
crest manifested by them III ednca-
tional matters, to think that our edu-
cational system is something ofa ma
chine which has been wound up and
will run on to the end of time, withou.
any care or thought on their part.
Even among those engaged IN teach
ing we have reason to fear that far too
many are moving through each school
day in sort of treadh,iil fashion
without any just appreciation of the
responsible position they are attempt
ing to ill. How many of these read
little or nothing relating TO the pro-
fession they follow, aud yet read vol
umes Of the literary trash of the day.
Certainly, in accepting the editorial
charge of this column we 40 not hope
TO meet this want of educational read
ing nor rouse the people from the APP
athy which is upon them, but as the
world is made up of Titles, we are
willing to contribute our mite, and al
so being in position whereby We are
permitted to Judge Of the educational
affairs OF the county and to notice
some Of the defects connected there
with, We have thought this column
would afford US a convenient and suit
able medium of communication with
both teachers and patrons for calling
attention to some errors and suggest
ing some methods Of Improvement.
Doubtless press Of duties connected
with County SUPPLEMENTARY and
professional duties will prevent us
from filing the space allotted to US
each week with original matter, but
selections doubtless quite as acceptable
will be made to fill out with, and com
munications from teachers and others
will be thankfully received.