Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-06-13
Common Schools, From the Inside.
Ages ago it was written. aThere

free criticism, OF searching for flaws,
mistakes and disparities. Even the
title of our Executive to his office
must be weighed in the balances and,
according to some, found wanting.
"1ekel-thou art weighed in the bal
ances and found wanting" is the le-
gend which press and people are writ
ing over their most time honored IN
situations
And our public schools, erst ssthe
pride and glory of the American heart,
and next to Bunker Hill, the ssbest
hold" Of every fourth of July orator,
orr public schools are receiving their
portion of the discussion of pros and
cons. IF they were receiving as well,
due portion of careful inspection
from those most interested, in regard
to their methods, almes, and results,
it would be aceU, exceeding well.
1t Is matter for rejoicing that the
age of mystery and superstition il
past, that the time is gone by when
the eTistence Of any institution was
proof sufficient of its divine right to
unmolested existence, aud of its util.
ity ana completeness. But the rage
for indiscriminate tearing down and
uprooting is perhaps almost as much
to be dreaded as the faint.hearted
reverence that bows to hoary Wrong,
and calls it Right. In the matter OF
our schools it is high time interest
was aroused and honest, serious criti-
cism welcomed and considered. Our
High School System, more especially,
being as yet ia the experimental stage,
looked at from different stand points,
presents widely different views, and
so has some enthusiastic supporters
and some who think failure has been
demonstrated.
The aim OF the High School system
must be understood before we pre-
tend to decide as to its success or
failure. IF it be as the Governor of
New York seems to think, to give
young people trades by which they
can earn living, it Is, of course, a
failure. II it be as many seem to
think, TO provide first class certifi-
cats or classical education, so as to
render colleges superflnoua, then it
were better that the System had a
millstene around its unsuccessful neck
and were drowned in the midst Of the
sea. Even if its aim be simply to
stand as connecting link between
graded schools and our University !,
it is at best but partial success. If
it be, indeed, none of these, but some-
thing yet to be discovered, let us re-
| serve Judgment
So far as | know, our State has
never yet considered it part of its
calling to provide free instruction Tin
our common schools) in trade and
business pursuits. Things are not vet
come TO that pass when a parents
duty to a child is understood to con.
sist in giving it being and at four
years OF age, teaching it the road to
the public school.
AS | understand it, the aim of state
Instruction is, first to secure to every
child the opportunity Of learning the
fundamental truths and 4ea bits shat that are
a necessary foundation tor good citi
zenship and that should precede the
special education in any pursuit by
which the sons and daughters OF men
earn an honest living.
This is the aim of our graded
schools AS to the propriety and fea-
sibility Of the State afording Collegi-
ate instruction, that is not under dis
cussion in this article. Granted. that
| the University exists, is it not an in
consistency to provide for the rudi-
mentary and also the advanced course
of study, but leave between these two
q hiatus? In other words, is it con-
sistent for the State to give instruc-
ton sufficient to secure the acquire
ment OF moderate proficiency in the
elements, then say, all who can az
ford to fit themselves for the Univer-
sity, may then receive the benefits of
| that? SO the necessity for an inter-
mediate school is seen.
| Secondly, we act upon it as an ak
ION, that better education makes bet
ter citizens, better voters, better gov
| eminent, a better state Of society.
| The graded schools are plainly lin
| tied in their reach. Here it is our
| High School meets a wde-telt want.
Take your own village (beg pardon,
c1ty); il is evident there are many of
your children who Will never enter,
as students, any other school building
than that of Lancaster.
| Does grGded school az distinct
| from the High School-furnish range
and extent of study sufficient to sat
isfy you that the child who has no
other schooling is prepared to be an
intelligent citizen, or to enter upon
the learning of trade or calling? Your
High School aims, then to supplement
your graded school, not to provide an
advanced course of study; not to
provide special training for any voca.
ton; not to send out its graduates
ready for the battle of life, but ready
Tor practical preparation for that
struggle. You, parents, school-offi-
GERS and teachers are the ones to de-
eide whether the aim is accomplished.
Wipe from your eyebrows the cob
webs of prejudice, take out of your
ears the cotton of sloth, and see
clearly and listen carefully, not with
one ear to scholars alone, nor with
the other to teachers only, but with
both, and satisfy yourselves as to the
degree of success attained and what
is still lacking, that can be supplied.
From one side, teachers hear the
complaints, "Scholafs are under too
much pressure there is too much hot
house forcing; graduates are too
youthful" or 81 must take my Girl
out of school, she is working too hard
andworrying too much trying to keep
up with her class; - on the other.
you work too slowly; the course is
spread over too many years, the schol-
ars are kept back and graded down.
There is more or less truth in both
OF these complaints, for the diamond
of perfect truth has as many faces az
the kohinoor but it should be borne
in mind that the State School must
necessarily be designed for the average