The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-03-26
One Country school Evil.

One Country School Evil.
Doubtless every progressive teacher
has, at some time during his experience,
felt that his efforts were not duly appre-
ciated by his patrons. Restricting the
application the country schools OF the
west, it would often seem that the teach
,er is striving to render service not ap-
.preciated nor desired Blythe recipient.
The teachers of our county are striv-
ing to build up their profession with fat
tering promises of success. But where
are the patrons of our country schools
Are they looking upon our efforts as a
matter in any way complimentary to
themselves? Some of them are, but the
numbers among the country schools, for
whom must be given negative answers
is fearfully large. We may even find
those who cherish q jealous aversion to
any measures to facilitate education.
Considering this condition, how like
mockery the efforts of a teacher to inn
prove. How like mechanical striving
to do neat work for one who INDUCES
slovenliness.
While we freely admit Of great me-
cessity of better teachers, we must hold
that their success lies with the patrons,
and that due regard and earnest atten.
ton must be given school by its pat.
rons ere any school can become q perfect
success.
The influence of teaching may be
beautifully compared with stream OF
water. We observe at first, only an in
significant stream, but az it moves along
joined here and there by other similar
streams, it grows and spreads until final
~ we behold a swollen torrent, bearing
down every opposition yet pressing on
and on, cutting its way through forest
and field, assuming prominence grand
and sublime. Yet the beauty or gran
.deur of our greatest views. lie tiny in
comparison with that of the influence of
teaching. A word or thought, dropped
without care or forethought. perhaps, as.
.sumes q position in some mind and,
supported and strengthened here and
there by other similar thoughts, grows
and spreads through all life and, on the
very verge of eternity may react and re-
new its work of growing and expanding
indefinitely, infinitely. Then, how care
full every person should be! Especially
those who make teaching profession.
How thoroughly prepared for their
work. How like model, teaching by
example as we'll as by precept. Teach
ing morals al we'll as other matter by
the regular text book route.
But We cannot restrict our "teacher"
to those of the profession. Every per-
son who moves in society, every person
brought into contsct with others in any
manner whatever, constitutes teacher,
and imparts, silent perhaps, now and
then, an impression which assumes q
place in some mind and helps to form
some character. Now we say, owing to
the fact that the parents have the chill
dren in charge many fold more time
than the teacher, their influence is pro.
portionately greater than that of the
teacher. And no school teacher should
be held responsible for work not given
him to do. When his efforts are not
seconded or even supported by the par,
ents, they can bring no good result.
Thus the efforts of every teacher are vast.
ed, more or less according to the condi-
stion of his parents. We think of this
when we see children Withdrawn from
school because of some petty offence.
When we see them without necessary
books, and parents Indifferent about the
matter. When we see them retained
from school day after day on some tri-
fling pretense, thus letting the golden
links of their education slip entirely
away until days attended are exceeded
by days absent. When we see parents
ignorant of the work their children
are doing, or the progress they are max
ing at school, and when we see our sans
pie young men unable to handle arith-
'metic to the extent necessary even in
farm life, not able to compute SIM
pie interest or even the cost of q
simple article, nor scarcely able to
read or write. And again the thought
comes to us when we remember that the
class most troublesome from these causes
read no books nor papers and are thereby
barred from every good effort made
through the press. Now we are told
that general education must be, etc. If
the poor school teachers are to be held
for the education of the ris-
ing generation, regardless of tie condi-
ton of the children or the will of their
parents, then it is time our efforts were
making to modify that responsibility.
So long as the parents interpose with
contradictory influence, thus taking the
rein from the teachers hands, SO long as
they send children to school with no
real interest in study. no purpose in
life, no character. Indifferent to their
work, but wide awake to every chance
for mischief, trickery or vice, so long
the teachers efforts must be wasted.
The patrons, of our country schools |
must be awakened to the thought that