McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-04-03
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
Extracts from the Address of Prof. Jone
Before the Teachers Association
of Nebraska.

Before the Teachers Association
of Nebraska.
Lincoln Journal.
The year just closing has been very
busy one in our educational work. Oh
all sides there has been activity such as
we have never before had. People are
| looking toward Nebraska with new
interest since the developments of the
last census. They are asking how is it
possible for one Of the youngest of the
states, situated in the great American
desert, subject to visitation of the con-
Stunning grasshopper, swept constantly
by terrific gales, the home of the tor
nado and cyclone, overrun by fierce
Sioux and Bloody Pawnee, and whose
only resource was countless herds of
buffalo, to suddenly take rank as the
state which has the lowest percentage
of illiteracy.
A further study of the census of 1880
has revealed to those wOnder-stricken
readers more facts concerning our Won
derful state. They have learned from
it that this much abused desert, in fact,
blossoms as the rose; that the ravages
of the grasshopper are not feared by
our people and are not so much to be
dreaded as those of the army worm, the
chinch bug and the Hessian fly; that
the gales, tornadoes and cyclones are
not Indigenous and are not confined to
Nebraska; that the once fierce Sioux
shoot most frequently, with bow and
hunted arrow, at the small boys
1 ,Ls oh of, IN &C
strick as d mark; and that
the once wonderful herds of buffalo
are but dream of the night or tale
that is told. They have learned that
while they have been fondly believing
these strange stories, race of hardy,
intelligent men and women have found
them false and have been making happy
homes, gathering around them the
comforts of civilization; sending their
surplus of food to these very doubters,
and not inconsiderable quantity at
that; startling the markets of the east
by the superlative quality of the beef
we send them; taking the palm from
their own gardens, orchards and fields,
and rapidly taking rank among the
older states as one of the most reliable
| OF agricultural states.
In the midst OF this material devel-
opment it would be strange if the edu-
cational interests should have been neg
lected, and so we are not surprised that
our chief city should have the finest
school house in the west; that or
smaller cities and towns delight in
erecting fine church and school build
ings, that nearly every hamlet possesses
its school house and that in accordance
with the prosperity of the several To-
calities schools are maintained, and
that large body of earnest, intelli-
gent men and women are striving with
all their might to keep pace with the
growth and development of the great
educational movements of the age. Is
it wonder that Nebraska should take
high rank?
Since last we came together there
have been no strange or startling hap
penings, but what is better, all along
the line there has been an advance. /
have visited many parts of the state
during the year and have had reports
from parts not visited, and the almost
universal testimony is that there is
progress.
In giving an account of my steward
ship would state that a large amount
of my time and effort has been spent in
direction of moving the people to think
and act more intelIigently upon these
all-important matters. In this effort
have been cordially assisted by super
intendents and teachers. Several
counties have had during the winter a
series of lectures and talks delivered
by home talent, men and women who
have given thought and labor to these
questions. These lectures have been
delivered in various localities and the
people have shown high apprecia-
ton.
In this way people who give but lit
tie thought to educational matters have
been aroused and led to think and act.
This interest in the work is an impor-
tant factor. With it, we may hope for
the realization of our ideals; without it
we are sailing against head winds and
counter-currents.
In no way has this interest been more
manifest than during the progress OF
our county institutes. Fifty-seven in.
stitutes have been held during the year
and many people have attended the
day sessions, showing a deep interest
in the work, taking part In the discus.
sions, giving and receiving ideas; and