Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-08-26
A COUNTRY SCHOOL,
Correct Psn-and-Inis Sketch of a Sinai
Connecticut Village.

stained boards show the marks If ~
least q century.
Alone, upon the summit of a bioh
hill, this unpret tending temple OF learn
ing has been the structure used for con
erations in climbing the hill of science.
The march of improvement has been
carefully kept back from its surround
ings, the only adornment being beds
of rock and piles of stone. which are
only changed as the careful farmer or
labor-saving road-master finds it a con.
yenient place to add to its already
oyerburdened stock.
The same old plank on which our
grandfathers so industriouslv used
their jack-kniyes is to-day the writing
desk around the wall, save where a
place has been Whitfield too much 10
be of further service new piece has
been inserted, giving the youth of the
present day enlarged facilities for dec
Grafton. In front are the same old
wooden benches over which the chill
dren of to-day swing in and out after
the fashion of their grandmothers in
days of long ago. The presiding
genius of the place is even in keeping
with the surroundings; a master in win
ter to manage turbulent boys, and
while his farm demands his attention
during the summer months, some
Schoolmarm fills up the interva. and
aids overwhelmed parents in the care
Ut children who are in the way at home
As one old master is obliged to lay
aside the duties of his Office on account
OF the mlirmites of age or to 90 to his
last resting-placc, new one is found
so nearly like the old that the change
is hardly perceptible Even the very
ferulc and hickory club are carried and
used rs cilectually as by the masters of
q ccntury ago.
The children of to-day spell out the
words i'll the Testament at the opening
of school with the Same moderation as
did their ancestors in 76, and the same
old bluc-coyered spelling book is yet in
the hands OF the pupils, keeping alive
t.c momcntous questions whether the
man who made spelling-books ard the
one who talked politics were one and
the some, and if SO why should he live
so much longer than other folks, and
questioning the propricty of changing
the old catechism so as to read Noaa
Webster, and not Methuselah, was IL.
oldest man. But at length the marcE
of improvement reaches our rugged
hills and invadc7 or territory. A
young lady from the city, q graduate
from prominent high school, appear.
at the door of our district committee rs
a candidate for the school, He stares
a departure from our custom, hui
will consult the people of the district
and let her know. Unanimously they
say: We'll try the city lady," 81
enters upon the duties of her ollics.
Leaves all the attractions of one of our
prominent Connecticut cities to enter
upon her life work as teacher. Ayoung
lady full of life, energy and deter
mination to make her first effort sue
cess.
The old school-house is made to look
more cheerful by the addition of few
yards of white cotton cloth at tie win
dows. and the blackboard instead OF
being used for drawing caricaturcs OF
the teacher is kept filled with well-ex-
ccuted school-work.
The very school-room seems to be
filled with different air. No instrn-
ment of torment is in view, and two
dozen pairs of prying eyes have tried in
vain to discover its hiding place. What
aschool with no whip, The city is fllc'
with horrible means of torture and
some dreadful thing must be here in
visible. One sharp pair of eyes dis
covers near the blackboard two oblong
articles. II have found out, is the
first confidential talk with a compan-
ion. "She'll box us side the head
with those things by the blackboard
and at the close of the session pupils
scatter homeward. to make known
TO parents the wonderful discovery.
Catch her using them things on my
children, says one parent, AMI his
children return to school to tell what
pa says.
Another session and the queer-look-
ing things are taken in hand. Breath
less silence rcigns in the school-room
Who is the victim? The teacher quietly
uses them for clearing the blackboard,
and the great mystery Is still unsolged.
Still wonders do not cease. spelliag
class is called and pupil spells COW,
ke-ow. Teacher says pronounce the
word cow not kc-ow.
Glass dismissed and Mt close of school
teacher says: Children, when yoi
meet person on the street say, How
do you do?' not Hello!' "
Children look amazed and report t.
parents. "The teacher is oyersteppn
her duties, meddling with outside mas
ters. and besides, is casting reflection
on the manners of the people" Mem
bers of the board of education are cor.
suited rs to the limits of a teacher
power The SIX members of the boa
have all presided as teachers in
town, and it is against the rules to CIR
icise airy thing out of school-hofc
and surely it shows q great lack I
miliarity between teacher and pr
not to say "helloW Now, here /
chance, We have always succ
in keeping city teachers ont OF
place We have teachers enou
our own and need the money Curse
and we have quietly revoked ely teac
er's certificates on two occasions IN
they have been obliged to leave; so +
we can only manage this one success
+ -