Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1886-08-20
A COUNTRY SCHOOL.
Correct Pen-and-Ink sketch of . Small
Connecticut Village.

In a prominent but quiet village
some two miles from the center stands
an old school-house, whose weather.
stained boards show the marks of at
least century.
Alone, upon the summit OF high
hill, this unpretending temple OF learn
ing has been the structure used for gen
erations in climbing the hill of science.
The march of improvement has been
carefully kept back from its surround
ngs, the only adornment being beds
of rock and piles of stone. which are
only changed as the careful farmer OF
labor-saving road-master finds it a con-
venient place to add to its already
overburdened stock.
The same old plank ON which our
grandfathers so industriously used
their jack-knives is to-day the writing
desk around the wall, save where
place has been whitfield too much to
be of further service a 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; master in win
ter to manage turbulent boys, and
while his farm demands his attention
during the summer months, some
schoolmarm fills up the interval and
aids overwhelmed parents in the care
of 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 infirmties of age or to go to his
last resting-place a new one is found
so nearly like the old that the change
is hardly perceptible. Even the very
ferule and hickory club are carried and
used as effectually as by the masters Of
a century ago.
The children of to-day spell out the
words in the Testament at the opening
of school with the same moderation as
did their ancestors in '76, and the same
old blue-covered spelling book is yet in
the hands of the pupils, keeping alive
the mOmentous questions whether the
man who made spelling-books and the
one who talked politics were one and
the some, and if so why should he live
81 liuCh lOhSCl bidh OOllCl lOlho, anu
questioning the propriety of changing
the old catechism so as to read Noah
Webster, and not Methuselah, was the
oldest man. But at length the march
of improvement reaches our rugged
hills and invades our territory. A
young lady from the city, graduate
from a prominent high school, appears
at the door of our district committee as
a candidate for the school. He stares-
departure from our custom, but
will consult the people of the district
and let her know. Unanimously they
say: We'll try the city lady" She
enters upon the duties of her office
Leaves all the attractions of one of oui
prominent Connecticut cities to enter
upon her life work as teacher. A young
lady full of life, energy and deter
mination to make her first effort a sue
cess.
The old school-house is made to lool
more cheerful by the addition of few
yards of white cotton cloth at the win
dows, and the blackboard instead o
being used for drawing caricatures o
the teacher, is kept filled with well-ex
ecuted school-work.
The very schooi-room seems to b.
filled with different air. No instru
ment of torment is in view, and tw,
dozen pairs of prying eyes have tried il
vain to discover its hiding place. What
a school with no whip! The city is fillet
with horrible means of torture ant
some dreadful thing must be here in
visible. One sharp pair of eyes dis
covers near the blackboard two oblons
articles. II have found out" is tn,
first confidential talk with compan
ion. Shell box us side the heat
with those things by the blackboard,
and at the close of the session pupil
scatter homeward to make known
to parents the wonderful discovery
"Catch her using them things on m,
children says one parent, and hi
children return to school to tell wha
pa says.
Another session and the queer-look
ing things are taken in hand. Breath
less silence reigns in the school-room
Who is the victimp The teacher quietl,
uses them for cleaning the blackboard
and the great mystery IS still unsolved
Still wonders do not cease. spelling
class is called and pupil spells COW
ke-ow. Teacher says pronounce the
word COW, not ke-ow.
Glass dismissed and at close of school,
teacher says: Children, when YOU
meet person on the street say, How
do you do?' not 'Hellor"
, Children look amazed and report to
parents. "rhe teacher is oversteppine
her duties, meddling with outside mat.
tiers. and besides, is casting a reflection
, on the manners of the people" Mem.
, bers of the board of education are con.
suited as to the limits of teacher,
, power. The six members of the board
J have all presided as teachers in the
town, and it is against the rules to crit
icise any thing out of school-hours,
and surely it shows great lack of ia.
} miliarity between teacher and pupils
, not to say "Hellor' Now, here is on,
chance. We have always succeeded
in keeping city teachers out of the
place. We have teachers enough OF
our own and need the money ourselves.