The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-10-12
Nnr Public Schools.

Our Public srheeis.
st. Paul Pioneer Press: This is school,
week, and great Dakota, surchareed
with acknowledgements from poverty
and precedent--is bound to a curricu.
lum that is no more adapted to her
youth than the oldtashioned sickle is
fitted for her wheat fields. Where ey-
cry condition is new, and every enylr.
onmcni is strange. we have least pro.
gress where the greatest is needed. The
old is accepted and taught with so little
change that we marvel. Bound with
the boldest independence is the greatest
dependence. We are pioneers in every
thing except education. The currieu-
lum OF our dads seems to be good
enough for schools. The academic
methods survive, the academic teachers
arrive and the academic directors en-
ploy. Memory is the method. 1t is the
easiest. The show scholar is the finish.
lie is the most impressive. The old
implement on the farm keeps its place
until a new one, improved is exhibited.
There Is n change as speedily as posi-
bic when the merits of the new article
are understood. The farmer can't waste
his time with the old labor methods.
The common school, as it exists. is an
old machine, full Of defects, but some.
how and for some involved reason the
r,onI;aa NJ ,..p,ne -, $50 4. 49,
isfactory and does itsswork badly, but
precedent, prejudice, and usage seem to
maintain it. The parent knows, the
pupil knows. that there is a great waste
OF time in learning the little tho school
teaches. Either knows that the course
fails or the student is very dull 1t is
not the boy or girl, il is the method and
the teacher. Teach the boy what the
maj will need is very old and very
true, but what school board in Dakota
subscribes TO this truth. and what build
ing committee has written it in stone
over the front entranae2 We are an in
dustrial people, we are a laboring neo-
pie! We must teach the dignity of la
Dor and skip a littlc Of George Washing
ton. Thomas JGlfer>oa, and Gen. Jack
son. George Washington bet on horse
races, Thomas Jefferson was u free
thinker, and Gen. Jackson a receiver OF
sirloin steaks and the Author of the
great American spoil system. Better
substitute Robert Fulton, Samuel Z. 3.
Morse. and Daguerre. We have too
rapl.y about China and Japan. All rote,
momoriziug and dress parade 10 the
dogs! They s"c worse than the historic
physic. The necessity is industrial edu-
cation. knowledge Of outdoors and
Knowledge OF what eYery boy and giri
encounters, Distinguish between boy S
and girls Their lives are in different
directions and their education must
harmonic with their lives. 4 rejection
of this distinction is serious error. 1t is
ignorance. We would like to say that
the industrial graft should become the
tree, but we have to graft yet in Dakota.
In all this progress we have mental
staguation. The tools r%ishtfully be.
long to those who cap use them" Very
good! Neither our boys nor our girls
are Taught how TO use them, aud yet
they are expected to fall in line and
claim possession. Teach our boys how
TO handle a plnue, give him one snd
show him how to take straight shaying
of a plank. Teach our girls how tc
bake No. ! hard; give them the mater.
ials and teach them how to make and
bake q leaf of bread ont OF the hes,
-four in the world. There is culture ii
this kind OF education as well as nsefu,
knowledge. ANY other in II public
schools that does not begin and end
with the needs Of the boy or girl is not
only stupid but a grave injustice to bott
the child and The commonwealth thai
provides the public school.