New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-23
COMPULSORY EDUCATION IN JACKSON
TOWNSHJP

While the leading educators Of District NO. ~
SedryiclS County, Kansas, are engaged III an
earnest effort TO bring their school TO a higher
point OF efficiency by the use OF the slowmatch
and the shotgun, some other parts OF the country
are not idle Jackson Township, Hancock County,
Ohio, has been heard from. The problem which
the Ohio instructor of youth located there mas
been at work on is that Of compulsory educauon.
This subject is one which, as we all Know, Is
far from being settled satisfactorily. Laws are
passed that oil children must attend school, but
even IL they can be enforced, it does not follow
that all children will study their lessons diligently
and be able TO make showing satisfactory to
the conscientious and painstalIing teacher. To
accomplish this end has been left for the ONO
instructor referred TO- The advanced grammar
class was on the floor and he called upon one OF
the boys to explain the exact relation which
the particple sustained TO the various parts OF
speech The slothful but unsuspecting youth was
free TO admit that he could not do so. On hear
ing this lamentGble confession the Jackson Town
shin educator drew slung-shot from his sleeve
and struck the misguided young man a couple
OF light blows. With the slow-match, the shot
gun and the slung-shot wellestablished among ON
educational appliances, America may well make
A new boast Of her great public school system
What measure Of popularity the common
leother-and-lead slung-shot may obtain as means
for impressing English grammar upon the tickle
mind OF youth II is too early yet to say IL
certainly does not look encouraging for 1t, when
we learn in the course OF the dispatch bringing
tbe intelligence OF the whole affair that its first
user has had his license TO teach revoked by an
unsvmpathetic board OF examiners TO whom the
beauties OF the slung-shot as q sealed book.
But its promoter, Mr. John Walters, has many
things 10 console him rs he sees an ordinary
teacher installed in his place. Calico heard as
good men as reside in Jackson Township ridicule
his telescope. John Walters mar yet live to con-
duct grammar publishing house and announce
prominently in his advertisements that fine
slung.shot with every volume.
Mr. Walters's ideas on educational subjects ore
what moy properly be called advanced. lie thinks
that the teacher should not only be able 10 offer
The pupil instruction, but also be prepared to see
chat he takes H. 1t is oil very we'll he argues TO
assign 70 pupil lesson on the subject OF parti-
ciple but IL Is better TO see TINT the lesson is i'm
messed on him so that he will not forget II, even
II IL takes q new slung-shot every day. Our Ohio
friends ideal teacher Is who. while the scholars
are busy with their books throws his feet up on
his desk. draws on a pair of brass lmucSles and
calmly uses large iack-knife In the guIse OF
,ootbuick TIL recitation time. Then he calls the
class 10 the door gets out his textbook and other
weapons and proceeds 70 drive the Children in
trusted 20 his care along the howery paths OF
learning on "a fast run. Give Professor John W.
Waters common-school grammar and good
slungshot and he will agree 20 carry the rules OF
syntsx 10 the duIest pupil. All is novelty, al Is
excitement with the Walters's Method OF Teaching
English Grammar. The ordinary instructor ap-
proaehes the weary student with the dry and un-
interesting facts concerning participlcs and their
relation 20 other wosds Il IS true that Professor
Walters comes up 20 him with the same facts In
one hand, but he IS reaching into his boot for
sx-ounee slung-sho; with the other. The effect of
the Jackson Township idea of compulsory education
on our school system viii be watched with In