Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-03-02
EDUCATION MATTERS.

Yankton, March Ito the Press anG
Dakotaian: We boarded the early Nil
wsukee train with q ticket for Gayv will
not many minutes laser we're landed
on the platform Of the town previously
visited in muddy times. There was nc
wading in mud losing rubbers in The
mire this time. Mr.. Hills met us at the
depot and we were soon o gutsE ia The
thouss of /. Bagstsd, breakfast over
we were soon ut the school house. The
school house at GAyville serves the
double purpose of a school house and a
church. This house is the only place
used for preaching service IN the town.
The two rooms can be made one by
means of folding doors. The primary
department in charge of Miss Lottie Nc
@ larrie. from Yankton high school oc.
cupies the room IN the rear OF the nain
room. This school was manly composed
of Norwegian children, We found the
progress of the school much hindered by
the large number OF sick ones who were
detained at home; in fact nearly all teach.
ers and ali her pnpiis were sorely afflicted
with colds. With all these odds against
the primary department yet we could see
that each day in the school room there
was progress. The pupils were studious,
orderly and showed q o~ommendable
desire to know more. Miss Lottie's
work is elementary for as soon as one OF
her pupils reaches a certain grade she
has to relinqoish her hold upon the learn.
er and turn the pupils over to the higher
department while the vacant scot is
filled with a beginner. One encourage
msnt remains to the teacher in the
primary school that the responsibility
of giving the pupil the first start is
theirs. Just as the twig is bent the tree
is inclined.
In the principals room we found Miss
Belle Conron in charge. She came from
the Vermillien. Dakota, university. IL
this room We found five young ladies far
on in algebra and we'll versed in geogta-
ply. These are regarded as the grade
ating class of Yankton county country
schools. haYing completed the prescribed
course of study which is posted in every
common school house in the county
Those who complete this course are entltl.
ed to a second grade certificate from the
county superintendent OF schools. In
this school it was a matter of interest to
learn that Superintendent Hills taught
this school for eight consecutive years,
that some OF the pupils who began with
him with the alphabet we're among the
list of those proposed for graduation
The school at Gayville may be written
down ss a success.
After dining with I. Bsgstad we were
taken to the school in district II, three
miles south OF Gsyville, taught By MIS-.
Minnie Faux, a graduate OF the Potsdam
normal school, New York. I know not
when afternoon has ever been spent in
a school room more pleasantly than in
Mrs Faulk's school. She has rare quail.
ties, for the work of she teachers
l SnO hOiob Il ACl W. WIZ hChk No VA ptA bS
pupils. Fortunate indeed is the schoo.
having her for the teacher. Driven after
the close OF the school TO the residence
of William Wa!field, where q beautifu.
supper was served in good old Ohio
style. we returned to Ysnkson on the
ten o'clock train much pleased with the
visits of the day.
On the following Monday we left the
residence of Mr.. Frauk Harden for q
visit to the school ia district number
eight, about six miles northeast of oui
starting point. This school is laugh
by Miss Sarah Knudson, we'll known in
Yankton. Her school. is composed of The
foreign element, oil from Norwegian
families with o single exception, The
family Of MIR. Cook. This lscbool OK
oellsd in order and close attention to the
business in hand. Both OF these quail
tiles are desirable in the school room
Miss Knudson has the qualification for {
faculty of winning the hearts of bel
pupils which is q great point gained BY
the educator.
Dining with the hoapitable family OIL
Mr.. Nils Brake, one OF the most thrifty
farmers OF that region, we cut short 6
most pleasant hour TO join the school il
district Number forty, taught by Mr.. E,
o. Warfeld. This school has suffered 6
serious embarrassment from the appear
sncs Of the scarlet fever 10 the neighbor
hood which has withdrawn many from
the school. Mr.. Waitield he's done well
considering that this is his first trial an6
that he fills a vacancy caueed by thu
illness of q very popular teacher, anc
the depletion OF his school by the scsrle
fever scare. A class Of young ladies wal
called to reeite in grammar, who eacl
and all declared against the study a
being blind and uninterestlng. Mi
Hills was asked to hear the class. and j
they we're not converted to q love OF tn
, study OF grammar the fault certainly di
not lie with Superintendent Hills, for b
made dsylight shine through that branc.
, of study and I could not see that to
n shade of a shadow OF reason conId b
D urged after listening to his explanation
From this school we were driven to on