The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-25
COUNTRY SCHOOLS.
SOME REASONS WHY THE CITY SHOOTS
ARE INFERIOR TO THOSE IN
THE COUNTRY.
A Sensible Article From a Practical
Teacher Which Country Folks
Should Read and Heed.

1t is to be observed that the city
schools are attended regularly through
term of eight, nine or ten months
IN the year and in comfortable, we'll
furnished rooms, thus preserving the
health and comfort and adding to the
conveniences OF both teacher and
pupils, while the country schools are
attended irregularly through term
of only three, four or five months on
an average, and as rule in rooms
that, to say the most, add but little to
the comfort or convenience of either
teacher or pupil.
The most of the city schools have
the great advantages of graded sys-
tenn which affords teacher for each
grade, while the greater number OF
the country schools have only one
teacher for number of pupils, rang
ing from twenty-five to sixty or sew
enty, and almost as many grades.
Thus we see that the city schools
not only have advantages over us but
that our country schools have to labor
under disadvantages as great to us as
their advantages are to them.
Now, to whom shall we ascribe the
praise for the success in the city
school work?
10 the teachers? Well, Pm willing
that they should have the glory. On
the other hand, whom shall we CEN
sure for the failure in the work of the
country schools?
The teachersY A teacher cannot do
as good work in his school if the chill.
dren come only ten days in the month
as he could if they we're to come every
day. Neither can he do as much
work in five months as he can in ten.
A teacher cannot teach school in
poorly furnished and uncomfortable
room as we'll as he can in we'll fur
nished and comfortable one.
Then we may say that the existing
difference does not stop altogether
between the teachers Or the students,
but that it may be traced into the very
hearts and minds of the patrons and
citizens of our county, and here it. is.
The city people think their children
good enough and deserving enough
for anything, while the country peo-
pie think anything is good enough
for their children. If nay country
friends will not accept this as true, l
hope they will prove it false by giving
unto their children their just deserts.
You cannot educate your children in
eight years of five months each
and send them to school only ten days
in the month.
The country children are not in
ferior to those of the city, either NOR
ally or intellectually. They deserve
to be educated, and woe unto you,
parent and guardian, and woe unto
our freedom and our republic if they
be not educated.
| know that the cities have some
financial advantage over the country,
but the cities are largely dependent
upon the country, and it seems that
the country, by good management,
could have all the requisites of good
school.
Says Mr.. A., who is well-to-do
countryman, 81 don't care to be bored
with the little old country schools, so
I'll beard my children in the city and
educate them in the city schools, and
when they come home they will know
something"
Why do that, Mr.. A., when, with a
small sum more than is required to
board and dress your children in the
city, you could have as long school
term and as good school as they
have in the city. Then your children
could be educated at home, and at the
same time your school would be of in
estimable value to your home and
surrounding community.
AS each boy and girl in your dis
trict grows strong in intellect and
morality your own home fireside
would glow brighter and happier, and
the whole country around would feel
the glorious effect of true education.
What will be The result if you educate
your children in the city, and for want
of your care and aid, the community
which encircles your little home be
intellectually and morally neglected?
Your accomplished sons and daughters
return from the refined society of the
city schools to their humble homes,
and because they have changed home
seems more humble than it really is.
Their cultivated minds endeavor to
look out and around for others after
their own likeness. They see nothing
but the dark fogs of ignorance. Then
they reach out, as it we're, and feel
for some form OF society with which
they might associate themselves (for
they must have association. They
find it, they grasp it, but to their dis
may it seems 80 crude that they can
hardly endure contact with it.
Mr.. A. said that when they re-
turned from school they would know
something, and now they demon
strated the fact by freouent express