The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-05-08
Are Our Public Schools I'm
provable?

1
1t may Justly be said our public
free school system IS one of oul
grandest institutions; it is the hope
of the republic because our form OF
! government is based on the intelli-
| gence of the people. More Of the
element of intelligence is needed at
times to keep the ship of State
steady. While too much can hardly
be said in praise Of our free schools
the declaration sometimes heard that
they are the best in the world, be-
trays a want Of information. That
these institutions of learning are in
dispensable to a country where the
people are the sovereign rulers, will
not be questioned. That our public
schools can be greatly improved
must be admitted by all who have
given the subject investigation. If
we may rely on the statements of
some of our distinguished educators
who have examined the schools III
Europe, particularly those IN Aus
tria and Prussia, it is seen that we
are far behind in reaching the best
results in this country. The public
schools Of the European countries
named, provide instruction of all the
branches taught in our American
schools, and in addition are infuen-
tiaI in attracting the young to home
life and to industrious habits. The
schools in the countries named have
yards attached with cultivated
grounds, where the scholars by their
own hands cultivate choice flowers,
plants, fruits and shrubbery. This
does not take from the hours ordina-
rily given to study; it only substl-
tutes what the young regard as more
enjoyable exercises than the common
amusements. 1t is stated the sChOl-
ars become attached to identifying
their grounds,a and so much interested
in witnessing the daily developments
of plants and flowers that they lose a
taste for exercises which do not i'm
part both instruction and amuse-
ment. The danger of vandalism on
the improved school grounds is no
greater than on those of a respect
able private citizen. Our public
school houses here have no attrac-
tions in their surroundings; nothing
to attach boys and girls to them like
a home. When the school is in va
cation the empty school building has
nothing to attract to it more than
any vacant tenement, standing out
solitary and alone. Especially does
it look forlorn if it have not SO much
as a shade tree near it to bear it
company in its solitude. We believe
an instance has never yet been re-
ported in Wisconsin of a public
school house with improved sur
roundings such as are common in
portions of Europe where the best
model public schools are found.
The enthusiasm for our schools, it
is charged, has not been kept up as
in times past how this may be is
left for the friends to judge. But
the best method fol increased en-
thusiasm, is proper subject at this
time for consideration. Prof. Budd.
of Iowa, who gave extensive exam
nation to schools abroad, says: cat
the great Historical College in
North Silesia, l met with over hun
dred of the public school teachers
who were taking lessons with view
to a more important fitness for their
work, and was assured that their
students took much interest in their
flowers, shrubs, trees, &c"
Public and Parochial Schools.
HLn por, Enthar McCnnna q Pc