The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-09-11

l have been directly connected with
our common schools, L have taken
much interest in the school library. |
have urged it wherever it was possible.
To the teachers of Redwood county
our boys and girls are especially in
debted. They have largely done the
work in the districts. Good books, in
nearly all instances, are finding their
way in the homes, thereby showing to
many boys and girls of Redwood
county how other boys and girls have
risen upward and became great men
and women. In many homes on the
prairie cen be found good books and
magazines, but i'll many not even the
county paper can be found. The school
is to diffuse knowledge as we'll as to
teach addition and spelling. One year
ago | started a query among the teach
ers as to what the pupils were reading.
The result astonishcd me. The teach
ers felt we must do something. We
went to work, each in his own way, to
try and accomplish something before
the year closed. | have taken pains to
ask district school officers who first
called your attention to the school Ii
brary law" Nearly all said the teach
er. If, i'll some way, we could retain
the present force Of teachers, much
real advancement in our schools would
be made. The present corps arc an
earnest body of men and women who
are not teaching for simply the money,
but because they believe some one
must do this work. Mr.. Editor, it
means no little sacrifice to go into
many of our districts, fifteen and
eighteen miles from any village, and
there build up amid Inconvenience
and hindrances boys and girls into
men and women. Ii any one thing I
have labored for in these four years, it
is to make our teachers believe that
their duty was to make real men and
women as we'll as to learn them how
to read and write. To instill a love OF
right and a hatred of wrong, is part
of good teaching. Our teachers are
better prepared to do the work than
heretofore. Books and journals which
tell them Of the work going on else
where, nearly all now subscribe for. It
docs not take long in visiting a school
to tell the wide awake reading teacher
from the one who neither reads or
thinks OF her duty.
am pleased to say | have witnessed
number of good changes in our
schools during the past 1our years.
Good, well-furnished buildings have
taken the place of old "shacks;' ten
unabridged dictionaries, besides few
academies were added last year. Some
people have poo-hooed at our work in
temperance hygiene. 1t is really too
soon to see the real result, but it is
growing. Many good sanitary laws
are being taught as the necessary ex
istence OF happiness. We must have
a good sound body in order to have a
good mind. Regularity of habit,
punctuality, order and non usage OF
alcoholic stimulants, or of narcotics,
are now taught as much as the com
mon branches. The schools of Red
wood county one year hence will be
better than to-day. The teacher is
better. Very few districts are willing
to hire teacher who has less than
second grade license. 1t is a good sign.
Teachers holding Sd grade certificates
DO not possess knowledge enough.
There are generally some pupils who
are nearly the equal Of such teachers
in scholastic attainments. Teachers
should possess thrice the amount of
knowledge they are required to teach.
In closing ] wish to call attention to
the compulsory law relating to pupils
who are between 8 and lG and who ale
obliged to attend school three months,
that is, parents are compelled to send
them. keferring to the whole num-
Der enrolled between 9 and Is we fad
it to be $40. Those who attended the
required time, 1,O76, Or less than 20
per cent. Here then was 30 per cent
who did not attend the required time.
Who can suggest way? 1t has been
urged, coaxed and demanded but this
trinity is not power enough.
Very Respectfully,
S. J. RACE, Co. Supt.