The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-01-09
POPULAR EDUCATION.
synopsis of the Report of the Educational
Committee of the State Grange.

SLatlStlcS examined Dy the cOmmlttee
some years ago showed that of the chill
dren attending the common schools in
Kansas, SO per cent. are of the agri-
cultural class and that of all industrial
classes they constitute IS per cent. The
average school period is but five and
one-haif years, of six months each year,
or of thirty-three months schooling al
together. The schools are defective in
their course of study and in the qualifi-
cations for teachers. OF the youth of
the agricultural class, but one in every
600 reaches the Agricultural College.
The report suggests that there should
come out of the largely endowed agri-
cultural colleges, maintained by the
Government in every State in the Union,
improved courses and methods of in
struction which should raise the cOun-
try district schools up to something like
the improved condition of our city
schools; that conductors of the agri-
cultural colleges should devise systems
of manual training and of object lessons
and of studies in the natural sciences
which should be made to reach the
children of every school district. AS
model institutions for the education of
farmers the colleges should devise plans
of instruction for the primary schools
of the farmer which should meet the
demand for the better education of
farmers children in their home schools.
The agricultural course now so well
matured for the instruction of students
within college walls and on the college
grounds should naturally suggest i'm
proved courses of instruction for the
district schools: taking up kindergar-
ten manual training and analogous
methods and adapting them to instruc-
ton in all grades, from the lowest to
the highest.
The scheme should include industrial
drawing, the elements of the natural
sciences, botany. zoology, geology and
kindred subjects, and such manual
practice with pen, pencil, blackboard
and modelling materials, and such use
of the common hand tools as would eff
feet training Of the mind through the
training of the eye and of the hand.
This course of study should not be con-
fined to the school room, but should ex-
tend to the field. orchard, forrest and
neighborhood. By observation, reading
and study it should go to explain the
things in nature and in common life by
which country school children are sur
rounded. 1t should teach something of
the physics of farm and domestic ma
chinery and of modern appliances, and
something of kitchen chemistry and
household economy. Landscape, veg
etable, fruit and floral gardening should
pertain to the district scool grounds as
well as to the agricultural college
grounds. A library of technical books,
and cabinet of scientific objects and OF
scientific apparatus, should be placed in
the district school room as well as the
Agricultural College library and recita-
ton rooms.
This method carried into the district
school would easily and naturally be
made to diversity school studies in the
usual common school branches: in which
instruction should be made thoroughly
practical in the use of numbers in arith-
metical calculations involving all COM
mon affairs of business; and in the use
of language in written and in oral ex-
PLANTATION and description; and by ra-
tional methods in the study of geog-
raphy and in the mapping and describ-
ing of the coAntry and all localities.
Thus it is suggested that the Agricult-
ural College should become an agricult-
ural normal school; that it should be
school where should be educated and
qualified as instructors young men and
young women who shall go out to all
counties in the State to inaugurate, to
superintend and to carry forward the
line of education indicated. The Agri-
cultural College normal graduate, prop
erly educated for this work, would be
qualified for county normal institute in
structor. He would be qualified to fill
the important Office of county superin-
tendent. He would be qualified to visit
the school districts, to aid and instruct
the teacher, to instruct and stimulate
the pupils. With maps, charts and
scientific apparatus he would be pre-
pared to give instruction to all classes;
including the adult population, in their
clubs, oranges, alliances and other as
semblages. Thus the whole people
would become enlisted in this forward
movement for the enlightenment and
elevation of the agricultural class.
The report suggests that the State
Constitution should be so amended that
the office of county superintendent be
made appointive, instead of elective, as
now; and that no one should be APP
pointed to the office except upon certifi-
cate of qualification, from the State
Board of Education or some other COM
petent authority. The force of the
county superintendency should be more
than double what it now is To meet
the increased expenses of superintend-
ency and other measures of reform, the
common school resources should have
restored to them what was taken away
by the repeal of the one mill tax. For
eighteen years, from 1861 to 1879 the
taxable property of the State con-
tributed tax of one mill for the support
of common schools. In 1879 the Legis-
lature was induced to cut off this tax.
Let it be restored and it would yield, at
the present valuation of the property of
the State, sum in addition to the pres
ent common school funds, of more than
$3.50. 900. This would defray the ex-
penses of the needed reform.
The elevation of the standard of edu-
cation in our common schools would
give increased attendance upon our
higher schools of learning. Give to
farmers sons and daughters n proper
primary education and they will have
foundation laid which will incite them
to seek the highest degree of education
within the gift of the State. They will