Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-11-18
Educational Column.
[BY J. o. HAHN, COUNTY sUPT.]

Through the courtesy of the editor of
the INDEX we begin this week an edu-
cational department, which IS designed
to be of interest and profit to all who
are interested in educational matters.
and especially so to teachers and MEM
bers of school boards throughout the
county. We expect to report each week
something of the progress of the schools.
and discuss ways and means of better
ing their condition and rendering their
instruction more effective. The coop
Grafton of teachers and school officials
is solicited and pointed contributions
to this department will always be well
coined.
Economy and stInginess are by no
means synonymous terms. Real econc-
my is as far removed from stinginess
on the one hand, as it is from prodigal-
ity or wastefulness on the other. True
economy consists in refusing to spend
ones substance for that which is of no
value, or which supplies no real want
of the person purchasing, certainly;
but 1T also consists in spending or in
vesting wealth in such way that the
individual may derive the greatest pos
sible benefit from the amount expend-
ed. Political economy consists in the
acquisition. preservation and distribu-
tion, at fittest time and place, of useful
and pleasurable things"
1t is not economy for school districts
to get along without something for the
teacher to work with in the way of ap-
paratus. A good teacher will accom-
plish one third more IN the way of de-
sirable results if fully supplied with the
necessary school apparatus than he can
if he must get along without. An aver
age country school in this county costs
the people, aside from apparatus, say
$500, for term Of six months. The
qualified teacher, without apparatus,
will accomplish certain amount of re-
suits, say $500 worth. By expanding
$50 and supplying the district with nee
essary apparatus, the amount of results
is increased one-third or to $500
worth, and the apparatus is still on
hand, and with proper care, should last
a half dozen years at least.
Itwould not be economy for man in
this country to spend his time farming
with only one horse and one-horse
plow. 1t would not be economy for
blacksmith to set up shop without a
forge, and with only one hammer and
one file. Neither is it economy to set a
teacher at work in school-rnom with
out he is provided with apparatus
tools, if you please-so that his time
may be spent to the best advantage for
the advancement of the school.
In some of the school houses of this
county there is not a sufficient amount
of blackboard, or, what there is, is
damaged and poor. Some of the dis
tricts have no maps. Many do not own
dictionary or globe. Some have not a
chart of any kind. Sometimes such
small and necessary articles as black
board erasers are wanting, and some
times the supply Of chalk or crayons is
allowed to become exhausted, and re-
main so for days. These are all mis-
takes which should be remedied; other
wise, as has been shown, the district is
the loser. In the language of my prede-
cessOr, "a set of geographical maps, an
unabridged Tor inter-nationaD dlction-
airy, and physiological charts are essen
tials even in the poorest districts, and
to do without them is very poor econo-
N.Y." hope that the officers of dis
tricts to which these remarks apply
will (now that the busy season Is about
over give due attention to their schools
and see that all necessary supplies are
furnished them so far as may be DOS
sible.
In most OF the districts of this coun-
ty the attendance is smaller than usual
on account of the unusually busy sea-
son and the scarcity of farm help; near
ly every boy who can drive a team is in
demand on the farm. Many of the larg-
er girls are busy at home too. 1t is to
be hoped that all of these Will get into
school just as soon as possible. The
schools are costing the people a good
deal; they are generally efficient Ito a
greater or less degree) and it seems a
pity if the boys and girls can not all get
the benefit of them.
Answer to query, lis it possible for a
teacher to be inpartial9'
Irresponsible, practicable and oblioa-
tory. But is a physician partial in that
he gives one patient one treatment and
another different treatment? Parents
and children heed instruction and edu-
cation along this line.
The Teachers Association at Kiowa,
last Saturday. was a success, though
not so largely attended as we could
wish. In the forenoon review OF
/ Reading Circle work was had, and IN
the afternoon the regular programme
, was taken uD, and about one hour and q
half spent in an interesting and prcrita,
BILE manner. AT half past two O'Clock
the association adjourned owing to the
fact that the kiowa teachers wished t.
, attend the funeral of Mrs. McAlister
which occurred at that hour, Mr.. Meal
lister being member of the district
board. The next meeting of the asso.
citation occurs at Sharon on Dec. 18th.
, ESTIMATE, THEN MEASURE.
The judgment gets too little training
in the ordinary work of the school. Less
hurry would leave opportunities for cul
, tivating 1t in everything studied. TIT
; question of measurement should FRS
be submitted to the judgment and ther
J to the test. Ii this is done, there WI
ha less trouble in committing and re