The Press., 1891-03-26
ABSOLUTELY PURE
(Contributed.) DISTRICT SCHOOL SUGGESTIONS.


 DISTRICT SCHOOL SUGGESTIONS.
 The fact is we'll known that for num- Der of months past the educational week. lies, school journals and state and local pa pers have been running along the argu- ment of the district schools every cause, both prominent and minute, that has help ed to rear this modern leviathan, the de- generate district school, has been discussed from period of 25 or 30 years ago to the present; and think If all the causes were to be found in one county or community, as some writers dare to assert, that there would be no schools in the rural districts extant in the land, but of course there are similarity of causes and similarity of res ults. <
 Recently there has been bit of spirited repartee between 8 couple of gentlemen exchanged through the columns of the New England Homestead. One MT. Buell. cannot imagine where one MT. Becker has been during all this time to hold ''such views" regarding the retrogression of coun- try schools for the past 25 years--referring to 8 statement published in New York school journal. MT. Becker replies that, although, the statement is too sweeping, any one who gives the subject much thought must admit that too much of it is true, and, as for the charge of ''holding views," he holds DO s'yiews," but has posi- tive knowledge, having for the last twenty ears been 8 teacher in the district schools of the state of New York. Then the lat ter, in turn, asks Mr. Buell. where he has been all this time, that he evidently has not heard of the investigation of certain country schools of Connecticut by con- mittee appointed for that purpose within the last year and half, the committee in question having found the average school in 8 much worse condition than any of those depicted in the newspapers. And the writer goes on to state to what extent they were found benighted; whole classes seven to eight years spelling ''schoop g cool and s-k-o-I; also that the teachers were young and without method or disci- pline.
 Now, as Eugene Field says, want to interject a remark: That this seems to contain all the milk of human glory, bac- teria and all, that the heroic much govern. ed little nutmeg state could ask in the way of district school fame.
 An amusing cartoon indeed for the worlds fair But think there is an ex- cess of galore about some phases of the matter. Up in one os shs goody goody towps of Vermont there is Q clever little lady teaching school who sensibly simpli- fies the treatment. It seems that the green mountain state is still struggling under the old fashioned ssdistrict system as well as York state and our own state. It seems they still ssboard round, and still serve salt pork swimming in lard when it's the school marm's week. But even from that portion of New England comes the disser- tation that school teaching is pretty trying business, adding that she does not think all depends on the scholars or the teacher, but great many faults lie in the parents. If they would teach their children to honor and respect their teacher, occasionally vis- iting the school, speaking kind and en- pupils, instead of unkind words, slurs, &c., etc., about their teacher, think in a short time they would see much improve ly led in the right or the wrong way, and if they are brought up wrongly at h home they will show it in the school-room. t
 It is true that two-thirds of the young teachers choose their s'experiment" terms they need something more to stimulate
  propriation of filthy lncre. Parents do not realize of what value their personal presence is within the school-room from time to time. The guide, whose. duty it is to develop the intellectual powers of children, is grateful to notice that her. ef- forts are appreciated. If parents would quit themselves like parents and visit the public schools oftener it would at least mean something like this: heard father and mother say that they were coming in- to school two CT three times this term, and must not be careless or indifferent about my lessons, my language or my deport- ment. And even if those living in the district limits who do not send to school would drop in occasionally, just to awaken the memories of the days of auld lang syne, am sure it would have better effect than leveling field-gla to see the buga- boos there. This would lend an inspiring and restraining influence, and mischief would grow noticeably less. The young Jack -in-the. box is of course ubiquitous, but he needs the word and the look oi love as well as the rod upon him, and in most cases his plastic mind will yield tc the cooperative processes.
 If teachers, parents and pupils would more heartily cooperate there would soor be less dreaming, idling and fault-inding But, while I am strongly in sympathy with the confused and bewildered girl whose brainy head is full of ideas, and how best to apply them, think in somt places it would be good idea to return for period at least to the old 'tyrannica master with his hickory gad. g @1 Here is testimonial Little Kat. Thiem, who says she lost her ''German'
 in the ocean, told the writer in distinc land pert English that she had to mind an,
 learn down in Flanders district cause the,
 had man teacher and she was fraid.
 South Coventry. M.A.B.
 For the cure of colds, coughs, and all de arrangements of the respiratory organs, no oth CT medicine is 50 reliable as Ayers Oherr