The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-01-20
WHOLE NO. pip.

comes privilege and virtue lie VIII
develop habits Of industry 50 that boys
and girls shall recognize the dignity Of
honest toll and the condition Of success
everywhere. He viii teach self-respect
that his pupils conscious Of their own
abilities. will aim to reach the highest
and best in life. He viii train in broad
charity, 50 that the golden rule shall
make the neighbor OF the stranger alike
brother and a friend. he viii teach
patriotism that shall reveal in the na-
tion's banner the true emblem Of liberty,
unity and peace And upon this found
alton shall be build the nO6ler viz
Of the good and the true. and his
rIpils shall 90 out into life as the upright
the trusted members Of society and
the church, aud worthy citizens ola great
commonwealth
This, then, is the mission Of our com
mon schools-to develop the power Of
independent thought and work and 70
build a true character. The clements OF
this independence and power-a healthy
body, a disciplined mind, useful informa-
ton, and practical skill the builder Of
character. the true teacher. who is not
only master OF his art, but master Of HIM
self and who had the power ofheart and
brain to teach the better elements Of hu-
man nature and lead his pupils 10 high
er, a purer, and better plane 0f living
who can play upon the thousands cords
of youthful aspirations and attune all
in harmony with eternal beauty and
goodness and Truth.
But YOU say they come far short Of
meeting this ideal in work and worth.
Yes. but only so far as onr estimate Of
their use and value comes short Of the
ideal, and 50 far as we withhold the faci-
lities and needs for their highest devel-
opment. Tie schools arc ,rin dss people
rant ttsa, % b., and if We would realize
all that is claimed for them-ail that Il Is
possible TO accomplish in them-there
must be an adequate support and mutual
helpfulness. The schoOIhouse must be a
ut place for the training OF youth the
teacher must be one of broad culture, pro-
fessiOnA trimming, generous sympathies,
and true heart the pupils must be Al
lowed 70 attend school continuously and
regularly and the patrons recognise IN
the school their highest interests and
their best friend
But the questions which concerns Is
most here is.-Do the farmers Ooys and
girls need this school, this training,
this preparation for LIES mission ? Some
one says, most Of them Will be farmers
in their generatien, and therefore a few
years Of schooling will answer There
NAV have been a tine in the early DAYS
Of frontier life when muscle rather than
brain was needed to make the farm pro
ductiye; but that time i not now. No
one can sit in this convention Of intelli-
gent farmers, and listen % these discus
sions without coming TO the conclusion
that the successful farmer Of to-day must
be able to think and read and knOE-a
man o. generous culture and varied in
formation. The rapid development Of
means and methods Of farming, the com
petition Of the fertile prairies. and the
combined power Of capitalists have
brought to the farmer from very necessity
wider range Of human thought and
knowledge. And in this progressive age
the farmer o. the future viii need to be
more thoroughly sshooled that he shall
be able to solve the problems Of cost and
profit, economy and plenty, labor and
leisure He need not and must not be the
slave Ofunremitting toll. the servant Of
grasping mOaopOlies, or the victim Of
educated humbugs.
The farmer Of the future must 20 to
school therefore Not a few months every
winter after the farm-work IS all done,
nor graduate from the common schools
at fourteen or fifteen years Of age. When
the school opens then it should have first
claim 70 the time Of the boys and girls
on the farm. They have six months 70
learn to work-a blessing to all-HoE let
them have an equal time tuIearn to think
and know and manage In the sense OF
true economyit does not pay to deprive
them Of school advantages for what they
can earn on the farm; and ss an investment
for them the school pays better than the
farm, for it is a larger element in their
success in subsequent life.
Let Us not forget, however, that there
Is a constant stream Of brain and nerve
going from the farm into other avenues
Of life and this stream, strong and pure
and fresh, gives to the city many Of il:
best business men, 10 the trades It's mos
skillful mechanics, TO the bar some Of u:
ablest jurists, and TO the pulpit its most
eloquent divines. But plead not forthese
They will fnd their places and the world
needs them Just where they ara called
They are usGalIy the bright pupils Of th'
country schools and as such are encour
aged to attend school until development
reveals to them their proper sphere
I plead rather for the nineteen out Ofever!
twenty who are not especially bright an
because Of this fact, are kept at home .
work 50 long as there IS work TO do an
then droD ont Of school at fourteen 0
fifteen years Of age, because they ar
simply going to BE laborers on the farm.
With our acknoEled love for free school
| let Us look at the facts for a moment
Somerset county last year had 1920 pu
/ pills enrolled, with an average atteadane
of 8 ,427. This would give Us full school
for about months and Is days Ah, bu
some one says. The term IS too long.
Give usa shorter term and compuisor
attendance. and then this problem Of al
tendance will be solved satisfactorily.
But We turn back 10 the record Of iv'
four and three months term, and We in
about the same proportion Of attendance
while teachers were not paid as well 4
they are now. As for a compulsory a
tendance law, public sentiment wOul
doubtless Sustain one Of mild form PrOi
erIy enforced, and there IS no doubt b.
that It would greatly help the school
But such q law II best could n
reach the boys and girls who leave schos
- a., aarfv aga hasause thev haven't tim