The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-10-12

y
schools and brighter boys and girls
exist where these powerful Jewelers. OF
ignorance are in use. Some few dis
tricts still insist in the practice of To-
eating the library too far away from
the school house. have tried to show
that while the school is in progress
the library should be in the school
room and the teacher appointed tenn
porary librarian. She is able thus to
direct the reading of her pupils and
make such immediate reference as is
necessary to supplement the daily
work of the school.
NEW SCHOOL HOUSES.
Nearly, if not quite, every .old
shack" has gone since i first began to
make "my rounds" among the schools.
Last year six new buildings were
built at an average cost of 500 each.
They are reasonably well furnished
and very comfortably seated. The
lighting and ventilating have received
but little attention, nor can such feat
ures until more expensive basement
work is built. Very few schools have
tried to heat by any other method save
the common stove. Several districts
have tried heating with hard coal
burners and as rule are pleased. So
many Of our school houses have such
small narrow fued chimneys, that poor
fires, and poisonous gases often trouble
the teacher.
l must, however, not forget the pure
disinterested love which the Hon. G.
D. Gilfillan, of Paxton township, has
shown in supervising and arranging
for the building of the school house
nearing his home. He has no children
to be educated, but he has not forgot
ten how when boy, his own feet we're
nigh frozen and light SO bad that 1t
nearly ruined his eyesight. His fire.
quent consultations with the county
superintendent to get the best and to
know the latest is an example worthy
of mention. There is one department
which we have made but little i'm
provement. That is the water closet
or clubhouse. It's serious menace to
the health of our children. There is
really no sanitary regulation attempt
ed. Lime for vaults is rarely ever
used. So many of our country schools
open in the TALL without a thought
about the condition of the room. Doors
are oft times off the hinges or totally
unfit for winter use. Of the ninety
school buildings in this county not
more than fifty are supplied with good
comfortable water closets, or outhous-
es. And yet, I believe there is moth
ing SO essential as good commodious
outbuildings, built separately for each
sex. If some of our school officers
could take a drive over this county
and see what ill-shaped and veriest of
shacks our children are compelled to
use, they'd marvel less and build bet
ter.
FREE TEXT BOOKS
Since one year ago, when I wrote
you, we have had but little experience
with this question. So far as l am able
to judge, about one-third of the dis
tricts are to hove free text books. The
balance are to furnish the books at
cost to the pupils. This will help
very much, as it will give the pupils
cheap books and books when they
want them. Last year we were unable
to get the necessary books and as
consequence many of the pupils were
seriously hindered.
SUPERVISION.
l am not able to add much beyond
what l said one year ago. We have
tried to see that reasonable course of
instruction was maintained in every
school. Some of our better schools
have adopted course of study which
is what every school should do. A Wis
itation by the superintendent in every
district in the county during the year
and in many, twice and thrice has
somewhat helped to smooth away diff
fculties.
RETROSPECTION.
1t is something worth say ing, that
every child has decent seat and a
comfortable one too to sit in.> That he
studies from the best book that mod
ern scholarship can devise. The hard,
rough, wooden bench is gone forever.
That we Maid last wear for oducation-