The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-07

THE public school is the farmers col
lege." In other words. the children of
farmers usually get no schooling beyond
that of the public schools. Those who
are able 10 attend higher institutions of
learning form only an exception 10 the
rule. In view of this we call the atten-
ton OF our readers to the schools their
children are attending this winter. Youth
is full OF opportunity. but how quickly
comes that time Of life when school days
arc past, opportunities become limited.
and the boys and girls have fixed their
limitations for life. They might con-
tinue to learn and grow intellectually.
but the great majority do not. In their
school days they are getting their equip
ment for life. and seldom rise higher
than the plane on which they enter life.
OF course we write Of the great majority
and not Of the exception. The public
schools have a supreme interest for the
farmers.
Education is not only a necessity TO
the individual who would succeed finan-
cially. and who would have a due infiu
ence over his fellows. but it is one great
protection of the farmers against the as
gressioh of the weather. classes. is it
IlbL clear TO the most ullOnS-tNdIll tiistl
We are nearing a crisis in this country?
Wealth gives power. and we now have
classes that would reduce the American
farmer to the level of the European
farmer, who are even now ready TO assert
that only men of great business expert
ence, or immense financial interests, or
the shrewd attornies Of such men, chould
bc entrusted with our government.
What does a farmer know of state af-
fairs2 Let him attend TO his farming.
These are expressions too often heard
today We are not an alarmist, but it
is true today that there is urgent need
of more education among us. as class.
10 enable us 10 assert ourselves in the
councils of state and nation.
The public schools have prepared many
men for lines of great usefulness and
honor. In the future they must be the
pride of the farmer To them we must
look for the opportunities that our chill
dren need To them we commit our best
interests. What care. then. are we taking
that these schools are what they should
be? Have your children, my reader. the
kind of teacher they should have? Have
you interested yourself in this natter
do you visit the schOOls2 Can you afford
TO let a year be wasted by your children
DO the directors in your district realize
that they have in charge the most inn
portant work that will ever fall TO them
10 perform Can they afford to be re-
spOnsible for a years partial waste Of
the lives Of all the young in their dis
1rict2 10 we seem to eXaggerate the i'm
pOrtance Of this work. Then look back
to your boyhoOd's days and see what a
good years schooling is worth or might
have been worth. to you. And you are
only one 81 many.
Purely mechanical labor receives low
wage. We must use our heads as we'll as
our hands. Tha successful farmer is the
one who uses his brain. The public
school is the agent for development of
the minds of our children. They must
be taught to think The teacher should
not only impart information, but he
should especially teach the boy or girl
how TO get information. He should
know how 10 make men Of the boys
that have the elements Of true manhood
in them. If he is not such a teacher he
is a miserable failure. What kind OF a
teacher has your boy this winter? If he
is good one, encourage him; if he is not
see to il that he is not employed in your
district again. Let Us think more about
our common schools. Let them be the
pride Of our locality. Give the boys and
girls the best chance possible. This win
ter is the time 70 join the teacher in
making the school the most important
interest in the locality.