The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-08-30
Education and the Peoples Party.
EDITOR ISLANDER:-
BERT lift.

EDITOR Islander
We can read in the language of eX-
periments the wonderful forces in
nature; and how these giant agencies
may be applied to the needs and useful
ness of mankind. There are untold
riches in the rugged escarpments and
peaty wales; in the bubbling brooks and
mighty rivers; in the briny sea and
balmy air. In fact, there are precious
Jewels and brooks of knowledge in
everything which may be, by perusal,
study and scientific Investigations, APP
piled to the want of everyone. The
curious geologist unveils hidden treas
ures and demonstrates to the world
many marvellous phenomena. The
keen eyed chemist discovers the various
elements of which our terrestrial ball is
composed, and converts them into use
fulness. The investigative ZoolOgist
pervades the animal world and exposes
the beneficial and injurious animals
and animalcule. The fascinating botan-
list scrutinizes the floral kingdom and
reveals knowledge of fanciful charac-
ter.
The amituer teacher of a particular
speciality adds invaluable stores of
knowledge to the universal encyclope-
dia, while an incompetent and indolent
teacher impedes the progress of educa-
ton. Accomplishment is the requisite
AKIN in all professions. Experience
makes man proficient in his chosen
specialty-a jack of all trades is failure
in all undertakings. An expert tailor
is not an expert blacksmith; an expert
blacksmith is not an expert oculist; nor
nor is an expert Oculist an accomplished
schOOlmaSter.
A teacher should have good general
education, as the common schools of
our land embrace vast variety of the
great branches of learning. A principal,
or manager of schools should have eX
tensive experience in school work and
should also possess the natural endow-
ments for such a calling. If not, the
result of his labor will speak in favor of
perversion and deterioration.
Thecommon schools are the safeguard
of our country; the progenitor of know
ledge, power and skill; the herald of
higher civilization and enlightenment.
1t is the duty of every honest, loyal
and patriotic citizen to foster, and to
assist in metiorating the school system
of our great commonwealth.
The Peoples Party has taken a wise
step in educational affairs. It indicates
that the only way to convert all people
to be good populfsts is to build more
school houses and to educate the masses
in the true principle of government.
The plank which the populists have
introduced into the platform of their
party, which provides, that, "The state
shall furnish the public schools with
books and other supplies needed, is
sign of rapid educational advancement.
There are hundreds of families in this
state and in other states, who find it
sometimes hard to supply their children
with the requirements of school books
and other necessary appliances.
[ believe in a national school system,
which | think the Peoples party will
soon advocate, as it has already taken
an important move in assisting the
common classes of people to harvest
some benefit from the lavishing field
of education. A national school system
would be of special value to the people
in the frontier, where the school funds
are very limited, as the helping hand
of the government would be felt in the
verdant Pacific forest as well as i'm the
eastern cities. It would stimulate emil
grafton to the far west; families would
be willing to settle anywhere so far as
schools would be concerned; and the
fertile soil of the frontier would blossom
like the rose
THos. O. STEINE.