The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1894-04-05
FROM BOON'S CREEK.

gresslve business at Flourville.
The wheat, grass and oats look much
better since the rain. W. hope the
damages done by the coldeweather are
not so great as was at first expected.
We heard that the Republicans held
an election in Johnson City on March
the 18th. Democrats, where were you
that day?
We have been infor1ned by John
son City man that Ed. Duncan has
risen to higher pride of life since the
convention-hc washes his lace now
once a day.
Our public schools is subject never
thought of or written upou by our
common newspaper writers. They
seem to think it is a matter that
should be discussed only by the edu-
cational papers in fact, they seem to
think it is matter of minor import
ance to humanity. They can write
long descriptions of MODS, the whisky
traffic, election frauds aud all such
trash, which is calculated TO degrade
humanity rather thon elevate it. If
such publications as the Police Gazette,
the Jesse James book, Tom Payne's
writing and Bob Ingersoll's produc-
tions were blotted out of existence and
the money which has been and is be-
ing expended for them was placed in
the public treasury for the education
nf N in nd
ture, how much purer and more vir-
tuous would civilization be in few
years? My opinion is, if our literature
was Of more pure and moral charac-
ter and our schools made the leading
topic of discussion by our great men
and newspaper editors, such debauch-
cry and degrading influences as the
mob law, the whisky trade and the
election frauds would soon cease to-
exist. The educational papers are do,
ing a great work for our schools, but
they will never reach the tide OF hui
man progress like the common. daily
newspaper. The general opinion of
the common laborer, the lawyer, the
doctor and all other professional men,
except the teacher. is that the eduoa-
tional paper is for the teacher, and the
teacher only. | venture to say that
not over one-tenth of the population
of our country ever look at an educa-
tional paper. Then how are they to
do this great work which the prosper
ity of the country is demanding of
them? Why am | writing about our
common, public school? Why not urge
that our colleges and universities be
made better? You say that at colleges
and universities the young men and
young women of our country receive
their finishing touch. So they do;
but how many many young men and
and young women ever attend college
or university? Does our country
average one oat of every one hundred?
Then shall cay one ought to be made
perfect and ninety-nine go uncar' d
for? No, Go not. | say our common,
public schools should receive our first
and greatest attention, because there
is where our greatest good is to be de
rived. Then how are our public schools
to be raised to q higher standard !?
First, by parents taking more interest
in them; second, by pupils attending
more regularly and punctually; third,
by electirg the very best men "a di.
rectors fourth, by SECURING the very
best talent as teachers, teachers who
read educational works and. who at.
tend educational meetings Quintilian
said Every child shonld have good
teacher from the beginning of his in
structions. The teacher should have
a iatherly heart toward the child, and
should be their pattern of morals and
manners, should know how to temper,
praise and blame. It is, therefore, a
great mistake to suppose that mid
ding. only tolerably sufficient teacher
is good enough 10 commence child's
instruction. Unless the earliest teacher
is efficient the task Of him who ia tn
succeed ia doubled. He will have to
go over the work done again, as well
as add his own. BESIDES, every teacher
ought to know thoroughly the theory
of teaching, and, therefore, to see the
connection, of the lower with the high
er style of instruction" There is an
other subject which should engage our
attention. 1t is that of libraries and
reference books Every public school
should have library. A library car
be procured more easily than expected
There ia scarcely any pupil who can
I. not furnish one volume to the library
{ Then suppose there are forty pupils in
the school you at once begin your Ii
brary with torty volumes. After thi:
there can be added several other vol
umes by having entertainments. poke
suppers, ice cream suppers, etc. Thee
il no greater defect among our Yonnf