The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-04-09
EDUCATION.
Three Points Brought Out BY Supt.
pendergdSt.

on "EducatlOn at the presbyterian
church last Friday evening. The
church was fairly well-filled, good
percentage of the audience being
school teachers from the city and ru-
raj schools. The audience was enthu-
siastic and frequently applauded the
speakers remarks.
Prior to the speaking the church
choir sang a selection. Then Supt.
Race stepped forward and introduced
Mr.. Pendergast as man whose fame
has extended beyond the limits OF
Minnesota.
MIR. Pendergast started his lecture
by saying that there never was time
in the history of this country when
people took as much interest in edu-
cation of some kind as they are doing
now. Education was the foundation
of the Republic. People differ on the
kinds but all are united on the point
that our schools must be preserved
and must instruct.
One set of people, he said, were for
purely a literary education; another
for disciplinary education; another
for a bread and butter education; an
other want everything under heaven
to be in the curriculum; another that
boy and girl should know about spe-
cial subjects; and others are for all
things-an overcrowded course. These
tidal waves come from every direction,
he said. and it seems as though 1t
were going to be impossible to extri-
cate ourselves, but the speaker be-
lieved that the problem would work
itself out and the result will be that
we will get something good. He did
not know what the idea would be but
usefulness in life would be one thing
and character another. He contended
that every person should point towards
the right and omit all signs of ma
terialism.
Here the speaker divided his sub
ect into three parts, the duty OF the
State the duty of the parents and the
duty of the teacher.
1t was the duty of the State, he said,
to provide system of education and
to furnish means for carrying on that
system-to oversee the work and see
that it is done right. Here the speak
er said that at National Educational
gatherings Massachusetts, and Mime
sofa were pointed to as model school
States, and in the last annual report
of the United States Commissioner of
Education Minnesota and Massachus-
sets are placed side by side as two OF
the foremost States in Education. Ap
plause greeted the remark. At the AS
bury Park gathering the Minnesota
Normal school system was referred to-
he said.
"We have about as good system
as there is in the United States to
day." said the speaker, "beginnine
with the kindergarten and to and in
Guiding our magnificent University
for systematic plan Minnesota stand!
in the front"
Here the speaker touched on thu
means for educational purposes. HI
spoke of the one mill tax levied il
1893, whereby the three cities of st
Paul, Minneapolis and Duluth anc
the pine counties spread out owe
100000 more to rural schools thar
they get back. He did not believ
that the one mill special school ta
was enough-he thought that Their
should be another mill. 1t was flo
the benefit of the country. The speak
er said that it was the country pupil
that made the mark-that becam
merchant proprietors, that becam
teachers to whom the cities were pay
ing a premium. He believed ths
the general government should Civ
81 per capita for education. 1t speno
money in worse ways, he said. Til
county should add two mills NOR
He regretted that all opposition to tt
one mill school tax in the legislatul
came from the country-it was a i
mentable fact.
eve are paying about 100000
per year for our State schools" |
said. "We are paying $24 100000 f
rum, something that does man n
good; 100000 year for Tobacco
S6,OO0,OO0 for CONNECTIONS, $l4,0O0,O(
for nameless other evils, and we {
the latter without grumbling while v