The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-08-20

NOTES ABOUT SCHOOLS AND
THEIR MANAGEMENT.
Value of Music in the Public Schools
California Girl Sells Pc pcrs to Pay
Her NATURALIZATION and Learn
Music as an Educator.

Music as an Educator.
Education Is a familiarity between
the mind and things. Familiarity be-
tween the mind and things which pro-
duce the best competency or easiest eX-
istence, is the education desired by the
masses. Grammar and geography de-
velop memory; arithmetic and algebra
develop discipline: music, art, etc. de-
velop sensibility and refinement. There
was Il time when the three RS educa-
ton insured Il fair competency, but that
time is past. To prepare the boys and
girls for the greatest usefulness and
happiness. and to enable them 10 act
we'll their part in the great drama Of
life, is the great educational problem Of
to-day.
That vocal music is one Of the agen-
cies to be employed to secur this end
has ceased to be a debatable question.
1t pays to learn reading, writing and
arithmetic merely because we are bet
ter prepared to battle for a bare exist
ence. Il pays to study geography and
astronomy because we learn facts that
put us in touch with the races and the
universe. 1t pays TO study algebra and
geometry for the mental discipline at
tanned, and a score of reasons can he
given as proofs that it will pay to learn
both vocal and instrumental music. 1t
pays many teachers of music who re-
ceive from three to six dollars per hour
for private lessons. 1t pays many
others who earn a competency as teach
ers and performers. 1t pays many me-
chanicS and merchants who make and
sell thousands of musical Instruments.
1t pays in the public schools to begin
and end the day with song. 1t pays in
the family and social circle where we
are entertained with divine melody, or
where brother and sister or the whole
family can join in the home concert. 1t
will pay any community large or small.
to spend some time and money in learn
ing this heavenly language-the only
one not invented by man. and probably
the only one he will be permitted to
take with him to the spirit world.
Music will make your boy a gentle
man, your girl a lady. 1t will keep
your boy home evenings; if it will keep
him from the saloon and degrading
by giving them something to do that is
pleasant and beautiful. Save the young
boys and the young men will take care
of themselves.
We believe every teacher should study
music and try to teach it.. You will
probably say, l can't sing! Can you
read: Every teacher studies reading
and tries to teach it. BY trying to teach
the rudimentS of music, giving black
board exercises and singing lively,
cheerful children's songs, you will not
only Increase your own knowledge in
this "heavenly science" but will in
crease the interest in your school. Mu-
SIC cultivates discipline and refines. rs
power soothes the unruly pupil and
commands his respect for you. We
believe the annual teachers institute
Is the place to talk and teach this sub
ject. The county institute officers can
do more than any n else. If they
would engage a competent music teach
er As one of their normal faculty the
teachers would receive instruction that
would qualify them TO teach this sub
ject. If rs much time were put Oh
music as any ether branch in III
schools it would not be in the back
ground. but would be considered as
important as any other branch. We
cannot teach that which we have not
been taught. Let us begin at the begin
ming to teach it. We have h2cn teach
ins music in the public schools for four
ten years and have long been convinced
G.. w. Fields, in Voice and Melody.