Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-02-07
How Can the Farmers Children Be
Educated to the Best Advantage"
q paper read before the Farmers In
stltute BY Co. Supt. Mcpherson.

stltute BY Co. Supt. Mcpherson.
In discussing the question before
us, we must remember that the school
is not merely place where children
may be instructed in the various ele-
mentary branches of knowledge.
1t must develop not only the mind
but the body and heart. The func-
ton of the school is to take the child
who has been carefully guarded at
home, and teach him to work with
his fellows, treat them courteously,
and behave himself modestly. In q
word, he is to fit himself to assume
citizenship in the state.
The first six years of the child's life
have been spent at home; the Ut xt
seven or eight, are to be spent with
the teacher. How necessary it is
then, that the teacher be we'll versed
/ in human nature; that he should
have deep principle. His example in
everything before his school. should
never vioalate his own sense of JUS
tice nor outrage that Of his pupil.
The patrons should see that none
but good teachers be employed to
teach their children; that the teacher
be chosen with special reference. to
his qualification for the position he
is to fill, which includes not only pro-
fessional ability but the higheet in
| tn w. = Ia
sponsibility of the parents end here.
They should all support the teacher
aud manage to have their children
prompt and regular in attendance.
AS a rule the teacher does his part
nobly; but it is an impossibility for
the child to make much progress if he
be absent from school one or two
days out of every week. Few realize
the Importance of having their chill
dren at school every day. The child
of the best intentions is discouraged
and loses his interest in the work if
he is not regular in attendance. The
best of teachers can do very little
without the cooperation of parents.
Then how necessary it is that the
patrons be in constant communion
ton with the teacher, that they visit
the school, and keep themselves reg
ulurly informed as to the work and
progress of their children. Happy
the teacher who can induce the par
ents to second his efforts, and to
supervise the lessons to be learned.
and the tasks to be written.
For who is nearer the heart of the
child than the father and mother.
Who is as well fitted to correct his
faults, and develop his virtues.
The teachers are not always as well
qualified for their work as they ought
to be, but they are not altogether re-
sponsible for this. Their salaries are
often too small and their terms of en-
ployment sholt and uncertain, and il
is impossible for them to earn enough
to educate themselves more thorough
ly. AS Mr.. Champlain stated in his
paper the teachers ought to receive
better wages. Then the patrons Of
the schools would have right to de-
maud only the very best of teachers,
and these they could easily obtain.
for the teachers would have soma in
ducement then to become more eff
Gent in their work. A great many of
our best teachers either seek other
employment, or leave our county and
go where they will receive better
wages for their work. Now this
should not be, for we need all our
good workers at home.
know some of you will say: care
not the taxes already too high?" Ad-
uniting that they are quite high, al
low Inc to give you a few facts obtain
ed from the county auditor, regard
ing the taxes raised for school pur-
poses in Howard county.
| Suppose you increase the teachers
salary five dollars per month. On
100 acres of Howard county land,
you will have to pay ST. extra taxa
ton, or in other words it will cost 81
per scholar more 10 have number
one teacher, for there is an average
of II scholars to every 100 acres Of
land.
Permit me to explain what l mean
by a number one teacher. If you are
willing to give hing reasonable com
pensation for good work, will
| it not be to his interest to
prepare himself thoroughly
for the position he is to occupy, and
the Superintendent can raise the
standard of qualifications required of
him. If we would all work together
toward some such end, | am sure the
work in our schools would be of
much higher order. If you have a
good teacher you ought to keep him
at least year. This frequent chang.
| ing of teachers is much more of a
detriment than an advantage to your
children. At the close OF his first
term the teacher has just had time to
become thoroughly acquainted with
the different dispositions under his
charge and is ready to work among
the children understandingly. He is
then prepared to teach the child to
look clearly into his mind and heart.
Greard has said, Unless the child
has been taught to establish himself
as his own master, to judge himself
as he would judge and govern others,