The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-12-28

voted 60 the interests we must see this.
strong Is as my attachment to higher cd
ucation, ardent as Is my love for Its no.
BILE purposes, my sympathies 20 out. first
and above all. TO the rural school, the
school Of those whom Lircoln sed TO
call the plain people, those that ale tho
very llfe-Alood OF our cOmmonu ealth.
And the remedy, Just state support. IL
not difficult OF accomplishment whom once
our people are brought to SEQ how much
depen s upon the district school. tho
fouadat,2 stone in our educational struc-
ture. Villain q G last few months. In some
states, Sath rolitlcai parties have made
this Estate support for rural schools) O
plank in their carefully framed platforms.
Fellow-toachers, Il IA for you TO open
this crusade, to present to our people the
necessity for prompt and thoughtful &C
uon. Many means Of attaining the ends
might l suggest, but prefer to leave the
matter In your care and to your wisdom
only remember. the time IS ripe for action
and you must see to ii that our repre-
sentatives In the coming Legislature give
this problem their attention.
I told YOU that l intended to present
FOR your consideration this evening GER
tain educational questions and the next
M order Of time, II not Of Importance
is the proper supervision Of those rural
schools. Many Of you now within the
sound Of my voice VIII remember that,
last spring. at the territorial institute.
and 10y request OF Superintendent Hop
lNns I made an address upon this sub
loct after a careful Investigation into
the condition OF our schools. Prompt and
able was the assistance rendered me In
that investigation by the tireless. earn
est, and self-sacrincing county superin-
tendents. one and all united IN the state
ment that owing to unfortunate circum-
stances, their supervision was far from
satisfactory TO themselves Mark you.
this they said, not l. Whatever of criu-
cism there be made by me tonight, comes
from them-not from your speaker. The
special point was that owing 20 the num-
erous other duties imposed upon them.
their supervision could not be close-their
time given directly 70 the schools and In
the schools. sufficient for their needs and
welfare.
COUNTY SUpERINTENDENTS WORK
Close supervision under able and trained
superintendents. such as ours. IS only
truo economy. The child needs IT. the
teacher who knows his business welcomes
it once tried the parent will support
Il. Then, is this not the time and place
TO concert those measures. which, en-
acted into law. VIII make your super
vision what you wlsh--what Arnold Tomp-
kins calls "a power unto righteousness"
Can YOU not form plans which viii rem
edy the evils OF which you spoke then
or are you like St Paul. who said:
What l would, that do I not?" The
stream can never rise higher Than its
course, and the superintendents In their
influence on teachers. pupils. trustees,
and patrons are the source Of good OF
il I'm our district schools. I would that
conuty superintendency could be a dis
tinct branch OF our noble profespOn and
receive the recognition Il honored mem
hers so richly deserve. County superin-
tendents, you must be up and doing.
Oklahoma recognizes your manly merits.
Deserve yet more at her bands She VIII
not be chnrry at her rewards.
And to you, superintendrnts. the terri
torlal institutions must look for their
chief assistance II they succeed In exc
cutting the important trusts that are COM
mitted to their hands, It is not enough.
though or first importance, that our ele-
mentary schools be well supported, well
graded. well governed, well taught. thor
ough stable and progresslve-fully meet
ing the peoples needs In this broadening
day Of duty and OF liberty.
THE BEST" OUR MOTTO.
Tho children In those schools have full
right under our laws, thank God to the
highest and best this territory affords
through her normal schools, colleges. her
But these institutions must fail
OF their purpose II but one link In tho
educational chain be omitted. No youth.
however brilliant can leap, at one bound,
the distance Nature herself has set be-
tween the elementary school and hiehcr
education. The second stage is IN many
respects the most imporian, of al. Then
Il Is that high purposes are formed; that
visions Of noble character come float
ing before the mind-vislons essential 70
Intellectual and spiritual growth. But the
mere presence OF the vision viii not in
sure thnt growth. Tho angel thought
must be caught and held, while the pulse
OF life are thrilling with its beauty and
music breathing power. This IDEAL must
become a real-a stepplng-stone to yet
The elementary school must grow into
the county or township high-school, the
nting school. as It IS aptly called for
entrance upon the broader plane where