Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-10
The RURAL SCHOOL PROBLEn.
Paper Prepared by County Superin=
tendent of Schools r. A.
HaYenor.


tendent of Schools R. A.
Havenor.
The above heading is the subject, and
following in this column is the subject
matter Of paper read before the
teachers institute at Marshield Satur-
day last, March 5, by County Superin-
tendent of Schools r. A. Havenor. Mr.
Havenor treated particularly with what
some people call the 'decline of coun-
try schools and he offers a suggested
remedy by introduction of a pedagog-
zeal course and teachers training de-
partment in every accredited high
school of the state; the grades to be
used as model departments. Our county
superintendent has given much time
and careful study to this rural school
problem" and his paper contains matter
of real interest to the educator, as we'll
as to all parents whose children attend
school. Mr.. Havenor said:
Just now public attention seems, to a
certain extent, to be turned toward the
country schools which, as some writer's
maintain, are not in a fourishing con-
dition. That there is some truth in the
last statement no one will deny. But
like the various ailments that aff1ict the
physical body We have any number Of
persons who advise the administering
of this or that nostrum which they be-
lleVe is a panacea for the disease no
matter what it may be or from what it
was caused. But the more rational
method would seem to be to try to dis
cover the cause and remove it, if pos
sible, by applying some suitab BILE rem
edy, if we are able to determine what it
should be.
Prof. c.. P. Cary of Milwaukee seems
to have pointed out what [ believe to
be the chief causes of decline in the
country schools. if decline exists.
He says, first, that young men and
women leave the country and go to the
city thereby increasing the school pop
ulation Of the city and decreasing that
large areas of the United States is
steadily decreasing except among a
certain class of foreigners who do not
value school privileges; that school dis
tricts are often formed so small that
taxation is burdensome; and that
schools are often in the hands of imma-
ture boys and girls who have neither
education nor judgment to manage the
school, which often causes children to
become disgusted and leave school en-
nrely. To eliminate or remove all of
these causes [ believe wilt not be an
easy task but do believe that if people
at large were better trained mentally,
morally, and physically much i'm
provement might be made. In prevent
ing the exodus Of pupils from the coun-
try, [ can see but one way and that is
to havesbetter schools in the country
| will speak of this more fully under
he fourth topic.
vet most serious one Wien viewed in
the right light.
You may visit any number of the
best homes III any community, in each
Of which dwell in happiness and COM
fort man and wife possessing wealth,
refinement and intelligence, and yet in
very many Of them no "Chlldlen's
Hour" is needed for there are no chill
dren on the stairway plotting to take
any one by surprise.
Having forgotten the divine COM
nand, they are not even willing to
~hare, by adoption, their comforts with
some worthy but unfortunate childre n
whose parents may lie cold in the grave
or may be so poverty stricken that they
cannot rear them properly.
In other homes you may find per-
haps one or two children in each who
! though reared in luxury and refine
| ment are too often like plants grown in
doors, weak and frail, and unable to
stand the storms of life. Such homes
IN Olden times were often blessed with
| children from or 8 to bakers. dozen
On the other hand we may enter
homes where poverty and ignorance
are apparent on every side and there
we are apt to find house full of chill
| dren in the most deplorable condition.
Neither books, papers, nor the civiliz-
ing influences of Christianity are to be
found, but [ am glad to say that there
| is one redeeming feature in this last
home, viz: plain food and plenty of
Heavens fresh air has made them
strong and healthy and better able to
stand the storms of life.
In the third case it is true that many
districts are too small in territory and
consequently are apt to be small in val
uation, which makes taxation burden
some.
Some have thought that the trans
porting of children from small dis
trict to another would tighten taxes and
improve the schools but there are some
objections to it that | fear cannot be
removed.
Others think that the township sys-
tenn has merits in it that would equal
lze the burdens of taxation. | believe
that township system might be form
Mated that uould remedy some of the