Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-11-22
LACK OF TEXT BOOKS, ETC.
A Teacher Discusses the Needs O.
Many OF the Country Schools.
Editor WILLMAR TRIBUNE:

Editor WILLMAR TR1BUNE:
The prevailing idea among the peo-
pie of today is that we Americans are
OF the foremost and most advanced
nations in existence. In the broad
sense OF the term we are proud to own
the fact. Judging the future by past
evidences, we are yet in the act of as
cending the ladder of national honor.
Since the life and power of a nation
is either increasing or declining, like
that OF the human being, we have
yet many things to adjust and inn
prove, To avoid the cruel master of
experience, we study and profit by the
object lessons other peoples have
learned. My subject will be along
the educational line. Education has
been and will continue to be one of
the most intricate problems for all ma
tions to solve satisfactorily. It is re-
ceiving we'll earned attention by the
public of this country. But we must,
nevertheless, admit the deficiency yet
existing in our rural school of the
pioneer districts. First we learn tina
the city schools have great advantages
over our more secluded country
schools, WHICH / don't think is quite
fair. equal rights to all, aud spe-
cial privileges to none" is the
strength of our government. And we
must provide those ''rights' our
selves. The prosperity and general
welfare of our nation will be as the
interest and wise action of the private
citizen, according to our fundamental
principles of government If we cause
a competent administration to be
chosen, we will get the duties of such
executed according to our own will.
All private citizens should be trained
to understand, and follow the pursuits
of our public officials as we'll as his
own. Such training he should pos
sess as soon as he exerts any infu-
ence on his surroundings, so as not
to impair by his ignorant actions the
good that we should strive to do.
Such influence, in our country, COM
mences at an early age. Consequent.
ly, he has to be educated while young.
Then the question arises, is our sys.
tenn of education, especially in the
rural districts, sufficient and to be re.
lied upon for fitting the rising gener.
alton for the worthy duties of a citi.
zen? I contend we have many faults
to mend. We lack in supplies, inter.
est and support of those concerned.
We find the popular idea to be that il
matters little how the progress in our
district school is, as long as we full.
fill the requirements of the law (which
are often pronounced unreasonable.
1 # one is to have an education, he will
have to obtain that from the higher
institutions. What is: the result:
Scarcely ten per cent receive that
training and the remaining ninety per
cent 20 through life with the common
school routine, be it satisfactory or
I not. Hence the lack of interest. A
man never succeeded without having
4 interest IN his work. The condition
is most deplorable. We find twenty.
five per cent Of our districts lacking
text books. Each family buys books
according to their taste. The children
come to school with different kinds,
j and many without any; which makes
it next to imp ible for the unfortu.
1 nate teacher to arrange pupils and
] studies 50 as 70 do effective work.
i The result IS . poor school and dear
\ books; not consid ering the ortifca.
. tions Of the teacher. You obtain text.
d books for whole schools at5half price,
4 compared 70 buy ing one BY one from
n 4 local dealer e wi II now consider
/ the other. seventy five per cent Of dis.
Itricts with free and, unfit rm text books.
After having once made q deal for 3
J series, there seems "a IS no worrying