The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-09
ExAS RURAL SCHOOLS.
Address Delivered by Prof. 5. \. N
Mars Of Terrell
ORE STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
ore Improvement Can he Made In
kbe Condition of Country schools.
some valuable suggestions.

following Taper was read before tho
:, rsarbers association at Fort Worth by
RI n. Mars. formerly chief clerk under
ma SUPERINTENDENT Carlisle. now superin-
dent of schools at Terrell:
~. have been entertained and instructed
,boss who have discussed the various con-
ions pertaining to the rural schools and
,eeially in the happy presentation OF what
rural school has done; 1t now devolves
~ me to deal with the conditions us they
,st and to indicate. If possible, wherein I'm
ovement can be made and wherein lie the
ssibilities OF these schools in the building
character and the development of citizen
ip.
,pe of the most eminent statesmen Of mod
n times said: "Open the door of the
bool house to all the children Of the land.
!, no man have the excuse of poverty for
educating his own offspring. Place thu
cans of education within his reach and il
remain in ignorance be II his own reproach.
one object OF the expenditure of your reve-
n be protection against crime. you could
n desire better or cheaper means OF St.
ring it, Other nations spend their money
nroyiding means Tor its detection and pun
b,inent but 1t is for the principle OF our
byernment to provide for its never occur
bg The one acts by coercion. the othor
prevention. On the diffusion of education
hong the people rests the preservation and
Evacuation of our free institutions" This
as true half century ago; ii Is true today.
4lOne of the greatest teachers America has
err produced-a man whose name is known
the great majority or the progressive men
I'D women in the educational field-has also
FIFTEEN as follows: ITO our public schools
must look for those. who will be called
pon to manage. the affairs of families, toI
ansact the business of town and State, to
the vacated bench of justice. to sit In the
Ills of legislation, and to direct and con-
oil the church OF God Upon the character
our schools and teachers. therefore, de
lnds the veal or woe of unborn millions,
prosperity or downfall of our boosted IN
|itutions."
Our attention has been directed to the vast
fuence exerted by the rural schools in the
engagement and control of all the affairs of
day The Importance of PROPER care for
cir welfare and development can not be
erestimated. No thoughtful student of ex-
Ting economic conditions can fail to recog
lie the danger to our institutions arising
Fom the growing population of our cities and
be spirit of unrest which pervades the
kasses aggravated and increased by soctalis- [
b and communistic ideas, propagated for the
lost part by scheming demagogues. Coming
\ contact with each other day after day. the
3boring classes In our cities, seeking relief,
xfe often tempted to iudorse measures which
accomplished would bring ruin upon our
bciety. and to follow the leadership OF men
pose only purpose is to further their per
nal interests. The remedy for these is the
ucatIon of the people. 1t has been the
story OF all countries that so long as con-
(rvative men controlled the affairs of state
)e people were happy and prosperous. 1t is
4 wel-settled fact that the prosperity and
hppiness of the pepole in government such
ours depends almost entirely upon the I
aucatlon and general information of the
asses and 1t will be agreed also that the
nj lp b. TNtty tr.t ,-tt tub N
bnservative class that holds in check the eA-
Ieme measures which originate in our CEN
(rs Of population. If this be true, how great
be responsibility which rests upon those who
be rural districts! All honor to the boys
I'D girls Of the country. Rugged. honest,
rtuous, they are the hope of the nation.
|hey deserve the best instruction that can be
wen. for in them lie possibilities of future
Featness How can these possibilities be !
ftained?
"a. BY providing efficient supervision of
i hoos. It ia wholly unnecessary TO argue in
fvcr of intelligent supervision, for in so DO |
hg II would appear that this Is mooted
4iestion. 1t remains for you in your home
s n, to educate your people 50 that they
1fe who is skilled In school management
4rect the educational ahalrs of the county. |
they would not think of employing a lawyer
q plan and construct a house in which they 1
fpect to live, but they willingly commit 10
3is care what is of vastly more importance
a them--the management of their schools and
re consequent building and formation of the
enaracter of their children. True, some law |
xers seem to succeed as county superintend- |
pits II their work is not analysed too closely |
4lso some lawyers would succeed as well IN
rchltecture-possibly as many of one as the
4ther.
~ BY providing good teachers. Statistics
Dow that about 80 per cent of the teachers
the rural schools leave the profession each
Zesr II good teachers are secured the posi-
IONS must be made c DPrmauont OOSSi- !
Pc and the teachers must receive remunera
We salaries. Teachers should be selected who
re- interested in the work for the works
PKG, not for the purpose of obtaining a
" dollars at the expense of the children, in
Eder that they may prosecute studies which
ihem Tor some other. profession. The
Iacher OF the country school has great OPP
ortunities. Nature with lavish hand has
inlshed much material. Habits OF close
observation and clear reasoning should be
uiiyaied among the pupils. Proper respect
rouid pc shown for manual labor The child
Eouid be taught that honest labor is mark
tne highest degree of responsibility, and
10y ss true happiness consists in faithful
performance OF duty. These are some of the
ossipiitles which lie before the teacher; LAP
IS me teacher who discharges his full duty
.nls respect and thrice happy is the com
UNITY whose children receive the benefit of
y instruction, Scholarship is not ALL and
et we must have scholarship. / would rather
ave teacher to instruct my child whose
moie purpose seemed the development OF
ue aracter, even though she could obtain |
.eIthcate of only the second grade, than 10
lrust his education to college graduate
ions. VI ''N''"
BY providing sufficient funds for the |
'hIehance of the schools. Good teachers |
, ~ not be secured If the salary is not suf |
.nt 70 suDDort them. 1t is almost aXio-
ns1c tnat "a good article can not be secured |
nttle money" Poor teachers are dear at |
a. s nice Texas is Tar behind many Of the |
49, IN the per capita expenditure for edu- |
NJ quoting from the paper read by Hon.
~ Sariisle last year at Galveston:
r,i ~ tnc expenditure per pupil. Texas is the |
az" ssn IN the list spending only $90S. while j
nlst IN the list spends $50 per pupil. In
bo, expenditure for schools estimated on the |
ha y,e population. Texas comes forty second |
Thha,ns si-S4 against s4.92 for Nevada"
,.eie must be more local taxation. No dis |
M; NJ IL ,, aoins Its duty In an educational way
nn MI the funds supplied by the State and
pn si,'y are supplemented II necessary, by
maintained.
an ny improving school architecture through
IS -, thu,irhished by the State superintendent
,upnc INSTRUCTION and indorsed by the
kas ooaFd OF education. How much money
koncarnl. wasted by a lack of Information
nod mug school architecture? How much
5cboo, 'oa t be accomplished by directing
keatinr oineers to give proper attention 70
o,st nehtng and ventllating the school
ues throuehout the state?
In ,hs ADOPTING uniform course OF study
kov,ne rural schools There are so many
n,alissss among the teachers; there Is so little
XNN.HEtut county wit rpgppet