The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-03-02

|
o,ll prepared by Superintendent Harvey
relating to the appointment OF supervls-
,rs of country schools, The criticisms
are not honest because the conditions
which the bill purposes to improve are /
not understood by those who are so |
prompt in censuring. There is no deny /
ing the fact that our country schools are /
in q state of decadence and while they |
will never cease to exist, they Will soon |
grow to state OF ineficIepcy the pros
pect of which should cause alarm. This
ia fact which should be recognized and
every one interested IN the fnture OF the
country should interest himself lie sup
porting anything designed to relieve the
situation. The demagogue at once sees
an opportunity to descant upon the
rights CT the people to choose their own
superb tendents. Ii the schools can be
impro ged permanently by limiting
popular privilege or denying 1t wholly,
there can be no question OF the course
proper to pursue, as schools are designed
to educate and not to create voting
privilege, The best way to secure the
end suggests the means. Some people
have an Idea that the privilege OF voting.
Is the end sought by popular government
The act of voting is but means for the
accomplishment of something and the
best means, ordinarily, if guided by IN
telligence. The exercise OF power by the
people is proper only when ID the line OF
contributing to the public good. The
mechanical function Of voting Is door
right for which to contend If the object
sought is thereby defeated.
The Pilot has serious mIsglvlngs as to
whether the scheme of appointment
urged by Superintendent Harvey will
prove a remedy for the conditions pre-
vailing and which are steadily growing
worse. 1t Is evident that something be
done to check the growing tendercy tow
ard deterioration. A change OF some
kind Is Imperatively demanded II general
rural education of a character TO give IL
| value is TO be preserved. This fact Is
what deserves consideration IN this cOu-
nectlon, and not "the rights of the peo-
pie" when these rights are exercised to
| the detriment of desirable result. 1t Is
| the improvement of the country schools
that is sought. This is the purpose
which is actuating MIR. Harvey and ii
anything better than the scheme be has
outlined can be suggested, he will, likely
| gladly adopt 1t.
The Pilot places the cause of the de-
geueracy OF the country schools IN the
lack of healthful sentiment 10 rural com
munities. How to stimulate sentiment
favorable to the upbuiidIng OF the coun-
try schools is the question. An impulse
IS not sufficient. It must be stead,
application of force, as the inertia OF In
difference will remain a constant force
This improvement must come through
the people and the people are now tn
L. ot- afn,, lor1 no
do much in awakening their interest ant
making them active 10 their own behalf
but man of such forceful attribute
need not long remain In position whlc
offers such meager compensation an
everyone is chiefly interested 10 his ow
, pecuniBry welfare. No doubt we woul
have better superintendent under tn
system proposed by Mr.. Harvey an
, present conditions would be improved
But it is not dealing with the root of tn
, evil and that is The Pilots objection,
, that can be called objection which con
cedes benefit from that of which disap
proval is expressed. 1t is the people VIII
need to be educated. II Is local sent
ment which needs elevGtlug. 1t is devc
: ton to the home school which neeC
+ strene thening. 1t is the creation of thu
that feeling of obligation which require
1 no pressure from outside to urge tt
g main tainauce of good school. OutsiC
= assistance is valuable but it can new
u. take the place of local obligation. Ga
. this sense of duty which should have tt
II force of an instinct be measurably 10
J. pressed by an appointlve officer of rec
uisite ability? Without doubt the pres
ent attitude of relaxation can be impro'
ed. But can growth and parmanency
g secured? Ii so Mr.. Harvey's bill shou
y meet with general favor.
d But the question arises, can the Poop
be educated into an enlarged comprehel
a sion of duty by relieving them OF respol
d siblity the sense OF which they shou
r feel? At present, obligation sits light
on the ordinary patron of the count
school. The earnest advocate CT popul
20 education in rural communities looks
II the high school for the education of tho
q. Ia whose welfare lie has Immediate CO.
-, Germ. The country school, in consequent
= has lost the impulse which his earnes
ID ness mparted and its standard is fixed
t. considerations which are bar to a.
| vancement The first step toward amen
, ment should be to impress that sense
responsibility upon the people regardi
r their duty to their local institutions
ID learning without which there can be
[e permanent improvement, as this mu
:, come through the people. The fund
d mental principle must be ever kept
4 mind that progress must come throu
g. Intelligent action on the part Of tho
If whose local institutions ERE to be affecte
How is this to be iono! The Pilot is q
~ certain that IL will be accomplished
| making the supervising power appointl'
g. LIZ knows that present conditions 6
"A working the ruin OF the country schoo
:. Will those who oppose Mr.. Harve.
/ scheme, which originates from the be
W motives, suggest better?
If The bill aside from this one feature
10 doubt, has provisions which should
% once be adopted and which will do gre
e. deal toward accomplishing what is DIES
I'd ed. The creation of the position of wi
"a may be termed supervisor of super
= tendents is to be highly commended,
Is also the change Of time when the s
te perlntendent or inspector assumes
a. office-belng IN July. Some more m
70 be SAID in future issue on the desirab
:, Ity of these changes.
=" GEN ERAL NEWS.