The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-09-23

one thing needed for improving the country
school is a longer term. wish to say
phatically that in my opinion the longer |
term is the last thing needed. 1t is needed, |
but there other things needed more.
1. The first thing needed is better teach |
ing, more intelligent effort toward the
of character. I have been trying
to impress this. The summer schools are
working toward this end. This Association
has for years labored to improve the teach
ers of the state and has done much.
2. We need a better course of study in
our schools. This is closely related to bet
ter teaching and together they would trans
form our schools. This improvement is
needed in all the schools-and in the col
leges, too. There too much purposeless
teaching. Subjects taught if they
were an end in themselves. They not
made to appeal to child's interest. There
is attempt show their bearing upon
life. A boy is harassed with details about
political geography when the names
of the nations meaningless to him.
Years are wasted in drill in the rules of
grammar, and the hoy goes out on the play
ground and violates every rule. He has
never suspected that those dry rules have
indispensable part of his life.
We should teach a man to know not pas
sively but actively; to be not mere recep-
tacle of information, but potent factor.
We should teach more of science, and es-
pecially should there be in all teaching
more of the scientific spirit. We should
develop in the children a love of truth and
a self-reliance. Teach them to realize the
and effect. Then they will know that
wrong done never be righted; that j:
cannot be undone. Teach a man to re-
cognize in all spheres of activity the orderly
processes of nature. and SO feel his respon-
sbility to be in harmony with the Divine
Will. to promote the good and not the evil.
Education does not consist merely in de-
veloping in us mental power. 1t should
also supply with useful knowledge of our
environment. This cannot be acquired in a
day, and it is folly to lose the years of
schooling in exercise merely for the strength
ening of our minds, dumbbells strengt hen
the muscles. instead of strengthening our
minds by acquainting us with the great
truths that are involved in the life about us
and in the problems that will press
upon us. Life is too short. Duties are 900
pressing. We should learn VIVA, we need.
In the last half century there have come to
the front social and industrial problems
overshadowing all else. Some sage has said,
1.-The only good is knowledge; the only
evil is ignorance. In the last analysis,
every good goes back to knowledge its
basis. Every evil may be resolved into
ignorance it's cause. We must know the
right in order to do the right.
But education should do more than fit one
to graphic with the problems of life. The
whole man should he developed tt, the full
est. Our course of study and our teaching
should cultivate the artistic side of
ture, that we may be in full harmony with
creation. Otherwise, those potential pleas
ures remain forever unknown to us-there
is an irreparable loss to the total of
human happiness. We should teach art
and music in our schools. The experiment
the State Summer School has satisfied
me that anybody can learn to draw, and
that almost anybody can learn to sing.
The school should not aim to prepare for
college; it should prepare for life. The
college should take the boy that comes to it
and prepare him still better for life. 1t
should not make idol out of what it calls
a ':college course All education should
prepare for life; should help to give a
truer attitude toward life.
3. Better moral support from local au-
thorities is the next most important need of
our country schools.
The trustees and the parents, we'll as
the teacher, need to be educated their
duty. Their attitude may destroy all dis
cipne. Above all, they should not change
| the teacher unless there is certainty of
getting better teaching. The good teacher
should be kept permanently. Thus may the
teacher learn The childrens dispositions, win
their hearts and train their characters.
Moreover, a teacher doesn't know
where the chiloren prepared to take up
their studies. A large part of the session is
practically lost while the teacher is expert
mentng with the children.
4. Better supervision is another need.
The county superintendent usually paid
| too little to support them and permit them
| to devote themselves to the work and study
of supervision as a profession. They must
pursue other occupations for a living. Some
perform more than certain clerical duties
| that might we'll be performed by the
| county auditor. All this should be changed.
5. Better organization and division OF
the school itself is pressing need. We
| should seek to concentrate country
schools. Instead of four five poor
schools scattered over a neighborhood, we