Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-02-22
Talks on School Affairs.

tors Of this paper, the Platteville
Normal School, by its Faculty and
Students, is enabled to establish a
line of communication, which we
hope may become permanent, be-
tween itself and the readers Of this
publication. The plan outlined, and
which has been approved very gen
orally by the Press of Southwest
Wisconsin, is to furnish to the week.
1y papers for each issue, short ar
ticle, original or selected, having
in view the improvement of our
public schools. We wish to give as
surance that it is not The purpose to
find fault with present conditions or
present attainments, but to help by
such influence as we may be able to
use in bringing about school results
more satisfactory than are generally
realized. Our purpose is to build up,
not tear down. We are sure that
however good II school may be it is
possible to make it better, and the
best that can be had is none too good
for any school in Wisconsin. Mark
ed improvement in business methods
and in material results is the order
of the day. Educational interests
share in this general Improvement,
but all educational interests have
not thus far shared equally in this
advance. Secondary and Higher
Education have felt the influence of
the spirit of modern progress much
more than has Elementary Educa-
ton. Witness the wonderfully rapid
growth Of High Schools, the multi
plication Of Normal Schools, and the
expansion of Universities.
These results havo been achieved
by the fostering care and wisdom of
those who have taken deepest in
tercst in the welfare OF our higher
institutions Of learning. The con-
dition Of the rural schools is adj
mtted to be far short of what is de-
sirable and attainablc. Schools,
like other organizations, are not ac-
cidcnts, but effects due in all their
elements to sufficient causes. In
short, Schools are what they are
made.
The members of our faculty and
the student body, after carefully con.
sidcring how they might contribute
moro than they have heretofore
done to the interests of Elementary
Education, have perfected an organ
ization among themselves for carry
ing out the plan referred to above.
Members Of the Normal School Fac
ulties ought to be qualified to pre-
sent ideas that may be helpful in
the carrying ON of the business of
the school. Their special work is of
that character. Then, too, many of
the Normal Students have had sue
cassful experience in teaching, some
of them in almost all grades of
schools and for Il considerable time.
These people are capable of furnish
ing articles of interest and value,
and we have the assurance OF their
cordial cooperation and active as
sistancc in this movement.
On behalf of the Normal School,
most sincere thanks are hereby ten
dered to the editors who have so
promptly and heartily responded to
the circular letter setting forth the
project on which we are now enter
ing, and for suggestions offered for
its successful prosecution.
We shall endeavor to profit by the
hints received and we ask friends
of tho Common Schools to freely
suggest to us such topics and ques-
tions for consideration rs may seem
to them to be in line with our main
purpose, the Improvement of the
Public Schools.
The topic ut present in mind for
the next issue is The Home School.
The Committee in charge of this
we, for what remains of the pres
ent school year, is constituted as fol-
lows
Faculty:--D. McGrcgor, Chairm'n.,
J. \. Wilgus, Isabella Pretlow, Thos.
II. Gentle, Maud l.. Carpenter.
Students:--Edgar ID. &. Doudna,
Richland Center, SEN, ID. Elmer
Smith, Nroqua, Junior, Geo. Thore-
sen, Mount Horch, Second Year,
Paul Jones Barneyeld, First Year.
Communications addressed to any
D,nnhpr nf tbn rnmnittpn will ra