Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-31
is no help for It because different material
cannot be secured.
Need of Wore Normal hoo

the imperative duty of the state to provide
normal training schools So important a
matter as the preparation OF teachers for our
schools should no longer be let to ire
sTonsibie private enterprise or the uncer-
tainty OF chance. Il is made the constitu-
ticnal duty OF the state to the general gov
eminent to provide instruction for all its
children in the common schools and the
first step in the discharge Of that duty is the
preparation OF competent instructors. The
legislature should provide for at least three
additional state normals next winter. The
course Of study should be arranged especially
to meet the needs OF the common schools
and care should be taken that it be not so
long or high that all but a favored few be
barred from its benefits. Other states are
providing for this necessity. Twenty-three
have each three to fourteen state normals
and eleven have two each. The state SUI
perintendent Of Iowa a few days ago urged
the legislature to provide for three more in
that state. Wisconsin has lately authorized
the establishment of county normals and
some Of them are already in operation.
In education, as in building, the foundation
should be laid deep and firm. else the whole
superstructure must be weak and imperfect.
Not only is the elementary school the foun-
dalton of our educational structure, but it is
also the school in which 90 per cent Of our
children complete their education. Upon
this foundation rests all higher education.
The character Of the work done in the ele-
mentary school is determined by the quality
OF teachers supplied and the quality Of
higher education depends on the character
OF the work done in the lower schools. The
teacher is everything and at present the
missing link in our school system is trained
teachers for the elementary schools. All
over the east and north the wall is going up
because Of the decay OF the rural school.
Educational doctors are prescribing various
remedies, as the township plan, central
school and transportation, etc. If the truth
could be learned. 1t would be found that
most of these schools are simply famishing
for lack Of teachers who can profciently
teach the elementary branches.
We are eXpending too much energy on So
called higher education. In fact, we have
gone higher-education crazy in Nebraska.
Every high school in the state is trying to
fit for the university whether they have
three teachers or 1913. The pupil who goes
through the High school and university
knows nothing but higher education. If
he becomes a principal 80 per cent OF his
energy goes to higher education and 10 per
cent TO the grades. When he reports to
the state superintendent 80 per cent OF his
report deals with high school laboratories
and playhouses read their reports. II he
instructs in your institute he talks over
the heads OF your teachers and they say,
II cant apply that TO my work" The
trouble is that the university. high schools
and many high school principals forget or
don't know that there is an elemen. AIRY
school, much less do they comprehend its
needs or Importance. and it rests with us
as county superintendent to call their at
~tention to the existence of the institution
once in a while.
Where the Majority Are Taught.
The time has come when the creates,
stress should be laid upon solving the prob
lem which shall bring the most help to the
great majority-the 80 per cent of our chill
dren-whcse time in school is cut short by
the pressing necessities OF everyday life In
stead OF trying TO prepare more children for
college, our whole aim should be to adapt
all cur studies to the life of the child that
his development for the duties that open to
him at what ever period he may be Obliged
to leave school shall be the greatest pos
sible. However much we may value our
college education, we must remember that
tho great mass of the children who enter
our school must be taught how TO meet
the duties of life without even beginning
+ the studies considered essential for college
I preparation.
regard it as one of the most important
; duties of county superintendent to look to
! the interests of the lower schools. If we do
d not, nobody will. And the State university
0 will continue. as in the past. to establish its
powerful lobby at every session of the legis-
%lature, and ''hog" everything, even to tn
impoverishment and ruinat!on OF all other
y departments of education in the state. Last
. winter the university had a more powerful
g tbby in attendance on the legislators than
VI any corporate interest in the state, ard as a
result the legislature appropriated two
o thirds of a million dollars to the university
for the benefit of the favored one-half Of
}! per cent of the states children, and refused
Q to do anything of special note for the train
ing Of teachers whose influence would be re-
2 Elected in tho lives and education of the 9e
d per cent.
1t IS we, the county superintendent. who
t are to be blamed for lack of qualified teach
k ers in our schools. And it depends upon us
as TO whether this condition shall continue
? We have neglected in the past to present oul
c needs to our Legislators. They will do the
II right thing II they once understand the con
e ditions. 1t must be our care to see to it that
c they are advised OF our necessities next win,
ter.
The teachers are not to be blamed for this
F A~nAA ~ NN-aA 49, Wv N'N
lie people in general have been hoCdcoed anC
lc deceived into believing that the high schools
were fitting them for any calling. There il
no more earnest, conscientious and patriots
n class within our borders than the teachers o
our schools.
d l do not want you TO get the understand
he ing that | am an enemy of the university o.
OF real higher education. The univeTsit!
should be considered the browning glory o
- our school system. but il Is not the who'll
l. system nor the most important part of 1t.
apprecite the Importance OF real higher edu
cation, but l have no patience with tina
superficial variety so common in our stat
that trains our children to be %trifers, in
accurate slipshods, lacking in thoroughness
W Educational Notes.
Hon. John w. Foster, the well know
70 diplomatist, has accepted an invitation {
n University of Illinois on the early diplomat
history uf the United States. The lecture
re will probably be given in April.
There Is a good deal of complaint on tn
= part of parents about the system of VERT
cal penmansh!p At present taught in tn
III Minneapolis public schools. Many of thcT
al say that their children are making very un
satisfactory progress In the important ar
~ of writing.
10 l.. II. Severance. former treasurer OF tn
o. : anLard oil company. who has jus. give
10 $1,000 TO -ae laboratory Of OSerlin college
80 era iuafoi from ObCrl.n with the best rec