Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-24
b, schweitert,s paper.

b. j. schweitert's paper.
Great heroes OF the pnst have been written
about and euloglzed until their names have be- 4
come immortal ;others have erected for themselves
monuments which are mile-stones in the worlds |
civilization. The lowiy Nazareae no longer
treads the shores of Galilee; the world is no
longer fearful at Pope's decree, and the clank-
ing Of the boudsmen's shackles is heard no more.
But the proclamation of the cross dwells in the
hearts of millions; gracious world has sancti-
fed the martyrs who at the stake delivered it
from the bondage Of f.naticism, and In future
ages the children of our emancipated race will
turn their gaze backward toward that gallows
which breaches to the world the brotherhood of
man.
But past history goes to prove that orators
have not waxed eloquent over the great educators
Of their times. These pass away and arc soon
forgotten. They however have erected for them
selves monuments which will stand It'll Ian
gaages are dead and lips are dust" These monu.
ments are the bone and sinewo of our nation
There are some who hold the teachers profess
sion in contempt. In the list Of professions they
place that of teachiug at the bottom. There are
teachers who say: "When more lucrative pas.
lures present themselves shall bid farewell to
that of teaching" Such are disgrace to the pro-
fession They have no definite aims in view.
They are not living but existing. They do not
teach school but keep school.
Our success depends largely upon tho high
opinion we have Of our profession. A lawyer,
who regards his profession In this light, will not
defend a criminal for the mere purpose OF evad-
| ing the penalty of the civil law. He has higher
purpose. He may defend such a one to mitigate
| the penalty, but he reasons thus: SIT Is human
for us to err; the law is hard master If all were
judged by the Al!-wise Judge, none
would be found spotless." In this
way he can stand between culprit
and the law. lawyer, who defends criminal
with any other aim In view but this one, Is bonded
with criminals, and is In league with outlaws.
Mobs are the results Of poor laws, the schemes Of
unprincipalled lawyers and the trlckery of judges
The ministry is meeting with daily failures, be-
cause the rostrum insetad of the sacredl message
being proclaimed from 1t has become a stage ard
4 the minister an actor.
From the fact that so many young people start
In life as teachers, one would think that success
was possible for anyone in that calling. Never
was greater mistake made. 1t is easier to lead
an army to victory, or to reach eminence in the
councils of the state or nation than to teach a
child as 1t should be taught. The most powerful
men and women In the land should, II possible,
be employed as teachers. The teacher has under
taken the most difficult calling In the world.
What has led her to adopt it? Does she love little
children! Does she know how wrong 1t is to lay
cruel hands on child fit to be companion OF
seraphm or to lie in Abrahams bosom:
In all your discussions regarding the farms l
doubt not but that 1t was the Thoroughbred horse
the thoroughbred COW, the thoroughbred sheep
and the thoroughbred swine that brought the
most money and success to the farmers. SO THU
afternoon, as step in the right direction to gaiI
better results and to improve our common schools
l say, give us Thoroughbred teachers" Oul
common schools are just like other schools. They
must have good teachers, good school rooms, goot
libraries. good heating and ventilation, good at
, tendance, good interest and the hearty co-opera
ton of the patrons and school boards 1t natter
not where the school is located good results ar,
. sure to follow wherever these things exist.
Iexpect some of you anticipate the argument o
CONSOLIDATION of Districts" am, at least To-
the present, an anticonsolidationist. believ,
we are unprepared for the change. The time
5 do not demand it. 1t is not workable. 1t is no
safe to argue that because tho system works wei
in Massachusetts, and in certain localities o
Ohio, 1t would work well In Iowa. They are no
! parallel cases. Massachusetts, is manufacturing
state dotted with small villages as is also parts
Ohio. But Iowa is an agricultural state, and cal
never be made anything else There seem to b.
a difficulties in the proposed system which are in
: surmountable.
= The country school has been ridiculed to al
alarming extent at the hands o. well meaning
! educators and by those who ought to know better
Certainly no good can result from such fault find
ing abuse and unsympathetic treatment. TIL,
result of such system of management !
the opposite of progress and improvement. Th
country school Is the place where the majority 9
y the people must be educated. To descry thes
: schools would be un-AmerIcan and unpatrIotit
The true American and the true patriot conslde
. the veal of the many as more to be sought tha
= the qualification of the few. With proper ideas
a with proper management, the common echoo
q can be made the best elementary school of tn
i age. e