Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-02-22
Talks on School HffalrS.

NV NObA 10y VI iAO CuilOl
of this paper, the Platteville Normal
school, by lis faculty and students, is
enabled to establish line Of commune
ication, which we hope may become
permanent, between itself and the
readers Of this publication. The plan
outlined, and which has been approved
very generally By the Press of South
west Wisconsin,. is TO furnish to the
week ! papers for each issue, a short
article, original or selected, having in
view the Improvement of our public
schools. We wish to give assurance
that il is not the purpose to find fault
with present conditions or present at
tainments, but to help by such influ-
ence as we may be able to use in bring
ing about school results more salts
factory than are generally realized.
Our purpose is 10 build up, not tear
down. We are sure that however
good a school may be il is possible to
make ii better, and the best that can
De hal i, none too good forany school
in Wisconsin Marked improvements
in business methods and in material
results is Tie order Of HE day Edu-
catonal interests share in this gcner-
al improvement, but AL educational
interests have not thus far shared
equally in this advance Secondary
aud Higher Education have felt the
influence Of the spirit Of modern prog
ress much more IMAM has Elementary
Education. Witness the wonderfully
rapid growth Of High schools, the
multiplication Of Normal schools and
the expansion Of universities.
These results have been achieved by
the fostering care and wisdom of those
who have taken deepest interest in the
welfare Of our higher institutions of
learning The condition of the rural
schools is admitted to be sar short OF
what Is desirable and attainable.
schools, like other organizations, are
not accidents but effects due in all
their elements to sufficient causes.
In short, schools are what they are
made
The members Of our faculty, aud
student body, after carefully consid-
cring how they might contribute
more than hey have heretofore done
u the interests Of Elementary EIuca-
ton, have perfected an organization
among themselves for carrying out
the plan referred to above Members
of the Normal School faculties ought
to be qualified 10 present ideas that
may be helpful in carrying on the bust
ness Of the school. Their special work
is Of that character, Then, toe, many
of the Normal Students have had sue
cessful experience III teaching, some
of them in almost all grades of schools
and for a considerable time. These
persons are capable Of furnishing arti
cles Of interest and value. and we
have the assurance Of their cordial
cooperation aud active assistance in
this movement.
On behalf Of the Normal school,
most sincere thanks are hereby ten
dered 70 the editors VINO have so
promptly and heartily responded to
the circular letter setting forth the
project on which we are now entering,
and for suggestions offered for its sue
cessful prosecution.
We shall endeavor 70 profit by the
hints received and ask our friends of
the Common Schools to freely suggest
10 Us such topics aud questions for
consideration as may seem to them
to BE III line with our main purpose,
the improvementof the Public Schools.
The topic at present in MUD for
the article OF the next issue is the
Home School
The committee in charge Of this
work for what remains of the present
school year, is constituted as follows:
Faculty d. McGregor, Chairman;
J \. Wilgus, Isabella Pretlow. Thos.
H. Gentle, Maud l.. Carpenter.
Students Edgar 6 Doudna, Rich
land Center, Sen. Glass; d. Elmer
Smith, Yiroqua, Junior Class; George
Ihorsen Mt. Horeb, Second Year
Glass; Paul Jones, Barnevcid, First
Year Glass.
Communication addressed to any
member Of the committee will re-
ceiyc prompt attention.