Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-04-18
ANOTHER CONTRIBUTED SCHOOL ARTICLE.
Light and Ventilation Reviews Seme Of DR..
Porters Remarks and Otherwise Writes
on the Subject.


ly the question of the day in Viroqua
and it is to be hoped it may remain up
permost and be discussed by our citizens
until they are all well informed and able
to vote intelligently ON the question next
July. AT present there is wonderful
diversity of opinion with regard to what
is needed for our schools and some peo-
Pile have even taken the ground that
nothing whatever is needed, our present
accommodations being ample in every
way. There are two ways of explaining
such position, and those two ex-
plantations may be expressed in two
words Ignorance and prejudice, There
should be no ignorance 20 plead, as our
schools are always open to visitors
Prejudice is much harS.er 70 deal with
and we can only hope that the people
who oppose the good of our schools on
such narrow grounds, are very few.
Such opposition. however will react on
the opposers. No good citizen can af-
ford to oppose the proper equipments
for our schools. The schools are for the
children of our city and those children
are the dearest of our possessions. Any
attempt to retard the progress of our
schools will be looked upon as little
short of crime. If Viroqua does not
now do her duty toward the children of
her city one more mistake will be made
and one that il will be difficult to rem
edy.
The question of the city hall is settled
for the present, but the hall is sure TO
come before many years, and perhaps
very soon. That question, however
should neve have been discussed in con-
nection with the school question. The
school board was not opposed to the
building of city hall, Its individual
members held varying opinions ON that
subject. just as other citizens did, but
the board is a unit in saying that the
schools must have more room, more
light and more ventilation.
OF course it is very interesting TO con-
trast our buildings of today with
the 'hop-kln' and 'tie-up of COW
barn, which DR.. Porter describes as
among the school houses in which he
gained his early education. But If the
school board of Viroqua should provide
such accommodations for DR.. Porters
young son there would need TO be daily
paper started in our city at once in or
ders that the doctor might be able TO
obtain sufficient space in which TO give
to the public small part of his ideas on
the school question. 1t is all very well
to talk over old times and contrast the
opportunities in those good old times"
with the opportunities of today. but the
doctor would not like to drop all his
modern farm and dairy machinery and
go back to the imperfect appliances
of that day; neither would he be salts
fed to have his sons educational advan-
tages limited az his own We're The
fact is that the parents of that day gave
their children the best advantages their
finances and environments permitted.
The parents of today should do as well.
Nothing more is 9 '7ed or expected.
While it is true that our grades in
many instances, are crowded. and no
teacher can possibly give the individual
attention to pupil which justly belongs
to that pupil, still no member of the
school board believes that any child
has attended school for six months and
only been twice called upon to read :
Such charges have been investigated
and found to be entirely without foun-
datiou A parent should thoroughly
| investigate the childs stories before
making snch accusations against a
| teacher. We should have smaller grades
and more teachers; but our teachers are
doing remarkably good work for the
| chance they have. We are able to pro-
vide teachers only, not tutors, and a
child who needs special individual help
must either get that help at home or drop
out of the class A teacher with from
forty to sixty pupils in charge can
net he expected to do tutoring. Neither
would ii be Justice to the remainder of
| the school if she should undertake TO
| give special help to q few. There are
certainly faults to be found in the grad
| ed school system but it Is the very best
vet discovered It seems to do all thai
! the public institution can be expected tc
do for a child but no school can supply
| the Individual training which child
should receive at home. The parent
| who expects the school to be father and
mother and teacher will be disappointed
The school is only meant to supplement
the home training The members of thu
school board do not make our laws, ant
if they are obliged to take charge O
scores of four year old babies it is no
because they are desirous Of so doing o.
approve ,of the law. that permits tb'
sending Of such tender infants ava.
from the home nest Neither is tn
school board responsible for the misrep
sentations Of parents who send children
to school who are from six month to
year too Young for the fultiliment Of TIN
lawful age, which is far too young. y
far however. from complaint being mad
bv parents that the schools are too cage
to fake charge Of the young children, tn
great complaint is that the school boar
fails 20 provide kindergartens and TAX
charge Of the infant soon enough.
1t may be true rs DR.. Porter says, tina
the pupils sleep in unventilated be
rooms and breathe tobacco smoke sever
al hours day, and this in their owl
homes. However, if we admit this, fa
more important becomes the question o
ventilation of our school rooms. Tn
pIan Of shortening the school hours, eI
peciglly for the young children Is an ex
ceIlent one, bat even three hours worl
cannot be we'll done in an i'll lighted
poorly ventilated room.
Yes, a good school trai ming does be
ter fit a young woman 10 be her mother
! assistant or the matron of her own hom
and every boy is better fitted for life
work if he has the education he shoul
receive in a good public school &c
! tainly. wa have all known brainy me
z whose natural abilities were such tn;
2 lack of ec ucation did not always kee
; them in the back ground; but VIII;
] might not have been the result Of tbs
a ability com bined with an education
e The cri 7ple may learn 10 walk but he
a cripple still and the consciousness
his weakness is always with him an
hjz crHtch is ever burden. An unedi
f. Gated person is cripple and must a
!. wavs be such. Much Of the enjoymei
d and beauty # the world must Of nece