The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-27


education is being wisely expended. and
that no fault can be%feund in this re-
spect.
.There are some matters in this state
that need looking into. Take for in
stance the school buildings, where the
child spends so many hours of the day.
The later buildings are Unfair conditions
and meet the requirements. but on every
hand are to be found ~oldsbuildings badly
in need of renovation. Then as to tho
school districts we have 7,CCO in this stats:
with 10000 trustees There is great need
of consolidation here and it would, among
other good results, save a lot of useless
expenditure.
'iF'ree text books is another important
item. Since we have had them In this
am sure that there is no one here who
would willingly go back 10 the Old sys-
tenn Yet there are certain districts that
have not adopted this, and it is high
time the law should be enforced, and
lack Of funds is no valid excuse.
yalue of Teachers.
LAS to the dear teachers and 1 say
dear in both senses, for after all is sai1,
it is the teacher that makes the school,
a good teacher is a jewel beycsid all
price. and a poor one is dear at any cost.
The normal schools of the state have
been productive of great good and II
any thing is done to wea ken these, the
whole educational system totters. Ihe
teachers Of the state are paid less than
any other class of educated WORKERS. anu
the result is that this state pays for
their training and other states reap the
benefit. The peOpie are beginning TO appte-
ciate this. however, and within tae next
twenty-five years expect mat we Will
make the same advancement as we have
in the past all alans the line, and every
thing will reach a satisfactory basis.
George 3. Alton, state inspector of hign
schools. led the discussion on Mr.. An
keny's address, and said in part, as fol-
lows:
at is my firm belief that we need more
money to run the schools OF tns slals
and 4 think that we are amply Justlhed
III asking the state for, it. Ii business
man can show that there viii be pfont
FOR further investments he is Jusslled
in asking that the money be advanced,
and if we can show that there viii be i
profit to the state if more money ~
spent for educational pu poses We are
surely is light in doing SO. T1e love OF
children has transformed our educational
methods and I do not think that any
person who asks for funds in behalf OF
the caifd will receive an answer In the
negative.
Zone of eu- greatest. needs is for con-
centration 1t will take money to- gather
up the children in the rural communities
and place them in one school WneIe
they may have better teachers and pei
ter facilities for learning. Dut II Will pay
well
sAII over the state may be found rooms
in which there are ffty-five children I'M
der one woman. II his is entirely Too
much to obtain theshsst results. we
need more rooms. more teachers and few
er children in the rooms, and all this
will take money!.
II am very much in favor of industrial
schools, in order thai the children OF the
state may grow UP nssympathy With
the base of the prosperity of our state
and national prosperity. There should
be shops built where instruction IN man.
ual arts may be gwen, and this Will
take money. w. -
Let me say to all the superintendent
here: Make a study Of tie financial con-
ditions of your district. Be a business
man in this regard and appear before
your boards knowing exactly what you
want. and be able to explain your fillan-
cia1 needs in a practical way. Ii you
do this am sure that a great deal of
trouble will be avoided.
Superintendent w. a. Shoemaker, of
st. Cloud, followed along the same lines.
saying in part:
81 must take exception to the term
frequently used: that is that the state
should give more money. The money
the state spends for the education Of its
children is by no means gift. 1t is
no more a gift than is the money one
gives to his tailor for a coat.
Develop business Instances.
I'm regard to the. development of busi-
by the previous speaker. Pam in hearty
accord with his sentiments, If all school
teachers. instead of merely being learned
We're able to talk and act In a purely
business manner L am sure that 1t would
not be nearly SO difficult for them to
secure the necessary funds to take care
of the schools. There are atgreat many
economies that can be, practiced by the
school teacher about the school and 1t
would have it's good effect.'s
In clOSinkr the SpPa1 lffr maid q Glowing
tribute to Martin Luther, whom he char
acterized as the patron saint of the
modern public school,
The last paper of the afternoon ses-
sion was read by Prof. Maria l.. Sand
ford, who was introduced by President
Van Dyke as the foremost woman edu-
Gator of the state. Prof. Sandford's pa
Pc was on tEducationsfor Those Who
follows:
In considering matters relating to edu-
cation. there are very few persons who
ever stop to think that when once the
children leave the school room, their
education is not only for the time being
interrupted, but in most cases stops com
pletely. This in my opinion is a great
error, and think that the general well
fare of the community demands that
there be some system of. education for
the adult.
Teachers Should Help.
I'm this work it Is the duty of the
teachers OF the young 10 take the lead
ana see that when once tne child mas
gone from their card that he does not
become mental nonentlIy, that he does
not stop at the last lesson in the text
book, but rather that he gvTeS on through
life broadening and becoming more i'm
bued with lie desire to know. We, find
the first argument for the necessity OF
something beng done along this line IN
our own cases. We are college gradu-
he
halls of learning we We're determined to
add something to our store of knowledge
each day. We did SO for time but
now are We not satisfied witt; reading
an occasional magazine or a novel, ana
with few uwIngeS of conscience settle
down TO a life OF Indifference
Now think of the large number of
children that drop out of the grades
each year to struggle for living What
is going to be their Intellectual state as
the years go on? They may feel their
loss and tor time strive to struggle
along by themselves, but the lack of
example and companionship of effort
soon disheartens them, and they give up
in despair.
Teachers of the public schools, it is
your duty TO awaken the people to the
fact that there is something more to be
done than to fit the child out educationaily
for a few years and then to turn him
into an educational desert. 1t will be
hard and trying work at the start but
always bear IN mind that the greatest
reforms were the result of small begin
nings.
Il will give a few suggestions that
your own ingenuity may Broaden and en-
iage upon. Arrange debating clubs that
will discuss topics of general Interest
You can always get a number of young
men and women who have passed out of
school to take an interest in this, and
they can be used for material to develop
the children yet under your instruction
Then there is the lecture course Do
not think that 1t is necessary for you to
TO entertain the audience There are al.
WAYS men to be found who can talk in