The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-12-20
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Before the Teachers Meeting
at Fayal School Sat-
urday.

~ 4 - J. - 0~AASS' SNS
urday.
THE POSITION OF A GOOD SCHOOL
What constitutes a good school?
What are the desired ends to be
attained by system of schools? To
answer these questions it will be
necessary to state two fundamental
principles-irst, that today nearly
all of education is conducted by
persons outside of the home, and,
second, that the greater part of in
struction is under the direction of
the state. Public schools are for
the masses. They are democratic
in that all are admitted, subject to
the same rules, regulations and in
struction. They are a part of the
state polite which forms the stand
ard of the future conditions of the
state. The state today depends up
on what it's schools we're genera
ton ago. But the school deals with
the individual pupil in collective
group, and it is this part Of the sub |
ject that wish to discuss.
y good school il an institution !,
that prepares the children of COM
munity for the complete fulfillment
of their lives. Many say that schools !
are merely to develop mental power
in the child, to give a training nee
cssary to readily manipulate the
mechanics of school, and to acquire |
a sufficient knowledge of things and !!
the world that the pupil may earn
respectable livelihood. believe
the school should do more for the |
child. When children leave school
the majority of them have. to con- !
front not only nature. with all her t
forces and laws, but highly COM
pick society into which they are |
soon to plunge. They are surround !
ed on every side with perplexities of
human relationship, which bewild !
ers their minds. They all expect to
become the heads of families, CO. +
members of society, intellectual cit |
liens of the state, and to receive !
| their shares of the pleasures and !
happiness of this world. If this is
true, there are an indefinite number
of obligations and duties to be per- i
! formed. Who are to train the chill |
dren that they may be able to fulfill
these responsibilities schools !
or the parents: We answer both. L!
But what proportion of our parents
do perform this work. And if it is
not done by them, are the schools
also to remain passive to these con-
ditions or are they to renew their
energies, that future family may be !
happier, that society may be better,
and that the nation may be strong
err
With these conditions the posi- |
tion or standing of school depends |
upon what thew are, what they are
doing, and what is possible for them
to do. \ school, like water, will al
ways seek its own level No knowl-
edge will come from it if. there is /
no knowledge in it. No pleasure
will be derived from it if the condi-
tons to understand and appreciate
happiness are not taught. No good
ness will ever spring from4t if there
is no good in it, The results will
simply be reflection of what is &C.
tually being done in school, If a
school is devoid of life, discipline
and system. can we expect to find
them in the returns: If: a school is
lacking in intellectual development
can we expect to have better citizens
in the future? If school fails to ;;
develop the ethical and moral fac
ulties of the children, are we to ex-
pect moral men and women?
In the school should be found the
highest life of the communicated
tivity. which will stimulate the intel
lectual faculties of every child and
NV N>SNAo0 'hN ~ was
gathered before the school age. No
school can secure too much vitality
or animation for the rising genera
ton, if it is rightly directed With
all this activity comes the second
condition of school-school disci-
pline. This includes much more
than mere school government. 1t
must be made to include the train
ing of pupil in habit, selfcontrol,
self-direction and conduct toward
others. The school is the first for
eign power that exercises control
over child outside of the home,
and therefore it is of vital import
ance to its future welfare that the
first power which is to direct and
govern should secure right habits,
| that it should DreDare the child to