The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1901-10-15
THE RECEPTION.

Last Thursday evening, Oct.
10th, 1901, at $50 o'clock, pub
lie reception was held at the
Court House in Challis, in honor
of Miss Permeal French, of Boise
City, Superintendent of Public
Instruction of the State of Idaho,
who had arrived in this city on
the evening previous from Sal
mon, on her annual visit to the
public schools of Idaho. The
reception was largely attended
by the citizens of Challis to vel
come our honored guest.
On Thursday afternoon of the
10th, Miss French visited the
public school in Challis, and
spoke very highly of the manner
in which the school in this city
was being conducted. under the
able direction of Miss Sara M.
Keener and Miss Ida M. Ander
son. Miss French was also very
highly pleased with the cordial
way in which she was welcomed
and the hospitality extended to
her by our citizens.
The opening selection on the
program at the reception, was a
beautiful chorus by the school
children.
Next on the program was an
excellent solo by Miss Martha
keenan, and Mrs. F. A. Reed.
After the solo Miss keenan,,
County Superintendent of Public
instruction of Custer County,
read the following able paper
that she had prepared for the
occasion
WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS A RIGHT
TO EXPECT OF ITS SCHoOLS-WHAT
IN RETURN THE COMMUNITY OWES
TO THE SCHOOLS.
Since no community can rise higher than the
intelligence and integrity of its citizenship, the
schools OF community stand, first for its
general culture and refinement.
If we would not have our boys and girls grow
up to be rude, ignorant and depraved-a
source OF sorrow and grief to their parents, a
menace to public law and order, to become
ultimately a charge upon the State as convicts
insane patients. inmates of poor houses, we
must educate them for the work OF life.
The more a whole people realize the benefits
of a higher standard Of education, the greater
will be the growth and uplifting influence Of
our public school system-and whatever uplift;
the schools uplifts the whole community and
benefits the State.
We have right to expect that the future
generation in Challis will speak purer Eng
lish; care for a better class of literature, fine
occupation in some higher form of social life.
Aside from this, the schools stand for the
practical preparation of our boys and girls fol
work a-day life.
Give the boy or girl the advantages of even ;
common school education and he is a bette
farmer, better miner, better blacksmith
better seamstress, ouse-keeper better laund
ress. Education does not, as some may claim
unfit our young men and women for such dutie
rather it increases their capabilities for sJeh
The schools OF a community stand for moral
ity; a higher respect for the rights Of Others
a working knowledge of the Golden Rule,
better citizenship-a purer patriotism.
The training should be such as to make tn
young person exemplary in CHARACTERISED
: controlling-train him to habits of order indus
= try, method and sobrety-leading him to &C
, from proper motives-from sense of righ
: and duty.
\ If the schools owe all this to the community
\ what does the community owe 10 the schools
1t owes its hearty support-ungrudging anar
: cial support.
: II is said that the schools cost more to sus
J They ought TO cost more. Where can you fin
an Investment that makes you larger rate
! income than your children? What is thel
|; that so interests parent as the welfare of h
( children Every parent cures it to his childre
: to provide the best educational advantages II
!. community can possibly afford.
\ With the judicious expenditure of compar;
j lively small sum of money in this channel ma
|; be saved enormous sums in later years
Z sherifs' fees, court costs, penitentiary expel
; ses, etc. Better one hundred dollars paid fc
; taxes for school purposes than twenty-five pa
y to release your boy from the clutches of tt
broken law Better one thousand dollars Il
z school purposes than one spent in the scho'
of gambling our schools should cost more.
: The community's hearty support should
: shown by intelligent interest, and this wou
II lead to greater resrect for the character al
y work of the schools.
= Intelligent interest would lead citizens
= make appropriate criticism in proper place
! and refrain from carping fault finding in Il
\ presence OF cl ildren.
" The community owes the schools suppo
y through the proper enforcement of the la
s. Especially since the community has so gene
= ously provided for its educational interest
: no parent has any right to deprive their chill
\ rem OF such advantages and foster ignoral
II vicious children to be detriment to the con
y munity. Our compulsory educational law r
+ quires that every child of sound body and mil
< between the ages of and II years, atte
I school for a period of at least II weeks,
y which are consecutive, unless excused by 4
ii Trustees of the district
y The parents owe to the teachers as well as
r. the children, to see that their children are
: school every day that school is in session
Z sickness being the only excuse for absence.
e AT the present time our boys and girls a
2 obliged to go away from home to obtain
y education slightly above the elementary grad
n Not,only is this expensive tc the parents W