The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-18
COUNTRY SCHOOL BEAuTlFlED

We know of school not far from
tractive year ago. 1t looked de-.
pressed and unhappy. The yard was not
swept and the building was badly in need
of Il coat of paint. The general gloom
seemed to be reflected in the children, and
the whole effect was one of depression.
bright and shining spot even in the ra-
u:ant landscape of a May morning. The
yard is swept and garnished. the white
sand shining from afar, and as one draws
nearer one catches sight of bowls of flow
Q6s in the windows and on the teachers
desk. a new coat of cheerful paint has
enlivened the school-building in a most
extraordinary way. Within the desks
ere new, the children's faces bright and
on all Sides are the indications of intel
1igent care and keen appreciation of the
value of beauty and cleanliness. Flow
ers. wild and cultivated. No one would
profusion. Every little girl wore one or
more roses. the little boys had daisies
I'm their buttonholes, and on nearly every
desk there was modest but none the
less beautiful collection Of fragrant flow
ers wild and cultivated. No one would
regard sheet-iron stove as a thing of
beauty. but sneet-iron stove, when it
has been covered with white manila pa
per, creates the impression Of cleanliness
and good taste as surely and strongly as
Hoes mahogany sofa when 1t has been
put in its summer linen cover. No child
On that school could fail to be struck with
the increased beauty and cleanliness
which resulted from. the simple applica-
hon of brains. some white paper and
Few pins to an unsightly stove.
We are moved to make these comments
of praise in order to further illustrate
mhat our idea of education is. Educa-
kion is not learning by rote. 1t is
wolves so much of happiness for the
hmong other things the widening of the
grasp wherewith soul lays hold on life,
and this grasp must always be for better
hnd higher things. It is not education
to widen a mans power for evil, but
1t is education of the deepest and truest
6ort to increase his insight into the good,
the true and the beautiful. 1t might not
perhaps have been SO well to take the
children by the hand and give them
prosy lecture on the value of making I'M
slightly stoves at least refreshingly cool
during the hot summer months, but it
certainly was education OF the highest
sort to give them an object-lesson of how
brains might, with the slightest material
assistance, be used to beautify and cleanse
ard ciyilize even in the narrowest house
holds.
+ 1t is appreciation of this fact that has
sed so many philosophical people to
give time and energy to the development
of a taste for beautiful things in the
public schools. 1t would be hard to
sand field for endeavor that will more
surely gain the end that it seeks out to
Achieve, and in so doing will confer more
benefits upon those whom it is its OBJ
uect to help.
Too much cannot be said in praise of a
teacher who by her personality can bring
about such a change in the lives OF the
children who are committed to her care.
Surely when the choice OF a teacher in
children, 1t is matter which ought to
DE entered into only with the most care
5ul and earnest consideration.