Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-03-13

ucation, already we'll in play, are in the
near future to 60 far beyond any stage
at present reached.
We do not yet see how to replace in
city education the training which the
farmers boy gets from his hsbituaI con-
test with the adverse forces Of nature.
The adverse forces OF nature il not Sd
formidable that man canDot cope with
them are strenuous teachers The slim
ulating. health giving atmosphere OF the
country, the constantly recurring emer-
gencies Of farm life, all these mus be
accorded prominent place in the ell.
umeration OF causes which make these
men leaders. Yet with all this super Tor
environment, it is generally conceded
that the rural schools are falling far
short Of the demands Of the times.
The "hue and cry" is: "poor teachers"
slack OF supervision" 1--WE must have
professionally trained teachers" A move
in the right direction. But under exist
ing conditions what right have the peo.
pie to make such demands? Why not
that the young man hired to
work on the farm be student OF the
College? There would be
more justice in it. For take it all in all
he has the better end Of the salary ques-
ton and il he does his work satisfactor-
lily he can hold his job. Not 30 with the
country teacher. A new director is
elected and without any question what.
ever Of merit he must make room for
some particular friend or his friend has
a friend. Often three or four numerous
families supply the pupils Of the district,
one Of these becomes disgruntled, reason
trivial or fancied, that 10 neither here
nor there. the teacher must 60. There
is not the cooperation betweei parent
and teacher that there should be. This
lack Of coo psration should not be placed
entirely upon the parent. But there is
one thing the parent should do and that
is to refrain from making unfriendly
criticisms of the teacher in the presence
Of the child. He is doing his child an
incalculabls harm when he so far forgets
himself as to be guilty Of such an act.
He is doing far more harm to the child
than to the teacher. While the country
schools need some radical changes il is
not fair to be continually hurting anath.
emas at the head OF the country teacher.
There may be other defects than those
Of defective teachers. Remember "the
people must demand and they will re-
ceive; knock and it will be opened unto
them"
The rural teachers are in advance Of
the rural school system or wages. The
wages are no better than they were
twenty years ago but the teachers are
far ahead. They have been progressing
while the people have failed in making
sufficient progress. There are teachers
that are not ideal yet there are those who
are giving more than value received.
That we are not an advocate Of profess
sional should not be inferred. Most as
suredly we are. The teacher has work
TO do second to none. Think Of it,work-
iLg with an immortal soul. Teaching
not for time but eternity. Teaching an
immortal soul at that most dangerous of
periods-that period when the child's
soul can be turned to heaven or cast
down to hell. He who treats your child's
body must be professionally trained;
what about him who treats his soul!
As regards rural supervison--perhaps
there isno need 30 great in the rural
schools today. The present system will
not permit proper supervision. 1t ID
impossible for one person to properly
supervise the schools Of an entire county
Undoubtedly there will never be system
produced that does not require intelli.
gent, vigilant and efficient supervision
And QUE of the weakest points in the
present system is that of the Office Of
Supervisor or County Superintendent
being in politics. Why do not the PEG
pie lay aside all questions OF politics ant
work for the best interests of the schools
Considerable space has been taken il
diagnosis OF the disease. Now for tn,
cure. 1t is thought by large per cen
Of prominent educators that "consoli
dstion OF schools will prove "panacea
to existing evils.
Says Supt. Shorett: The rural schoo
is very sick child and needs MUSICIAN
not inexperienced physicians to prac
tice on it. for its critical condition is tn
result OF such practice specialists
the best the country can afford. Tn
people must be aroused to the needs q
the rural schools. II may take the III
ing OF canons aud the beating OF drum
that people may realize a great educa
tional campaign is on. You can tai
about the little school house on the hi
and laud its good work to the skies; al
person with common sense knows this
the foundation OF the present rurt
school system ia very poor one.
foundation at all. And If the masses G
the rural population are TO begin an
end their education in this school. the
are not to become educated men an
women.
Consolidation must come before tn
! rural school will be on sound basis.
, will take great effort on the part OF a
, educators to bring this about; but whe
, il has been accomplished and the rurl
: school has been made equal to the tow