Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-04-03
Thompson's Park School.

The people of Dix-known before
the davs of the railroad as Thomp-
sons Park although more strictly
speaking DIX is merely a part of the
Iattei-are proud of their school, and
with reason
To tell the truth this civic pAde
date smany years back. in 1890 when
passengers to the Park travelled by
.tage Instead of railroad. and the road
Cor the last few miles wound through
GRASSY glades and piny hills: when the
stiffness was broken only by the ac-
customed sounds of the country and
occasionally the echoes of a blast
rem the railroad camp: when the
hoolhouse was a picturesque little
building. with bright blue blinds. and
rcd roof that made a strong contrast
to the soft but sombre-hued pines sur
rounding it; residents Of the Park
were Just as proud of their school
OF course in the last ten years
there are many changes. The grassy
ladies' and soft voiced pines have
vanished and in their stead are broad
fields. that in summer are beautiful
with various shades of green, int
autumn golden. and now, brown and
bare. with patches of unmelted snow
lying in the hollows. Instead If the
scattered ranches of earlier days pros
porous looking buildings and COM
pact houses appeared as near together
as they conveniently could. The lit
tie red-roofed schoolhouse was still
1, from q nina
grove but hiding its dingy paint be-
hind spick and span building with
cupalo easily seen for miles around.
There was however one feature of the
landscape still unchanged-the ad-
hesive qualities of the real estate. in
1 damp weather Even the children
had changed. grown up, moved atay
or married-but the stick-to-you-
itiveness of the soil was Just the
same. Strange to say the latter fact
was not as soothing as one would nat
urally suppose.
/ From the "saft" condition of all
outdoors it would seem reasonable to
expect some traces of mud in the
school room. On the contrary the
reverse was true. The general effect.
on entering, was of neatness and order
with pupils applying themselves in
dustriously.
During the recitations it was my
privilege to hear, several facts were
Enthusiastically evident. One was
the energy with which the pupis went
at their work. They seemed to be
interested beyond the mere effort to
make creditable showing before
visitor Beside, from work of prev
ious days it was easy to see this in
terest was of no mushroom growth
it was customary. This is pretty
strong evidence of cooperation be-
tween home and school. In that
community the work accomplished
shows that the teachers efforts are
upheld by the parents, instead of, as
in so many districts of La Plata
county, being the subject of hasty
criticism and often ridicule, in the
hearing of the children themselves.
Where there is order and system,
with intelligent application, results
will not fail of success. 1t is not the
purpose of this article to mention
every detail. Suffice it to say that
the Two most noticeable SUBJECTS were
the arithmetic and the writing. The
latter was simply beautiful. 1t ex-
GELS anything the writer has yet seen
in any of the county schools. Indeed,
it was better than any of the work
seen during a recent visit to the
schools of Denver.
The text books used by the pupils
are furnished by the district while a
library has already been begun. With
few exceptions the school is fitted up
with all necessary appliances for
school work.
The term has just closed. Board.
teacher (Mr. w. E. Petty and pupils
may well be satisfied with the years
work. EDITH b. NJ. YOUNG
County Supt of Schools.