The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-11-07
LIKE OLD SHELLS
Some School Buildings That
Are Allowed to Exist.
Interesting Lecture BY Superintendent
BRIGHT With Illustrations Of Edu-
cati0nal Structures.

II is matter of regret that the d.
rectors of the country school districts
of Blue Earth county could not have
heard the address delivered last Friday
night by Supt. Orville Bright of Cook
county. Illinois, who discussed in q
very practical manner the Needs CT
the Country Schools. His lecture was
illustrated. He exhibited number of
pictures of school buildings that have
their location in Cook county, and
great many of these structures were
a sight to behold. Other pictures were
of very nice buildings showing what
can and should be done for the. benefit
of the children in the rural districts.
It is surprising that in an old settled
section like Cook county where there
is an abundance of wealth such dilapi-
dated school buildings are allowed to
exist They are, as Superintendent
Bright stated, a disgrace to any COM
munity of intelligent people.
The views thrown upon the canvas
gave the assembled teachers an idea of
what sort of school structures infest
not only Cook county but other por-
tions of the country. They can be
POUNDS in the older eastern states
where the residents are supposed to
take more pride in the education
of the young. superintendent
Bright also showed the con-
trast between farm houses and the
school buildings. Within almost a
stones throw of a most substantial
and modern farm dwelling nesting in
beautiful grove is the school house
with Its careworn appearance and not
even bit of shrubbery to break the
monotony. 1t readily calls to mind
the lines from Whittier's Barefoot
Boy, +" "Still sits the school house by
the road like ragged beggar sun
ming" but lacking the sumachs
which clustered around the doorway
of Whittier's long ago knowledge fac
tory also the black berry vines are not
in evidence
Superintendent Bright stated that
not enough attention is paid to the
ventilation of the school buildings
and the majority of stoves should be
consigned to the pit where the evil
one is supposed to have his abiding
place.
A number Of views were shown of
model country school houses, also their
interiors and how they were beauti-
fed by the expenditure of small sum
of money. The speaker gave num-
Der of very good suggestions regarding
the construction of school buildings
and he hoped the time would come
when all directors in the rural dis.
tricts would favor the erection of more
modern and more healthful giving
buildings.
superintendent Bright said he was
cold blooded enough to hope thai
every normal graduate would be
forced to teach a country school In
the country school there is no oppor
tunity to quarrel with the faculty, the
principal or the janitor. There Is nj
place like a country school in which
to gain experience. Superintendent
Bright goes upon the theory that those
people who receive an education from
the state do not always give value re.
eeived. The state. too, furnishes ar
education as matter of self protec
ton.
MIR. Bright has been superintendent
Of Cook county for number of years
and is practical man without any
frills. During his talk last night he
referred to the excellent work being
done In the manual training depart.
ment Of the high school and he ex.
pressed the wish that such instruction
could be extended to the country
schools.
Mrs. 2. z. Meagher sang TWO solos
which were received with great favor.