Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-05-03
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~ Che Burro's Brtefs
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They tell me that the address of Mrs. Helen L.
Grenfell, state superintendent of public instruc-
tion gem in every way. 1t cond not well
have been anything else. Mrs. Grenfell is lady
whom it is pleasure to have numbered among
your acquaintance She is one of the interesting
women who believe in the practical part of educa-
ton. She recently made the statement that the
children should be taught the three RS read
ing, writing and arithmetic before they were
taken through a course of painting and paper
flower manufacturing. There is, indeed, some
thing wrong with some of the modern system of
educating children. Mrs. Grenfell has been abused
because she suggested that such wrongs existed
but she is right and ought to stick to it. Too
many children sent out of the schools these
days fitted for parlor ornaments and nothing else.
herd of sissy boys" turned loose upon the
world to wither with the first frost they encounter
in practical life. Pupils who cannot sing note
and know much about music as an editor would
about millions of dollars are compelled to learn to
sing. After they have put in the flower of the
time of their lives in learning little bit they
would not be permitted to sing if banished to some
lonesome island Then they take boys who have
idea of mechanics and could never be made
successes in that line, and fret them through a
of planning and saving. The idea is all
wrong. Find out what the pupil is liable to adapt
himself to in after years. in what particular line he
is gifted and then make him a specialist in that
line. Mrs Grenfel is right, and when she at
tempts to modify her original statement she is
wrong.
The report of the local library association
shows that little 81. 900 has been collected
during the past four years and that current ex.
penses have been third in of the amount
taken in Against this is the fact that the average
number of books taken out has been about 100 per
week This shows that somebody must be patron
zing something literally and refusing to donate
little i'll the way of remuneration, or else these
customers are practically doing all the paying.
There are I25 subscribers and should be 500
There is no reason why the library should not be
well patronized. We inclined to the belief that
one of the features that stand in the way of sue
cess is that it is not advertised enough. Over
year ago we endeavored, through this department
to get the association to address letter to Car
negie and obtain donation for library, if posi-
Bile. No attention paid TO the suggestion ex-
cept to say that he would pay attention to such
a request from such place. While we slept
Georgetown stepped in and asked him for prop
osition and succeeded in getting it. There ought
to be more life in the local association More life
means more advertising, and advertising
means better business and more money. We be-
eve that the citizens should pitch in and help the
library along. 1t is deserving institution, and
understand two three or a half dozen loyal
women have practically been obliged to carry the
burden incident to its maintenance themselves
They to be commended for their loyalty, but
let us do something give something that will
start 1t on the upgrade.