Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-11-05

q - lEN~TTN
and AL. who attended went away feel
ing amply repaid for tine sacrifices made
in order to attend.
State Supt. g. w. Nash was a whole
host in himself.
During the forenoon session the sub
jects discussed were "Day County
exhibit al st. Louis in 1904. 1.-The
State Association at Aberdeen Deem
Der 2S-3I,a and Morning Exercises =
all of which were entered into in a
spirit Of earnestness which spoke much
for the aggressiveness of Day county
teachers.
The general sentiment prevailed that
Day county cannot afford Il be behind
the balance Of the state IN the matter of
school exhibit, nor will her teachers
fail to make a good showing Of honest
and efficient work.
The afternoon session opened with a
vocal solo byssMr. ". d. Fettro which
ELECTED much applause.
The address of welcome by the Rev.
T.. Cullom Grimshaw was earnest,
thoughtful and inspiring, a fitting well
come to the teachers who labor so
earnestly for humanity. The response
by Fred Stone found hearty accord in
minds of all present.
This was followedb by an exceptionally
well-rendered recitation by Miss e. M.
Marston, Of Pierpont.
The paper on Morals" by Miss Lam
caster, of Webster, led us deeply to con-
slider the silent sermon made by the
good surroundings Of pupils and young
people in general. All that awakened
the neble: elements in childhood was
that to be necessary moral and the duty
Of the teacher to present to the child
life. The paper called especial atten-
fion to the good influence of beautiful
pictures.
Outdoor amnsements were well pre-
scented by Prof. w. G. Jolly. Owing to
an oversight on the part of the chair
man the discussion Of this paper was
cut off. tits hoped though that the
, question viii again be brought up so
that the questions involved may be
asked and answered.
Miss Grace Bryant's solo was well
received and elected a second.
; Capitalization" was then presented
by Hon. g. W. Nash, who spoke for
over an hour. We regret our inability
to report the same with any degree OF
exactness, for this, one of the foremost
educational questions of the day.
Schools will improve of course with the
improvements in school books and
methods; but the greatest improvements
CT the future are to be made in the mat
ter OF improved school room condition
and in administration. All changes
have come abouI slowly conservatism
the especial characteristic of all changes
in schools. tThe speaker referred to the
West as Icing ready to profit by the
experience of the East in regard to many
matters, but more especially liz school
affairs.
This condition Of course places the
western schools we'll toward the front
in the march line OF educational mat
tiers.
He spoke of the readiness with which
many places in the west were entering
into the benefits of Capitalization, Civ
ing In every case entire satisfaction and
in almost every case lessening the cast
Of education TO the pupil, and in every
case materially increasing the results
attained.
Education attained in a school of
small numbers rarely fits the pupils for
the duties Of citizenship, nor does it
often prepare him for a successful life
in this g of keen competition and
industrial activity.
The Supt. stated that there were
hundreds of schools in South Dakota
with less than four pupils in them,
many Of which could be closed, and
save money by sending the children in
vans to some adjoining district where
the school facilities would add both
comfort ard progress in educational
matters In the smaller schools pupils
lose much in social culture, intellectual
stimulus, and working ability because
of their small number. To the thought
full person, the importance of the proper
working spirit of the child is at once
apparent. This we all think of when
reengaging our help Of whatever nature
but we do not always think of its growth
or developement in our children.
The developement Of character fol-
lows definite laws as does the formation
of crystals of sugar or salt, and these
laws, which are studied by all profess
sional teachers, ought to be studied by