Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-01-22
OUR SCHOOLS
WHAT THEY AaE---wHAT THEY MAY BECOME
THE SYSTEM

man, we have secured the following
worthy article on schools. His ex.
treme modesty, compels us to
Withhold his name from produc
ton worthy of any pen.
The American public school is the or
and train people for the responsible and
peculiar duties of citizenship in repub-
lie:
The rural schools today are receiving
more thought and attention from leading
educators than ever before, and it is we'll
that such is the case There are many
Portant place in our educational system.
Ihey are rich in environment and it is due
to this environment more than to the work
OF the schools that the country has pro-
duGed SO many worthy men and women.
Inc american way is slow way of pro-
g ress because it is the conservative way.
ing, as it comprehends and requires the
improvement, the development, and the
training of all. This naturally produces
among the people regarding school affairs
because there is constant struggle for
supremacy pr of IDEAS and a general triumph
tanned through the experience of think
ing and testing people. It should not be
overlooked that under this system the
people can have and will eventually al
ways have what they want in the line of
education. Public opinion NAV be reyo-
in tsna critically severe, progressively
atIHely prudent, and no servant of the
public in the capacity of an educator can
fail to respond ;sE to the peoples desired
forms and grades of public education from
the kindergarten to the university, COM
psliing recognition of the public ideals
ana and attempt to ascertain public ex-
pectatlons that frequently set aside long
time standards of tastes and experience,
and doing away with the old way of &C
comprising more and better results with
the same means. 1t remains therefore to
be deduced that there are no limits to the
PROVINCES OF the public school except such
limits as each school district or district
self. ~ -
The American doctrine of expansion be-
longs as much to educational organic
atlofl, instruction and practice as it does
me men !, ,a and l. the new century viii Witness
management and school policy that will
exceed the limits of present diplomacy
ana ana resp9n as SO much as to make
Is Is nothing at a standstill in America.
The students of the philosophy of modern
e,siiization tail to interpret such a move
nent as popular universal education and
that IN the rural school. They find fault
Win our schools, our government and our
ldeals because they lack system and sym
pfactlce each appears to have no fixed pol
icy and to be one fixed chaos of Emporium
ny too difficult to interpret and too com.
PICK to comprehend. Our systems of ed1-
cation but partake of other characteristics
that are common in America. Again and
AGAIN avg aattem11pts have been made to drive
primary education, secondary education,
hlgher education and professional educa-
ton only to lind after few short years of
comparative tranquility the boundary
stakes again pulled up and the condition
and results Of progress and extension
again under discussion resulting in such
mai adjustment of plans and notions as
70 place the new limits in new territories,
the control and administration of which
is forever assumed and possessed
The best thought of teachers and educat-
ors OF today is given to the question as to
nov to improve the rural schools. The
enid IN the country is influenced by nat
ural agencies. AT an early age he is made
responsible for some line Of work and
gradually forms habits of industry and
!af Inc that mean much n to him in after
| taught school in densely populated CITY
can Gan never equal in educative value the
life upon good farm intelligently mana O.
the farm in contrast with the completely
o OF ely surroundings Ies are comparatively
cial: The rivers upon whose shaded
banks he holds his childish sports, the
hilis and valleys, the SHOWS of winter and
birds and the delicate flowers that shed
their perfume by the wayside-all have an
influence for good with which the sur
pared.
The child in the country enters school
With senses keen, character in full tide of
ganiZed 1t is an indisputable fact that
the leaders in any vocation in our large
cities are mostly from the country. Tie
most successful doctors, LAWYERS, minis
ters, statesmen, bankers and manufac-
lives upon the farm.
q 10 fro
party in its tour through the northwest. "A
few years ago, was crossing the state early
one aonday morning little incident oc-
point that wish to make.
Governor Shaw who had just joined the
party at Sioux City remarked as he saw
that it reminded him of the time When a
boy ne used to chase up the cattle in order
to md place to warm his bare feet.
Nearly every member of that distinuuish.
ed party testified to q similar experience.
Colonel Parker said, mo method. no sys.
tenn OF schools, no enrichment Of courses
teachers can ever take the place in fun
damental education of the farm and the
MoI ti,s 70 Nc matter how good the school
IN the large cities may be, ormay be made
| no matter how good the state of society
may be, the vital reinforcements OF CITY
llte that lead to progress and prosperity,
| from the farm"
We must also bear in mind that at least
seventy ISe per cent OF the children edu-
Gated IN our schools are educated in the
rural schools and nowhere else The facts
upon which most educators agree. nut
upon the country school great responsi-
bility. 1t is no small office to train the
men and women who are to lead and
GUIDE the future of the republic.
1t IS generally conceded that the rural
schools are not doing the work that oupht
to be done, and fall far short of neetlnp
the demands of the times. Poorly pre.
pared teachers, lack of interest because of
small attendance and poor buildings are
some OF the hinderances that must he
overcome before efficient work can be done
lido not believe that under the present
system we can hope for much improve.
ment along these lines. think that il
can be said without fear of successful con.
tradictlon, that the only solution of the
rural school problem lies in the consolida.
ton OF school districts and the transpor.
| tation of children.
At a meeting, 1895. of the National Educa
tnonal Association committee of nine
were appointed to investigate the subject
otrural schools and make a report The
committee was afterward increased ia
twelve. After a careful Investigation OF
the conditions of the rural schools, and
the best means for their Improvement
the committee made an elaborate report
at meeting of the National Educational
| association at Milwaukee July 1897
Among the many excellent things con
| afrnaaf etr4 l,.~l