The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1905-01-05

growth of the individual depends upon
the coordinate development of both
body and soul.
OUR HIGHER INSTITUTIONS 4 CREDIT.
SO much for the fundamentals and
now to the point: 1t is well known
that the educational facilities of South
Dakota reflect credit on the wisdom
and foresight of the founders of the
state and are a striking tribute to the
energy and enterprise of the people
The foundation has been well laid fol
a splendid system of public education
In addition to the state university, the
state agricultural college, the foul
state normal schools, and the state
school OF mines, there are eight de-
nOminational colleges in South Da-
kOta. The Methodists, Presbyterians
Baptists and Episcopalians have one
college each, while the Lutheran and
COngregationalists each have two col
leges in the state.
OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND COMMON
SCHOOLS.
Underneath these institutions OF
higher instruction which | have just
named, are the high schools and acad-
emies carrying four years OF work, and
below these are the common schools
with eight years of work. Some OF the
high school work in this state is al
ready of a very high order and is con-
stantly improving, and nowhere have
] ever found more earnest and intelli-
gent work by a body of county super
intendents than is being done in the
common schools of this state. / have
attended the eighth grade grad
uating exercises in many of the coun-
ties and have been surprised and de-
lighted at the evidences of intelligent,
enthusiastic work.
FITTING THE PARTS TOGETHER.
A state system of education is like a
regular and orderly building or work
of architecture. 1t should not be a
chance collection Of individual insti-
tutions but a harmoniously organized
system according to pattern. The
system OF education OF state should
be the most regular Of all organizations
and the pattern of all the rest. Upon
the uniformity and regularity of q
building depends it's beauty and
strength. One stone out of place
mars its appearance. A number dis
placed may make it ruin. The
beauty and stability of state system
of education consists in each institu-
ton filling its own place, working in
harmony with all the others, and
studying to keep the ''unity Of the
spirit in the bond of peace"
HARMONY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE
SYSTEM.
"A building is not a heap Of mater
| ials. A fine work of architecture is
composed OF great many stones, and
yet each has its place and is necessary
to the completion of the whole. These
stones are all made to fit, but they
must also be cemented together, or the
| building lacks the stability of unity.
Likewise in great state system OF
education, the several institutions or
parts that go to make up the system
must be bound together in unity by
the cement of mutual respect and
| helpfulness and cooperation. There
should be neither jealousy nor envy,
but hearty and generous spirit of
good fellowship in good cause. These
schools, instead of fighting each other
should say: There is room for us all,
let each fill his own place, and let us
all unite in campaign to reach and
educate the ninety per cent of the
young people OF our state who never
seek the higher education. Instead of
wasting our energy in opposing each
other, let us all join in an effort to
show to the young people of our state
that the one with college education
has 220 times the chance of success of
the one who stops short of college
training. 1t matters much to the state
that her young people should catch
the inspiration for the higher training,
it matters little which one of the
schools or colleges they attend. Let
us give our attention to securing a re-
vival OF education in the state-and if
that eomes we shall all receive our
share OF the students.
A BARN-RAISING BEE.
And how can these results, SO desir-
able to both the state and the individ-
ual, be brought about? AS | have
said, the foundations for higher edu-
cation in South Dakota have been
broadly and we'll laid. Wise provision
and preparation has been made. How
shall the superstructure be erected up
on. that foundation?
| am reminded OF a barn-raising
which ] witnessed in the country when
a boy. The great framework OF the
barn having been previously mortised
and fitted, was to be put up in 8 day
by "barn-raising bee.'' 1t required