The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-12-01
Pupils Should Be Given More
Play Time.
Abandon the Marching Order Is
His Suggestion.

dicted for the next school year by State
Inspector A. W. Rankin, under the topic
Progress" in his annual report on
graded schools. He says:
Progress the coming year may be
looked for in the line of more accurate
work in the common branches. In the
graded schools, at least, failure to teach
the three Rs cannot be attributed to
fads, for these schools are usually too
barren in program.
Neither can failure be laid to lack
of education in the teachers in the
grammer grades, for these grades are
taught by the principal, who has Il
good general education.
"When pupils who have finished the
course in graded schools fail to get
teachers certificates, or to pass the state
examination, it is often due to a low
standard, which is merely another ex-
preston for general shiftleSsness.
"Somtimes there is lack of thrift in
the community. The large boys and
girls do as they like about school. They
90, or stay at home; are prompt, or
tardy; dissipate in large parties, or
meet their obligations to the school, just
as their fancies dictate. The school
~, ri 70 inn
up the grounds and building. The out
buildings are shameful and shameless.
The smoky walls and ill-kept floors
invite to idling and low aims. Princi-
pals come and 60 and give verdict that
the village is hopeless. Such a school
will waste the years of children until
leader comes.
But along comes a man fresh from
a school where he has been trained to
habits of neatness and thOroughness.
There will be brief period of war.
The new man may get the crowd down
on him and his methods. The good
mothers of lazy girls gossip about, tell
ing how the principal abuses their chill
dren. A few may leave school, but
after two or three months, the word is
passed around that the pupils are doing
well in their studies. In every school
there are some who want to learn, and
these take sides with the new princi-
pal. At the beginning of November.
when the ground is freezing, the big
earnest boys from the country hear of
the change in the school and come in
Some of the village boys are drawn in,
too, but the hardest case of all is a
boy who has spent two or three years
in lOunging about the village streets
with no employment.
Good work in the common branches
is not an isolated feature of school,
This will not result from narrow teach
ing. 1t is rather the natural outcome
of general conditions. Really good
work in any subject is not obtained
by drill alone. | know several princi-
pals who are noted for capacity for drill
in teaching. The pupils seem to do well
and for the moment they do. But the
excellence is of short duration and is not
scholarship. The strong will of the
teacher has kept the children in the
straight and narrow way. No real
character has been developed in the
child. lie has not learned to deliberate
He is accustomed to respond to the
teachers will, but he has none of his
own. Let 90, he sinks back into a
stupid condition. He has not beer
trained, but stuffed.
"The best way to get pupils through
their studies is to improve general con
ditions. Fill up the libraries. Stir uI
the janitor. If he won't stir up, get q
playground, so they will get recreation
at recess. Don't make drudges of them
They come to school in the fall from
farms and manual work of variou:
kinds, and the change to sedentary life
should not be too sudden.
"Make recesses longer. Don't let pu
pills take home text books in the fall
Six hours well spent is enough OF
school work for children under eighteen
that is, six hours less recesses. Have
Friday afternoon picnics, geographical
excursions, games. anything which viii
break up the monotony of the school
If there is pupil who has a gift ii
violin playing, or in recitation, or il
vocal singing, or in painting, OF in any
other accomplishment, make use of him
or her to enliven the weary hours OF
warm September and October afternoons
"What the villages need in theil