Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-15
WHY.

Eds. Democrat: Noticing an oc-
casional educational item in the
columns Of the Democrat may l not
add my quota as one interested in
this special field of labor wherein
is being planted, today, those seeds
that will terminate and grow, re-
gardless of fate, into traits of dis
position and character, and yield
fruit each after its kind tomorrow.
Why shouldn't there be a we'll at
every country school house?
Why shouldn't the long, rusty
stovepipe and stove be black?
Why shouldn't the walls and win
dows be cleaned twice or three
times a year and the floor be
scrubbed once month?
Why shouldn't the teacher of
country school who has from six to
eight grades, and from eighty rods
to two miles to walk receive as
much for the services as the teacher
of the town school who has from one
to three grades and few blocks to
walk?
What is the sense in consolidat-
ing the schools of a township when
the snow is too deep for the patrons
to take their children two miles or
less, would it be possible for a hack
to take stove and load of chill
dren many more miles?
Do not the most of people get
their children to school as much as
possible?
Why would it be advantageous to
have larger classes when it is con-
coded fact that personal, individual
help is best of all and that little or
none of this kind of assistance can
be given by the teacher of large
classes?
Why is it there are yet some peo-
pie who live in the country that
pine themselves away, deploring
the inability to send their children
to the town schools when everybody
knows there is more vice and cor
ruption in the cities and towns.
schools included, than in the
country?
Why are not the country schools
as we'll equipped in every particular
as the town schools; the teachers of
either have 70 merit the same re-
quirements? Each has a library
and about the same supplies.
Why do not the country boards Of
education pay the same salaries as
do town boards if they want to send
their children to the same kind of
teachers?
Why do the country people pay
less salary to their own teachers and
pay out in board, tuition and extra
clothing, more than the extra tax
would be to raise the country
teachers wage. in sending their
children to other teachers in town
schools?
Why should the teacher of a
country school be required to pass
the same examinations as the
teacher of a town school, if her SER
vices are not worth as much?
Why shouldn't country school
teacher contract for year instead
of term?
Why should she be required to
do her own janitor service without
remuneration?
Is not a janitor worth as much in
one as the other-country or town,
the work is the same and the town
janitor has the advantage of dis
lance?
Why should not the girl who is
born and raised in the country and
who becomes a teacher be en-
ployed in the city? Would it not
be better?
Why should the rural school
teachers receive more pay, are not
the most of them little town girls
who are inexperienced, that know
nothing of the customs of rural life
and the managing of the numerous
grades there are in the average
schools?
Why do not teachers take their
first experience in town schools
where the grades are fewer in num-
Der, the janitor work done, the
wages higher, superintendent to
help manage and a special teacher
for music to teach this branch?
These, Mr.. Editor are some of the
questions that have come under my
notice in the not very remote past;
some of which have been asked by
director, patron, teacher and tax
payer, all Of which are being dis
cussed more or less, both pro and
con in this section, and we submit
them, not for argument, because we
do not argue but simply for others
consideration thinking that others
in other sections may be interested
like as we are. xxx
Barnard Kriemer of Dyersyille