Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-06-15
AS VIEWED
BY A TEACHER

To the .Intelligencer:- In your is-
sue of last week noticed a plea to the
citizens of Montour county upon the
subject of the township high school.
1t has long been my desire.to see such
an institution in Valley township, and
in as much as 1 have been teacher in
the schools of Valley township fSy a
period of ~ years, desire to urge up
on the farmers of this township, the
great necessity that exists for the in
stitItion of such IA school. Allow me,
from my long experience as IA county
teacher, to give IA picture of the coun-
try school as it is today.
School opens about September lst
with children varying from 5 to 10
years of age. There are few boys, as
the big" boys do not drop in until
November. At this time, the average
number of pupils, is perhaps 40, and l
assure you the grading of these pupils
isia puzzling matter. In fact, it is i'm
possible for any teacher, no matter
how competent, or how willing she
may be, to do justice to all these chill
dren.
How we'll l remember my impati-
ence, because | knew some poor fellow
needed particular attention, and for
lack of time, he was wasting precious
in school, and the teachers time so
limited, that each big boy had to
wait his turn. These boys had reach
ed point in their lives where some
thing more than mere routine work
was needed whilst the teacher longed
to help, how could she do it with all
those little people to keep employed?
Not long ago read in your paper
the comments of farmer concerning
the scarcity of farm help, how the
country boy was attracted by the troll
ley and how he left the dull plodding,
work on the farm to enter upon an
easier and happier life. AS 1 read that
article 1 waxed indignant. Whose
fault is it that the average country
boy hates the farm and as soon as pos
sible leaves home, usually drifting to
some town or city to do some menial
work for which nature had never in
tended him? | say it is the fault of
the farmer. He makes the boy dis
satisfied and then complains because
he leaves the farm.
Can boy of life and spirit be blam-
ed for leaving home that holds no
pleasure but hard labor? Will the read
er, kindly remember that the writer
of this communication has had some
experience with these dissatisfied
young people and has made study of
the situation. If you are not interest
ed in higher education and willing to
expend some money in procuring such
an education for your boys, then you
must expect to reap the bitter expert
ence of having your sons leave you and
you can either do your own work or
trust to hired help.
Allow me to suggest a remedy. In
the first place, institute district high
school and engage teacher who is in
terested and has some knowledge of
farming. 1 emphasize the necessity
of employing the proper teacher. The
country boy must be educated to take
an interest in the farm Let him once
get some idea of soils and crops and
all the other intensely interesting
things in nature and you will see your
sons, not clods, but gentlemen farm
ers. in the highest sense of the term.
Many farmers with the desire to have
their children we'll educated, send them
to town. Now everybody knows the
excellency of our borough schools, but
no town school can make a farmer
They were not so intended, III fact, it
educates the boy away from the farm
l have in mind an excellent man whose
sons are graduates of the high school.
Not long ago he said to me, "I must
leave the farm, am too old to work.
had hoped one of my boys would
farm, but neither like farming" So
the farm is in a tenants care
Farmers, do not wait until your
sons are grown, but go to work at
once, and establish a township high
school. And let me predict that with
the splendid chance given free to ev-
cry boy, by the Pennsylvania State
college, your township will be peopled
by class of scientific farmers, whose
broad fertile acres will be a living
testimony to the advantage of the
township high school.
EX-TEACHER.