The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-09-01
HOME AND SCHOOL

All over our fair state, In city, town,
hamlet and in many rural districts,
the public school opens the first Mon
day In September, SO that our boys
and girls, schoolmams and professors
are returning or have returned from
their pleasure trips to take up the
routine work of the school.
From tiny tot to college president
there should be a great rejoicing. The
pupil should be glad to have the priv
tlege of attending our great free pub
lie schools. where he may store up
a wealth that grafters. rogues and
thieves cannot steal. The labor done
In a we'll regulated school room is
the most profitable employment one
ever has and children should be early
impressed with this idea.
The teacher should be happy in TAX
Ing up the school work-not alone, in
fact. not at all-from mercenary
stand point-because of the good that
may be done.
School teaching is largely mission
airy work. a moulding of character for
future generations. blotting out of
evil ways and corrupt manners, and a
leading into paths of virtue. unselfish-
ness, and high ideals of citizenship.
How sad. however. to find the situa-
ton as 1t really is. in many instances
Ask the school boy or girl: "Ain't
you glad school is going to open again
Monday?' A large percent will say,
NO." Ask them for an explanation
and you will learn that but few have
a proper conception of the advantages
given them to attend public school.
They seem to feel that the school is
a sort of prison where they are sent
to be kept in a Straight jacket" for
nine long months. and they go with
long faces instead of cheerful coun-
tenances.
In many places where there is a
change of teachers, the pupils are con-
occurring as to what kind of teacher
they will have-will she be cross,
ugly old maid, or a pretty young
schoolmam who will give them a good
time.
The vacation has its evil as we'll as
good effects. 1t gets one into the
habit of having good time, as they
term 1t and which often proves to be
the worst kind of time for the moral
and spiritual growth. The vacation
idea seems to carry with it DISPOSE
ton to throw off everything that
savors of physical or mental labor,
too often. and inculcates a lazy, shift
less habit.
Recreation may be had by change
from mental to physical labor and this
we may get every day If we plan for it.
Too often the teacher goes back to
the schoolroom work with feeling of
displeasure. ooh, the school room
drudgery," they say, "is just killing
me-" and it is too. If the teacher makes
"drudgery" of it.
1t is certainly not a pleasant
thought, to one of long experience, to
go into dingy, dusty room that has
been closed tightly through the hot
summer months. The change from a
stroll in the open air on the banks
of a pleasant stream or, perchance,
from a boat-ride on the quiet waters
of an inland lake, to the noisy, dingy
school room is not desirable from the
pleasure point of view, but when we
contemplate the amount of good we
may do; the many little hearts we
may make happy; the sunshine we
may scatter around those less fortu-
nate ones who have not enjoyed the
vacation days because they have had
to work very hard, we should take
much pleasure out of school work as
teachers.
On Monday, September 3. 1906, many
will teach their first day OF school.
What change from student life to
that of teacher. In some respects it
is like the promotion of servant to
the position of boss" A new field
of work is opened. You are now to
impart what you have been storing up
all these years as student.
The person to impart knowledge is