The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-10-17

them, and today vast multitudes are
ruled by the irony of fate and tyran-
ny; the few exploiting the many, un-
til thousands upon thousands have
become bringing dependencies; their
children denied the opportunity to de
yelop their slumbering and undevel.
oped instincts or intellect, What a
striking contrast to our own country
where we are permitted to enjoy priv.
ileges unsurpassed in any country;
here we may find opportunities where
all who viii can drink from the foun
tains of liberty and learning, and
where the keenest and brightest in.
tellect may .4irst for knowledge and
furnish inspiration for others to at
tain higher ideals and more of the
emoluments OF advanced civilization.
We witness here on this occasion the
best exemplification of our present
aspirations when we behold this
beautiful school house. equipped with
better and more modern appliances
than the one you previously had.
In order to attain the largest meas
ure of practical results the parents
should cooperate with the teachers,
for next to the parent they shape the
future destiny OF the people. The in.
struction received in boyhood and
girlhood, when their minds are more
susceptible to lasting impressions re-
quire that the utmost care and pa
thence should be exercised to train
the children's minds Alright,
The arts and sciences owe their
high standards of perfection to our edu-
cational' institutions. Commerce, in
dustry, transportation, finance, etc,
are of lesser importance and largely
dependent upon the high standards OF
education. Then how imperative IT
is that our schools should be made
attractive in appearance, provided
with ample Fairgrounds, the seats
and desks and other equipment should
be of the best and most convenient;
heating, ventilation and lighting
should also receive considerable atten.
ton from our school boards and
building committees.
l will now call your attention to
what this nation is doing for educi-
ton. One year ago a law was placed
on our statute books that no alien
can become a citizen of this republic
unless he is able to read and write
the English language, recognizing that
illiteracy and crime are twin evils,
and the latter largely the result of the
former. Hence, remedial legislation
and compulsory education will correct
this evil.
Again we find that this nation ex-
peds annually approximately $780,
100000 for educational purposes.l 49,
100000 children are enrolled in our
schools; 100000 in the high schools
This number is augmented by 100000
in our colleges. Thus, this vast army
of students is welding a powerful in
fiuence in our country's future; well
fare and destiny Our own state has
taken advanced steps in this all i'm
portant question. Many of our schools
are teaching our children domestic,
industrial and technical sciences.
Night schools bid fair to come into
prominence in the immediate future.
Taking into consideration this enor.
nous expenditure of public funds, we
ask ourselves whether or not we are
receiving adequate value for the same
We have upwards of 10000 teachers
in Iowa and their proficiency com.
pares very favorably with the most
advanced state in the union, and yet
too much care cannot be exercised in
selecting our teachers to secure the
highest degree of proficiency. The
teacher must not only be proficient
in the diversified studies of the school
but greater responsibility rests upon
their shoulders. They must under
stand that they are vitality interested
in the present and future welfare OF
the community. Society will hold the
teacher accountable for any neglect
of their duty to the child, and the
community as well.
Again, school boards should provide
the teachers with the right kind OF
books, adapted to the wants of the
community. Proper equipment, this
feature is sometimes neglected be
cause OF the want of appreciation and
indifference of the taxpayers and
school boards.
We sometimes find that many teach
ers receive nominal or meagre sal
airy, entirely insufficient to provide
them with the means to prepare them
selves in line with advanced meth
DDS of learning. In some instances
the salary is not commensurate with
the services rendered, and the teacher
necessarily neglects the all-important
essential of keeping in touch with the
modern methods of the times, and the
community suffers as result of the
same.
congratulate the officers and tax.
payers of Everist upon their fore
sight and devotion to the cause oil
education, inasmuch as they have pro
vided so generously for their chill
dren's needs.
| mention these facts because OF
their relative Importance to the wei
fare of society and the interest | my.