The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1908-01-10

! sOn0i ai noTh vi administration ana Su
pervlsion. Buildings with the latest and
pest arrangement relative to heat, light
and ventilation have been provided
Apparatus necessary for the best work
Is everywhere in evidence. The books
needed Tor both the reference and general
hbrarles are usually furnished High
schools have come''to be an Indispensable
part of the work in each of these educa-
tlonal centers. And the results are all
that reasonably ought to be expected.
Again, as we look at our state insti-
tutIons and see how they have grown in
size, IN power and influence, and realize
fully the great work they are doing and
the helpful hands they are extending to
our people, our bosoms may well swell
With pride at the splendid educational
spirit in our own state-Wa Washngton.
But | would have you face about for a
moment and behold the little red school
house by the road side. 1t is the same
building that was known to our fathers
and our NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. on each
side, low ceiling, stove in the center of
the room, little equipment, bare walls,
and a room full OF rosy, heAlthful, ener
getic children representing the full eight
| grades of our common schools.
Thus it has been-thus it is-thus it
Will cOntinue-unless conditions be
changed, to put it on more dignifed
basis, to make possible a higher stand
ard OF usefulness, and to secure a stronger
co operation from those who should be
directly interested. "What was good
enough for the father is good enough for
| the son" is no longer looked upon as
self evident principle; but rather what
the father should liked to have had, the
| opportunities that he (the father) missed,
and all of the added advantages OF a
| progressive age have come to be the
real birthright OF the son. His by right
and by inheritance, and to deprive him
OF it is greater sin than that commit
| ted by Jacob of old. Compare then if
you will the true conditions of city and
| rural schools, the graded and the un
graded systems, the great growth and
opportunity offered by the one, and the
many discouraging features surround
ing the other. Consider the compare.
tive statement that more than 81 per
cent of the pupils OF our graded schools
enter the high school, while only 8 per
nf oohnnl h0,o
finish the grammar school work. (Ths
statement is based on an estimate from
Whitman county,.
But | would not have you see the dark
eide of the picture only, nor do [ desire
to leave the impression that the rural
school is not doing a good; but the con-
trast is drawn rather to intensity the
possibilities of the rural school under
favorable conditious The little led
school house offers many advantages
that cannot be found in the city. The
environment Of country life-the beau
ties of nature that surround 1.-THE un
disturbed quiet with its soothing inHu
ence-the practical lesson Of the farm,
cannot be duplicated; nor do | believe
that there are any substitutes for these
things which influence the child for good
to the same degree.
1t seems evident, then, that conditions
can be improved SO that the farmer will
not be compelled to move to town in
order to educate his children properly
thus saving to the state all Of the wealth
he annually produces and to society
one who might otherwise become use
less citizen. Yes, if our graded schools
have reached their present high standard
Of efficiency through the powerful intiu
ence of proper supervision, it seems rea-
sonable to believe that similar results
would follow if extended to the rural
communities. The teachers are faithful,
but they need encouragement and help
ful suggestions; the school officers are
willing, but they need advice and direc
ton; the people are anxious and ready
to co operate, but waiting for a plan
and leader. | know you may say
UUdU Guo COuuCy sUpciluGSuucnO udc huu
charge of all this, and that you may
question his faithfulness to duty; but |
would say in reply that be is an ordin
ary individual with two hands only, and
the administrative work of his office re,
quires most OF his time. Our present
law requires him to be very cosmopOli-
tan being He must sometimes act in
the capacity of prosecutor, and other
times as Judge, and still at Others he
must be prosecutor judge, and jury at
the same time. He is called upon to
play the part OF the doctor en- numer
merous bodily ailments. He must be an
architect in theory at least, and under
stand something of the general princi-
pies OF mechanics, otherwise our late
statutory provision relative to school
buildings is worthless. He must needs
be business man in order to direct the
purchase Of all supplies and equipment
for all of the districts under bis charge.
He ought to be in his Office every day in
order to personally consult with direct