The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-09-17
EDUCATIONAL.
BY w. E. LARSON.
THE TWO CLASSES OF COUNTRY
SCHOOLS.
(Continued.)
EQUIPMENT.

|
Good equipment does not mean ex-
pensive charts, and ornamental furni-
ture. In furnishing q country school
| we should use common sense. The
equipment of the farm consists of i'm.
plements necessary to do the work eco.
nomically and we'll. A farmer needs
implements for working the soil, har.
vesting the crop, and transporting his
produce to market. A wagon is neces.
sity; a rubber tired rig for his l7-year
old boy may in a pinch be dispensed
with.
When child enters school, he is en-
| titled to a comfortable seat The seat
ought to be the right size as nearly as
possible. When purchasing school
desks hereafter always consider the
children who are to use them.
Recitation benches may or may not
be needed. The teacher is able to set
tie that question.
The children has right to have up.
to-date text books. That does not mean
that when an agent comes around with
something new the old must be discard
ed. prove all things and hold fast
that which is good" Old time texts,
however, ought not to be used when
better ones are on the market The
old time reaper was excellent in its
day, but no progressive farmer would
use it around here now.
The library should be in such condi-
ion that it may be we'll kept and used
to the greatest advantage. That means
that there should be good case for the
books and that it ought to be cataloged.
The value of card catalog will be set
forth in special article later.
One of the most valuable articles of
equipment is the blackboard The state
requires so square feet of it and also
that it shall be so placed that the child
ren can easily reach it. When black
board is purchased hereafter it is better
to get the genuine slate. 1t gives the
best satisfaction in the end.
To give the child facility III reading @
set of supplementary readers should bs
used in addition to their regular texts
These are quite we'll known now 30 tha
no more need be said on that subject
The number necessary depends upon th,
size of the school and the teacher is tn,
one to determine this.
The dictionary is very useful book
To learn to use the dictionary is to be
come that more independent. Deter
mine the number of children in tn,
Middle and Upper Forms and then ge
an Academic Dictionary for every 81,
of these pupils There should also b,
an international Dictionary in tho room
A globe and set of maps are very
useful and MOuld be used. When buy
ing get the maps in single cases becaus,
much more can be gotten out of then
than when eight of them are put int,
one box. Suggestions in regard to worl
on the maps and globe will also be giver
in subsequent article.
Then there are many little things tha
common sense tells us ought to be pro
vided, such rs crayons, erasers, sweep
ing and dusting materials good regist
er, etc.
Do not get the idea that the equip
ment that is in the schools now must bt
thrown ont and replaced by the new
When buying, get the best on the mar
ket, such as slate blackboard, single
desks, etc.
Let the general principle governing
the purchase of equipment be its utility
| And now when the school boards buy
these things it is up to us teachers to
use them. Are we using tue black boards
all we CAM Are we using or are we
saving our maps? How about that
globe? Are the pupils answering ques.
tions by going directly to the globeY Ii
the library being used intellgently2
In another article q summary will be
made and also the general conditions of
building and grounds discussed