The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-09-03

BY the law enacted by the last legis-
lature country schools are divided into
two classes. The schools of the first
class are those that come up to GER
tain standard in efficiency aud equip
ment while those of the second class are
those that lack sons of the things laid
down by the state department rs es-
sential to good school work. As we are
starting out on the new school year 1t Is
we'll for us to look over the things that
are necessary to have in II first class
country school.
| In the first place it is understood that
the districts that provided these es'
sentials prior to June 30 will get their
extra $50 this coming winter. Those
districts that provided the equipment
after that date will get their first $50 a
year later, or after the present school
year is over.
A first class country school does not
differ materially from any other first
class institution. A first class farm is
not necessarily large one or one owned
by an individual of noted ancestry 1t
is one in which business principles are
| kept in mind one that is kept IN good
| condition, one whose owner is a think
er and keeps up with the times; one
| from which first class articles are sent
ont. The same is true with first class
store, a first class cheese factory, first
class blacksmith shop or u first class
meat market In u first class school
there are four things to be looked after,
|. The teaching, including discipline.
.. The sanitary conditions.
3. The equipment.
4. The general conditions of building
and grounds,
As the purpose of the school is to de-
velop the mind the matter that should
be considered first is the teaching. Poor
| teaching is detrimental. A careless, in.
| different teacher is a menace to a com
muuity. Such a one is not merely a
zero but negative quantity. BY foster.
| ing the same habits in the children n
teacher of this description gives TO the
nation Il heritage of negative quantities
like himself, only they are raised TO the
second power. In Judging of the teach
ing work done in the school there are u
few general considerations:
I. The work must he definite. It
must be planned. Going ut a thing in u
haphazard way inst to fill up time is not
teaching any more than haphazard earth
scratching is road making There must
be plan in The teacher, mind and this
plan must aim towards some definite nc
complishment not only in the compile
tion of the subject matter but the gain.
ing of power on the part of the child.
Let rs keep in mind the subject matter
and the text book are only the means not
the end Of school work.
9 The work must be adapted to the
ability of the child The over feeding Of
an animal may stunt its growth physi-
|
childs mind. Trying to force down
geogra phical text book work when u
child is in the primary form shows lack
Of common sense ~ well as ignorance Of
psychological principles. In all school
work consider the needs and the ability
of the child.
3. There must be good school admin.
istration. Order must prevail, that or
der which is the result of business ac-
tivity. The mechanical parts of the
school management should be studied &c
that there be as little friction and noise
as possible. Let the school be "A place of
business.
A. The pupils should do the work. In
a school where the teacher does most of
the talking there is very little real work
done by the pupils. A. the blacksmith
arm becomes strong through the work
he is continually doing so the pupil
mind becomes strong to the extent tina:
the teacher makes him do his OWL
thinking.
D. There should be in the very at
mostphere of the school and even the
grounds feeling Of respect for author
ity. While we want activity both in
side and outside of the school house YET
we want to see the energy directed u
long proper channels. A school who's,
pupil- molest the paSsers- by even thougl
these may be tranlp4, can scarcely b,
called first class school. a school who's,
outbuildings are dstigured by cary
ing and whose fences are IN IL broker
3 down condition can not be considered
= first class The teaching Of ciyic4 is poo
in such u school Much more cuuld b
= said on this subject but the above vii
! illustrate what il wanted.
I Teachers should read carefully Mr.
e Cary4 pamphlet on How to Have
Good School The same gives in brie
form the great fundamentals of success
ful school work. A copy Of this pamph
let was sent to every teacher last yea
and also given out ut the Institute
The consideration of the sanitary con
= ditlons, the equipment and general con
q ditions of the building and grounds vii
4 be discussed next week