The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-11-26

school, but a social center, the focus of
the communities interests and intellect
ual activities. 1t should have an assemb-
ly room lar ge enough to accommodate the
people, with stage suitable for the
presentation of plays, operas etc. Here
should be presented school entertain
ments spelling schools, graduating ex-
ercises, illustrated lectures, addresses,
dramatical and musical entertainments
anything that the intellectual and
social needs or interest may require or
profit by. Hither may come the Farm
ers' Institute. the Grange, the Horticul.
tural Society, Dairymen and Stock
Breeders Associations Cooperation of
Agricultural Colleges, University Ex-
tension Lectures etc.
Surely the people in the country are
entitled to the same wholesome and
helpful recreations and entertainments
as the people of the city. They can
have them if they will provide for them
and it will not cost so much as it will tc
go to the city for them. The purpose
of the school and its accomplishments is
to educate for country life and to make
it enjoyable as we'll as profitable The
present courses of study in graded and
High Schools lead away from the coun.
try rather than toward it. They may
make more intelligent men but they do
not make more intelligent farmers.
Their graduates plod along in the same
old ruts, with no greater skill or profits,
and with less satisfaction because they
have had glimpses of pleasure which the
farm does not now afford.
The country boy and girls are just as
good as the boys and girls of the city.
They are just as needful and usedful to
the state and nation. They have a
right to just as good an education and
will make just as good use of it. They
need it not merely to make farmers, bnt
to make more noble, useful and happy
men and women. They need to have
their talents and aptitudes developed sc
that they can make the most of them.
selves, aud the best use of themselves
No one can tell what they are best fit
ted for. Some of them perhaps ought
not to remain on the farm. They may
be better adapted to something else, but
may never find it ont for lack of oppor
,ppitv f,r 3avol,p,,apt Ma,v would
remain on the farm because of natura
adoption, and they ought to be trained
for a profitable and happy country life
That life ought TO be enriched and en-
, larged by such intellectual and socia
, activities as | have indicated.
There are thousands of rural commu
mites that are we'll able to provide suit
able opportunities for their children
! Some of them are in Marathon county
town combine to establish an advance
: school for their pupils who have passe,
through the district schools. Provide
building at some central point wher,
lines of traffic interscct and invite al
advanced pupils within a radius of foul
or five miles. If some live outside tn,
districts supporting the school they may
J pay tuition. Employ strong, wide
J awake scholarly man and pay him wha
he is worth.
If the pupils of the first year want tc
remain second year and new ones come
you will have school of two grades
which may yet be taught by single
teacher. If not, hire another. 1t is pool
economy to try to get the work of two
men out Of one. The pupils will suffer
} most from such a course. Begin if yol
} prefer in the same simple way like this
: and let the school develop. Encourage il
in every proper way because your OWE
boys and girls will be benefited They
are as good az anybody boys and girls
and have rs much right as anyone to al
; education and fair chance in life.
Don't scrimp the school house; buil(
) large enough for "a growing school and il
: such manner that it can be enlarged
; without becoming an eyesore. Build a.
generously rs you do for your stock
Yonr children are worth more thar
your cattle. Provide for them NOR,
literally. Many build barns that would
accommodate, on the first floor, all th
school houses in the town, with room t,
spare. Build a central school hous,
) somewhat after the plan have suggest
ed where you can have an assembl,
room with stage such as they have il
, the high school buildings Provide fo
, your own entertainment as we'll as 70
; yonr own childrsn.
In many places the consolidated town
: ship school would approach the idea
and ought to be adopted But township
lines may well be disregarded where to
Biography, routes Of travel or scant,
, population make it difficult of patron
) age. The convenience Of popnlous re
gions bound together by business an'
social ties should not be sacrificed to ar
, titicial boundaries, though legal sanction
may be necessary for disregarding them
Villages often afford convenient cen
; ters, but village conditions and tradi
tions mnst not warp the course of stud,
3 and work Of the country high school