Semi-weekly herald., 1908-02-06
Character OF The
Public Schools

the Public School and Its Relation to
the Future" The text was: Train
up n child in the way he should 90
and when he is old he will not depart
from it."
Mr. Scruggs said by way of intro.
duction that he has been closely con.
nected with public school work and
public questions for about seventeen
years and the thought of cooperation
of all citizens in all public institutions
has constantly pressed his soul and
caused him to enthusiastically at
tempt to interest the public more and
more in all institutions OF common in
terest to the people where he lives
but he has noticed great disinterest In
public questions, and especially is
this disinterest marked in some com
munities and it is especially noticed
in Durango because there are more
than 5000 people hero who take but
ordinary interest in public questions
which are of an up-to-date spirit but
every man is for himself and for the
present, and not for others and for
foundation laying for those who are
to come into our places in the near
future. The school, the press and the
religious effort count for more in ed
ucational building than all the other
forces combined and If those inffu-
ences We're taken out OF Durango the
people who would be lett here would
not live in the community If they had
to walk out, but when effort is put
forth in behalf OF refining. uplifting
and saving Influences for our com
munity people by the thousands sit
down in disinterested mood and let
the helpful forces pine away. But
death cannot come to truth, therefore
eyes will some day be opened and the
life in Durango will be light love and
cooperative activity for "A Greater
Durango" Hundreds have heard Mr.
Scruggs in these special sessions in
the Baptist church and last night the
Towd was very good and heard the
following outline presented with an
interested heart in behalf of the edu-
catlonal side of our life and common
interests.
The standard In the future for the
public school teacher will be strong
demand from three viewpoints: Edu-
cational. Moral, Religious Twenty
five years from now every public
school teacher will have to be either
college or university trained. Teach
ers' wages will be increased and com
petition will be greater and that too
will raise the standard also, for the
position will be worth working for
and will be worthy of life preparation
Mr.. Scruggs said that he would vote
now to double the salary OF every pub
lie school teacher in the land because
they do not receive sufficient money
to pay for preparation and effort and
the low wages keeps the standard OF
ability down. Teaching should not be
merely stepping stone but should be
profession.
In the future the teacher will have
10 understand the relation of studies
because greater emphasis will be
placed upon relationships and every
thing relates first to God. secondly to
man, therefore the coming teacher
VIII have to be educated in the Bible
and know the relation of the Bible to
the world n TO hnv IN,
mind both the child's head and heart.
The nature of the pupil can only be
developed by the character of the
teacher. Once Mr.. Scruggs saw
father Furnishing his son for smoking
and at the same time that parent had
pipe in his mouth. The teacher OF
the future will be expected to develop
the student until the parents and 9th.
ers can see the character of the teach.
er in the child's everyday life.
The old type schoolmaster will
come again % years from now and ex-
abple will again be emphasized and
the ability OF the teacher viii be seen
in the students ambition. In Chicago
the public schools have been charged
with not educating the pupils but that
thought has not come because books
have aot been taught but because
graduates fall down after they leave
school and take up lower ranks than
friends thought they would. If boy
or girl after finishing" does not go
on after something higher, that one
is not educated even up to the stand
ard passed upol. Life is the thing we
are after.
Morally we must confess that the
character of the student is not deter
mined by any one teacher but on the
whole by all the teachers In every de
partment of the school where the stu
dent studies. At present the teacher
does not cocme into contact with any
more moral standard than Is existing
where he teaches. That is, If people
dance and play cards in the commun-
ity, the teacher dances II he wants to
and If he wants to he plays cards,