Evening journal., 1909-05-17
Editorial
Opinion
Work of the Schools.

Work of the Schools.
Sussex Republican.
The time is drawing near when the
public schools Of our towns will close for
the year. Most Of our country schools have
already closed. Announcements are being
made Of the commencement exercises of
many Of our public schools. 1t will soon
be school election day, and the attention
Of our citizens should be directed to pub
lie schools.
Few of us seem to realize the i'm
portance OF our public schools and few,
very few, we regret to say. really know
much about the work Of our public
schools.
The voters elect the School Commission
ers and the latter elect the teacher, and
the teacher runs the school as best he
or she can under the direction OF the
superintendent. without much help or en-
couragement from the parents or other
persons in the districts. II the parents
believe the teacher is a good one, they
seem satisfied to let the teacher
make out as best he or she can. The
children are sent to school promptly, as
sistance rendered. II possible. TO the child
in the preparation, II possible. to the child
interest Of the parent seems to close.
In fact. as has been said. less attcn-
tion is paid to the child in school than
is ordinarily paid to the animals on the
farm. II we have a prize porker, fine
colt, or a fine COW. or an unusually -four
ishins growing crop. we are likely to
visit them very often and devote a great
/ deal Of time and attention thereto. but
/ few parents visit the schools In their
/ district and We have known instances
where the parent did not know their own
chid's teacher.
We all want good schools, but do many
OF our parents know whether their schoo
is good. bad or Indifferent They ar,
likely to Judge the school and the teacher
by the progress made by their child.
Our state PAYS out large sums to aiC
our schools. and large amounts are raised
by school taxes TO maintain our school,
and yet very little Is really known b,
our people about our expensive schoo
system. We believe that our people are
taking more interest in this matter thar
formerly. but it Is the duty Of all citizeni
and, Of course, more particularly the par
ents Of the children TO take greater in
terest In our schools
Tho number OF graduates from our towr
schools are rldiculously small when W,
know how many children were in thi'
same class only four or five years prev
ious. So many drop out from various
causes. OF course a few drop ont from
necessity, but a large proportion shoul,
continue until graduation.
In school circles all over this countr,
there is criticism Of the present schoo
methods and widespread demand for re
form IN methods of instruction an,
courses OF study. The belief is grow.ni
tsiat we are giving our school children to-
much TO do and thae the methods Of in
struction do not impress or educate th
child as they should. That too mucl
stress is laid upon the quantity Of worl
and Accomplishment. and too little on tn
quality or thoroughness OF the work &C
complished.
Every hoy or girl should he able TO re
ceive in our public schools during the hrs
twelve years Of their school life. all th
instruction they will have need Of in an
vocation Of life. that they can secur
during that period Of school life. and
they do not. our schools come just tina
far short Of making an adequate provisio
for our children.
Now Is tho time 10 give thought I
these matters. II we have any criticisy
let it he known. so that the trouble may b
di-covered and a remedy found to correc
tho same