The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-11-25
THE COUNTY SCHOOL
BOARD CONVENTION.

BUAKU GUNVEhl lUN.
In spite of the snow storm last Mon
day about 125 school board members
met at the Turner Hall to attend the
school board convention Supt. Meis.
nest called the meeting to order about
half past ten and spoke about various
matters that had come under his obser.
hation. He spoke of the importance of
waving teachers who take interest in
the general progress Of the community.
Among other matters touched upon
were the outbuildings, the annual re-
ports and the qualifications of teachers.
Following this came the talk on THE
Relation of Education TO the Develop
ment of the State" by w. E. Larson.
Before giving the regular talk the speak
err read II message from State Supt. c.
p. Cary in which was given brief re.
view Of what had been attempted in
school board conventions in the past.
Mr.. Cary emphasized strongly the i'm
portance of getting strong teachers to
enter the work and remain there.
In his regular address Mr.. Larson
showed that to develop the state we
need men who can think. To furnish us
thinking men is the function of educa-
ton. Education consists of all the ex.
periences we have in life and is not con.
fined to the school room. The first great
factor in education is the home. Here
is laid the foundation of all education.
The habits fostered in the home become
the child's first investment in life. A.
mong the things that the home must
teach are industry and obedience. With
these habits success is almost assured.
Farm life is especially suited to the
formation of these habits and parents
can make the home the best kind of
school for the laying of this founda,
tion.
The home, however, can not do all
that we wish to do for the child. To
become thinking man the child must
learn to read, write etc. The school
thus becomes an adjunct to the home
doing for the child some things the
home cannot do The school room
should be thought of as part of the
home. 1t should be sanitary,-a place
where the chlds health is not endang.
cred. Plenty of fresh air, good water,
and light should be furnished. Good
seats should be provided. The school
house and outbuildings should be kept
clean.
The school board has the running of
the school in the same way as the par
ents are responsible for the home. The
teacher in the school is in the place of
the father and the mother in the home
Hence the Importance of getting train.
ed, mature teachers into the schools.
The teacher influences the child half of
the day the parent the other half. The
two together are training the citizen
Therefore there should be cooperation
between the two in order to get the best
results.
AS the teacher is in the school what
the parent is in the home, the teacher
must have authority. Parents should
uphold the teachers authority and let
their children understand that while
they are in school they are to obey the
teacher.
The school is also an institution of the
state. The state consists of all its citi-
zens. The present generation has in its
charge the preparation of the next gen.
Grafton for its duties. Hence schools
are established. The state has duty
towards its insane and its criminals, it
has also duty towards its Young.
School officers, therefore, are also offic-
ers of the state. The education of the
young is an absolute necessity. 1t is
necessary for self preservation. Every
child that grows up ignorant is a dang
er to the state. Hence we have compul.
sorry attendance laws.
The country high school was touched
upon briefly but as this is taken up in
the last school bulletin it was not dis.
cussed fully.
Prin. f. Christensen spoke of the
work of the training school This school
has always in mind country conditions
and the country schools, The students
are studying the subjects they have to
teach and are studying them from the
standpoint of teaching them to children.
They are given observation work under
directions of their teachers, after which
they have practice work under compel
ent supervision. Much is made of ma.
ture work in order to get them into the
spirit of country life
In the afternoon question box was
opened and several practical questions
were asked All in all, the convention