Philip weekly review. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 1907-1912, 1909-02-16
Educational Needs Of Stanley County

To the county papers Of Stan
ley county: BY the unanimous
request of the two hundred school
officers, teachers and patrons as
sembled at MidlandFebruary 9th,
you are requested to publish the
paper which embodies the talk
given by our county superinten-
dent, Grace A. Reed, at the Mid =
land meeting.
NINA DURYEA, Secretary.
Stanley Co. is large, county and a
new one, likewise it's needs are new
and large. The educators Of the
state have asked for an educational
commission. This commits S 0 n,
If appointe is to solve
Stanley county's problems with the
rest of the state and report in 1911.
1t will be two years before this COM
mission reports and in the meantime
our difficulties are not lying dormant.
First we need more unseltish inter
est among ALL people in the educa-
tion of the children. An interest
that will lead them to think and
understand these needs. There must
be something besides a room, a
bench and teacher. There must be
an equipment. But what is more
important, the equipment and the
teacher must be of the type ealculat-
ed to inspire the child to his greatest
attachments. 1t is not upon its
mines, agriculture and manufactur-
ing facilities that the United States
is dependent for her progress, but
upon her children. There is every
indication that an educational wave
is coming that will sweep over the
country with great force. Signs Of
this approaching wave, vast amounts
are being voted In our cities for
school buildings, the people are de-
manding the best for their children.
Equipment is as generous as the
building, play grounds and libraries
are given freely. The country school
house has begun to feel the new i'm
pulse and already in the United
States nearly quarter of a million
school children are transported daily
from crude buildings to beautiful
school houses with modern appoint
mentS.
In many other ways it is evident
that parents are placing the interests
of their children above all else and a
demand is being made for national
aid SO that We will not have fifty
three times as much appropriated
for the study of worms and worries
Of the farm as for the study Of child
rem. We now have an appropriation
Of SS5, 900 for the Bureau of Educa-
tion and $l3, ZOO, 900 for the Bureau Of
Agriculture. We do not ask for less
for agriculture but more for the
children. The same work done by
the states would cost forty-siX times
as much as when done by the Bureau.
In his final message to Congress.
Roosevelt said, II earnestly recon-
mend that this unfortunate state of
affairs as regards the national educa-
tional office be remedied by adequate
appropriations. With this demand
ior national aid has come the call
for a new type of school where not
the head only but the heart and
hand shall be trained, where the
child will be fitted for life in its
broadest and best sense.
We must dignity manual labor for
our boySand girls II We would sue
ceed as nation. The bulk of the
people In any truly great nation
should do work hich makes demands
On both mind and body. Physical
labor done inteiljgently and by trained
minds should be respected more
than purely mental work.
1t is a fact that our schools have
not taught the American youth te
respect the dignity of labor and there
is no way to teach this except by
adequate training in hand craft OF
trades. Stanley county is not too
, new or too poor to build right as she
builds. Fort Pierre will soon open a
new school building-then will tt
he time and place to start the train
ing for skilled labor: kadoka is soor
to follow and sCme of the rural dist
ricts are planning central schools
that can lie equipped for indust ria
work and will be if the patrons sc
desire. Just as fast as the districts
are ready for it their solution lies il
the Central or Township High School
With such school established ir
each township you are making an ed
ucational center in each six miles
square. You are gaining center
for debates, lectures, farmers insti.
tutes, school entertainments and
social events.
You are educating not only the
boys and girls but the whole commun
ity; you are bringing the good things