The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-11-25
EDUCATIONAL.
(BY G.. w. MEISNEST.) }

ne ldsU DulleIlu lS devoted entirely tO
a discussion on the Country High School.
Mr.. Larson has spoken of this kind of d
school while superintendent of this
county and now it is his main subject
in most of his talks all over the state.
1t has become real need in the country
communities. 1t is a step towards con-
solidation, Capitalization, and better ed
ucation for the country boy and girl.
Mr.. Larson has been kind enough to
prepare most of the articles given be-
low.
WHAT IT Is.
A Country High School is high
school located in rural community, IL
which the children of that community y
can go after they have finished the work
Of the common district school
NEED OF SUCH A SCHOOL.
There are now getting to be a large
number of people in country communi-
ties who desire to give their children
more education than they can get in
their own district schools. These child.
rem are therefore sent away from home
at an early age. Other parents who
cannot afford to send their children a
way to school would like to give them
this education il they could keep them
at home. A school located right in the
community would therefore supply a
real need.
ADVANTAGES OF SUCH A SCHOOL.
1, The first aud greatest advantage
would be, that parents could keep their
children at home during an age when
they especially need the parents care
and guidance
,. The work of such school could
be based more largely upon the pupils
experience and the environment in
which they have lived and which they
know something about.
3. The tuition which is paid by the
town to the city high schools and which
does not pay the proportonate expenses
of such city high school would be kept
in the town and go far towards main
tanning a school which would be of beu-
eft to all the children of the commun-
ity, not only those who attend Free
High School in city.
A. Such school would help to devel-
op the community itself by directly pre-
pairing many of the young people for do
ing better farm work.
B. Such a school would be n great ed.
ucational center of the community and
furnish activities for the young people
thus adding interest to country life.
CHARACTER OF SUCH A SCHOOL.
Every school should be adapted to the
condition and the needs of the commun
i.y. In such u high school the work
should be especially adapted to the char
acter of the environment. The work in
the different branches should be given q
strong agricultural trend. In botany
for instance, special stress should be
laid upon the study Of plants with which
the farmer has to deal, such rs corn, po
tato, clover, alfalfa, and also the lower
forms such as smut, rust, blight. The
work should be made practical and thor
ough and should be adapted to the pup
lis ability 1t should not be cheap
course nor should it be wholly agricui.
tural History, literature, geometry
and the like would find their places,
but the purpose of the school, the high
est development of its pupils for efficient
service should ever be kept in mind.
EXAMPLE OF SUCH SCHOOLS.
The introduction of such work has
been made into a few schools in the
state 1t is a movement that is coming
In schools long established under the old
scholastic plan it is often difficult to ov
ercome tradition and introduce work OF
a more practical nature. Among the
schools that have introduced some OF
this work this year are Verona, Seneca
Milton, New Richmond, Sheboygan
Falls. There may be others. Shioctou
and the town of Bovina organized q
high school this fall with the intention
of having such work done.
An excellent example of such "A school
is the John Swaney School of Pullman
County, Illinois This school has be
come known far and wide for its work
1t is situated in country community
two miles from any village. There are
4G pupils enrolled in the high school
This school was the result of the consol
idation of three country districts. Con
solidatioD, however, il not absolutel,
necessary. and the communities car
keep their country schools Just tn,
same
In this John Swaney School the regn
lar high school work is done as we'll a
in any school and in addition Is giver
the agricultural work. This il th,
fourth year Of the school and class o
10 will be graduated next summer.
TEACHERS NEEDED FOR SUCH a SCIIOOI
This school will develop new type o
n teacher. II IL not enough that tn
teacher have book learning; he mus
know things and conditions. He ough
to have q knowledge of practical farm
ing rs well rs the scientific phase Of th