Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-05
FAVORS
VOCATIONAL
SCHOOL WORK
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF AGRI-.
CULTURE BELIEVES 1T MORE
PROFITABLE THAN CULTURAL
INSTRUCTION.

Des Moines, Nov A. Consolidated
village and rural schools are the
greatest factors in the establishment
Of virile morality and high ideals OF
every day life in this country, accord
ing to Assistant Secretary OF Agri-
culture Hays, who addressed the Iowa
State Teachers convention here to-
day. Hays contended that as the
whole educational and moral structure
OF the country rested in the final
analysis of the country's rural life,
the development of practical educa-
tion In the rural districts was quick
est and surest means of raising the
general standards of intelligence,
morality and competence in the United
States. He urged practical training
In the vocations the pupils expect to
enter as far more profitable than gem
eral cultural instruction.
Riggs Annual Address.
Hon. John r. Riggs, state superin-
tendent OF public instruction in his an
nual address to the state teachers as
sociation here today said in part: \
The problem Of waste in education
must ever engage the most earnest
attention of all persons in any way.
Interested in school affairs. It is a,
problem ever old but always new and
one that is particularly urgent in
Iowa at the present hour. 1t is fitting
therefore, that we consider for few
minutes some OF the means of reduc-
ing waste and of increasing efficiency
in our schools.
The most effective and economical
school work requires that three funda-
mental conditions be met.
First There must be physical equip.
ment fully adequate to- meet the needs.
of all the children IN all the activities
Of the school. u ss 4
Second There must be children III
sufficient numbers to make possible
suitable classif1cations and they must
be regular in their attendance
Third There must be teachers Of
culture and character and professional.
spirit and whose love of the work and
of the children is constant and con.
suming.
The Schools Ia Iowa.
With more than $27, 900, 900 invested
in school buildings and grounds it
would seem that Iowa has gone far
toward meeting the physical demands
of the schools; and in the more pop
,ulous school corporations Of the state
this is In large measure true But
while there have arisen in many of our
towns and cities school buildings of
architectural beauty, with commod-
ious, well seated, well ventilated and
well lighted rooms and with equip
ment for the most effective study OF
all subjects pursued, in many other
towns and cities the generosity of the
taxpayers has stopped short Of pro-
'viding sufficient funds for the proper
completion and adequate equipment OF
the school buildings erected, on the
theory doubtless that room, a seat
and book are the only real needs of
the child at school. Then we have our
twelve thousand and more one room
rural school houses dotting the state
from border to border, some of them
thanks to the liberality Of enlightened
progressive communities, are build
ings of architectural beauty, which
provide superior comforts to and
conveniences for the children. Others
are severely crude, survival from q
past generation, while still others are
q by-Word and reproach to any self
respecting community.
So while we have $27,OOO,0OO in
vested in our school buildings and
grounds, we have done well only in
spots and doubtless the intelligent ex-
penditure Of another $27,OOO, 900 will
be required before all our children
have the benefits of suitable physi-
cal school environment.
Comparatively few communities
have awakened to the real demands
OF the twentieth century school. Build
ings, commodious, evenly heated, prop
erly lighted, perfectly i ventilated,
artistically finished and equipped for
the teaching of manual as well as for
the traditional school subjects, and
set amidst trees and flowers and with
ample premises for play grounds and
school gardens-this is the ideal for
the physical side of the twentieth
century school.
The Rural School.
more alnan A,UUU rural SCHOOLS IN
Iowa never enroll more than ten pupils
to the school in given term and many ,
of them less than five. While OF all
the rural schools In the state, less
than 1900, or about 25 per cent Of
the whole, enroll more than twenty
pupils to the school in any given term.
While this condition shall prevail, un-
rest and dissatisfaction will continue
and large expenditures on school
houses and grounds and other equip
ment will be grudgingly made, and
there will continue to be small oppor-
tunity for organizing the pupils for ef-
fectiye work in all the activities pos
IConirnad ON Paun 9 A-sl.a 80 |