Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-01-06

| cial resources permit, the real needs
| of the communities in which they ex-
list. In so doing they are likely to use
the best educational material within
the environment for educational pur-
poses, and the environments of differ
ent schools will, in some degree al
least, differ. In some communities
agriculture may be the most prom
inent thing in the environment of the
school. For another school it NAV be
the commercial element 1t is not my
purpose here to develop this idea, but
merely to suggest what is meant l
shall merely drop this caution, that
no one should assume that the entire
high school course should be made up
in this way, or even the major part OF
it; but this will be discussed later
Every community would have its spe-
cial problems to work out. This
would doubtless make serious work
for the principal Or superintendent.
1t is becoming painfully evident to
us today that boys in our towns and
cities are almost as much in need or
an opportunity to do some kind OF
useful work to take the place of the
farm training that most boys used to
have, as they are in need of what we
commonly call education.
1t is a conviction with many that
boys, in particular, who have no use
full work to do with their hands III
the early part Of the adolescent age,
and pass over the nascent period for
such kinds of physical activity, never
develop the instinct of workmanship,
or power and persistence as workers.
l recall with great deal of pleasure
that 25 years ago in my little schOoi
OF two departments, | made prac-
tice Of studying, so far as time per-
mitted, farm problems in connection
with the school work. 1t was done in
a crude and unsystematic manner, but
it was useful. l also followed the
practice of helping the boys in get
ting places out on farms for the sum
work was almost as valuable to them
as the school year. The farmers were
greatly pleased, and frequently said
to me that they learned much from
these boys. Is it not feasible for
school men today to assist their boys
in finding work of a valuable kind at
least during the long vacations? In
some cities, notably Fitchburg and
Cincinnati, the school authorities are
managing to find work for the BOYS
during term time in the manufacture
ing establishments, by some system of
attenuation of study and work. A
brief article in the Technical World
for December may prove interesting
reading in this connection.
The criticism of the high schools
is growing in volume and is taking on
more definite form. The trivial critl.
cism the schools may well ignore, but
it will be a great misfortune IL they
do not listen to the criticism that is
deep and well founded The criti-
clsm that the schools do not connect
with life as it is today is serious be-
cause true in too large a measure
Pupils may well study some things
foreign to modern life. but thev must
get back to modern life before their
school days are over, or the school
has served the purpose of alienation.
But it may be asked. would you
throw down the bars in every conceiv-
able direction and admit the right of
every community to establish any
sort of freak course that it might oc-
cur to some shallow-pated individual
to foster? Emphatically, NO. But
that story will be told in our next.