The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-08-26
Education

The function of education is to pre-
pare the individual to discharge the
duties of life. Education is the
boundary line between barbarism,
savagery and civilization. The degree
OF education express the prog 'ess of
civilization and distinguishes between
progressive and enlighted nations and
barbaric rule. The more highly edu-
Gated nations are the most stable and
the citizens Of enlightened govern
ments are safeguarded by protection
OF life, property and liberty.
In republics where every citizen has
an equal voice in the administration
of public affairs universal education
is the foundation of personal and re-
ligious liberty. The means Of univer-
sal education is the common school,
from which many Of the children
graduate after having mastered the
primary principles Of knowledge that
will enable them to be proficient in
perennial duties of citizens. If higher
education is possible, the foundation
for advancement is laid in the primary
district school curriculum.
The education that practically
molds the character Of the nation is
impaired in the common schools. The
district school should be an exponent
of the largest cooperation of the
moral, intellectual and social forces
that tend to advance the interests of
thecommunity. Enlarging the course
OF study may not meet the needs Of
the locality, although it may intro
duce new ideas. To mold the charac-
ter Of a community the school must
be directed by a teacher who has a
personal interest in the welfare of the
locality. Germany unstands the po-
tentiality of teachers interested in the
welfare OF the community and the
government commissions teachers per-
manently for educational functions in
a given locality.
On great hindrance of efficiency in
the common schools is the frequent
change of teachers and the absence of
uniformity in the primary course
The children are elevated and refined
in the same degree that the teachers
are refined. The teacher is not quail
he'd to undertake the education of
children unless he is a person of re-
fined character. The necessity of I'M
iformity is imperative, and the teach
er, to perform his functions, should
be a graduate Of some high school or
university. AS the plastic mind is
instructed so will the character de-
velop in the individual child. The
common school is the great force now
operating to establish national char
acter. 1t is the evolution of the
ideals OF every community.
In rural communities the necessity
Of teaching agriculture is admitted,
as the ideals presented are object
lessons that determine the avocation
of life. If the farmer intends his
children should follow agriculture he
must place the highest ideals of the
farm before them in their education
in the common schools. The agricul-
tural college cannot initiate these
ideals, but can assist in promoting
them. In agriculture the community
must be built up from the foundation
laid in the district school. The COM
mon school should be utilized in en-
%couraging in encouraging husbandry,
the most necessary and noblest of all
professions. When agriculture is
made a part of the curriculum of
national education it will keep our
brightest men on the farm.