La Junta tribune., 1911-09-02
4 n the brief article wish
to present here, there are
three topics which | desire


tnTee topics Wnicn l desire
- to call attention to and to
emphasize. and these are Moral
Training, the Use of the Public LII.
brary, and the Imperative Need of
Swimming Pool To the discus
sion OF these topics | now devote my
self.
In the last analysis. the orsaniza-
ton, the management, the everyday
work of the school must all make for
character. Mental training and ply.
steal training arithmetic. history.
manual training. chemistry-are im.
portant in developing the physical
and mental nature and powers Of the
child-but character-building Is abso-
lutely essential II he IL to become
something better and nobler than
simply an educated scoundrel who ex.
poets to get his living from his abil-
ity to beat his fellows by his
shrewdness.
The training In right ideals Of
life and living In the school can be
materially aided by the proper attt
tude OF the superintendent. the prin-
cipal and the teacher-not indeed by
preaching morality-but by living IL.
and by the proper attitude on their
part toward school and school duties.
The proper spirit exhibited by
the teacher toward punctuality and
regularity In school attc ndance. will
be much more effective In the forma-
ton OF good habits than will lectures
10 the children on tardiness and tru.
ancy. No teacher who has on her
hat and gloves when the bell taps
for dismissal can tesch morality"
The substitution - = syssso q
ssnding pupils that allows Tor merit
and growth. Instead OF the vicious
system that stirs up envy and jeal.
ousy by grading pupils by per cents.
that allow them to compare them
selves with their neighbors. is our
plan to inculcate true ideals for
doing school work on the part OF
the pupils.
Any system OF marking In school
that invites invidious comparison of
one child with another Is wrong both
In spirit and In result Many u child
who receives 10 per cent In his work
has made more real growth. maybe
than another child who receives n
grade OF ~ per cent for memoriter
work.
Any child who has done his best
deserves commcndation. II WAS once
80 taught In the lesson OF the Tai.
ents. and common sense and justice
NJ teach us today. All honors. re-.
wards aud prizes that are given for
highest grades and not for real
growth and Improvement are based
upon "A wrong principle. and do more
harm than good. In developing the
true spirit OF charity and aitruism.
Parents and teachers make n mis-.
take when they compare one child
with another. The mother who said
10 her daughter, Your teacher says
that Jane has a higher rank In III.
class than you have. you must study
harder did not mean to be- cruel.
but she was. Sh" melted her
daughter To unworthy effort through
unworthy motives.
This saying by Ruskin should be
kept In mind: III In tho effort that
deserves praise. not the success"
Dogma and theological doctrines
can not be- taught In the public
schools. but right views Of life and
correct moral principles must be-
taught II the school does Its full
need of good for the child.
Constant use should be- made Of
the books In the public library to
supplement the work In Geography
and history. Children are slad To
receive Suggestions ABOUT thcsr rad
Ing. Teachers should therefor feel
Il their duty 10 keep themselves In.
formed ~ 10 the best books. both
In fiction and general literature.
which are interesting. Each child
above the fourth Ersde should own
library card. and some supervision Of
his reading should b. attempted BY
the teacher. There are many ways
os doing this. Often = teacher can
recommend . hook best BY reading
aiou1 Interesting portions. Sometimes
oral reports of books Rad ~ pupils
Will stimulate the ether nsnbers q
tAs class - ree1 ne saoe book.
Lists pststs1 ~ plscs1 - ~ blsck.
bsas1s oaai,lasias Dsoa,s .wtaA uties