The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-09-19

NI' W. E' LdTSOu, anu appeared III
the Wisconsin Agriculturist;
THE COUNTRY SCHOOLS.
1t looks as though our country
schools are going to get some recogni-
tion at last. The National Education
al Association has appointed commit
tee to study this phase of education and
this committee will make report of
what they fnd and very likely make
recommendation for their betterment.
Several of the states have committees
at work investigating conditions and
suggesting repedies.
In Wisconsin committee was ap-
pointed by Supt. Carey last fall to
study the school situation, special at
tention to be given to the country
school. This committee is composed
of persons both in and outside the
teaching profession. In this way the
farmers's viewpoint can be obtained as
well as that of the school man
In addition to this committee the
Board of Public Affairs has taken up
the question. Men of wide experience
from other states have been secured
and they have visited many localities
to ascertain the actual conditions.
Their findings are especially valuable
as they corroborate the statements of
those who have been in country school
work for years. Whatever may come
out of the study, this is true, that those
who have known nothing of the need
of the country schools and cared very
little to know, now will learn from un-
biased persons that the country schools
need to be given more consideration
We have heard for years that we
have great university-the greatest
in the land. OF this we are proud. It|
would indeed be disappointment if
after spending our money on higher
education we should not have some
thing to show for it, 1t cannot be de-
MED that during the past few years
the greatest emphasis has been placed
upon the higher education. There is
reason for this. Higher education
has had its representatives in large
numbers to look after its interests.
Very few have been interested in the
welfare of the common schools and
those few, as a rule, have not been es-
pecially welcomed in the councils, con-
sequently the common schools have
had to take what has been handed out
to them. Now that those who are
looking out for the higher Institutions
are learning that their success depends
upon better work in the common
schools, we are likely to get more CON
sideraton
In criticising the country school
there is danger that we swing over
to the other extreme. City people,
especially, are likely to get the idea
that our country schools are doing
nothing and that they are uniformly
bad They hold up their hands in
horror when they read accounts 10y
those who have been out visiting.
While it is only too true that many of
our schools are in deplorable con.
dition, chiefly because of a lack OF
properly prepared teachers, yet it is
true that there are many country
schools giving their children better
training than is given in many of the
city grades. Where there is good
teacher there is good school, and |
feel safe in saying that fair percen-
tage of our country school teachers do
good work.
We should not get the idea that
Wisconsin rural schools have made no
progress. This is absolutely false.
In many of our counties the county
training schools have prepared excel
lent teachers for country school work.
Some of the best teaching ! have seen
anywhere has been done 10y people
from these schools. The discussions at
the school board conventions have also
done much 10 bring about more in |
telligent cooperation among the
people. Neither have the people been
entirely asleep. The school houses
have been used for gatherings Of var
ious kinds TO a greater degree than
many city people suppose. TO say that
nothing has been done is to insult the
people who have been trying to do
their best.
We should remember also, that it
is not only the country school that
needs to be improved. Our city
schools have by no means reached the
highest possible degree of efficiency
There is still much poor work done in
the high schools and even in our
colleges. The encouraging fact, how
ever, at this particular time, is that
the persons in the higher educational
institutions are waking up TO the needs
Of the country school.
The annual meeting meeting of the
NJ. G. II. A. will be held at Manitowoc.
Friday and Saturday, October II II.
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