The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1912-11-07
Teachers New Field
IS RurdI Awakening
SERIES OF FOUR ARTICLES TO
SHOW FUNCTION IN RELA.
E4 TON TO COMMUNITY
CBy Prof. j. w Rodevald)


that all of the beginnings we're not
Iealixed before our generation. In
deed there are those today who
nourn because there is not an oppor-
tunity to start something, those
rho feel that all of the good things
were put into operation in the past.
BAT II we will face the issues squarely
We shall see that We not only live in
m age potent with results, but equally
potent with beginnings. In fact past
years have served us we'll if for no
other reason than to teach us that
the future may yet have hidden man.
ma, that the present is full of worthy
possibilities if We but put forth ef-
fort to possess them.
In my own lifetime, which con-
Tess is somewhat less than the span
of single generation l recall when it
was the duty of the teacher to teach"
and I understand now that teaching
then meant nothing more nor less
than to inject into the pupils what
were deemed fundamentals" regard
less of the methods employed, al
though decided preference was man.
Tested for the hickory as the short
est cut to pedagogical glory. In my
native state the school house, the
home for the greatest part of the
most important period of the pupils
life. could be most any kind of a
building; the equipment, including the
teacher could be of the same order.
The site for the school house was
generally selected in a spot where as
surance was doubly sure that a crop
could not be raised, the meanest in
the neighborhood, often the steep side
of bluff, or the depths of ravine.
81 a., The New Education Idea
81 We have reached a period in edu-
cational endeavor when teaching has
assumed new aspect, when the
school stands for something more
than the number of times Tommy got
a flogging, when the teacher is vastly
more than a 'larner of the young
nns,' when the school community is
something besides "deestrict'' con-
tanning four square miles. This is an
age of mighty awakenings with vast
emphasis placed upon the worth of
the individual. And especially are
we beginning to realize the value and
necessity of an intelligent, educated
farming population, and the needs of
bringing to the tillers of the soil the
richest inheritances from every de-
partment of this worlds vast store
house of good things.
1t is not surprising then that there
should be generating a movement
which tends to bring the people TO-
sether for the common understanding
Of the needs of the various communi-
ties. and to exchange ideas as to how
these needs can be solved. The
rural community is especially noted
for the Independent self sufficient
feeling on the part of it's inhabitants,
and in the past there was little under.
standing of the common interests
existing and little effort toward co.
separation. Today there is an actual
operation in many localities of the
states of the central west, a move.
ment which bids fair to revolutionize
matters, and to bring to the farmer
and his family every feature which
viii aid them in reaching the maxi
mum of efficiency as members OF
their respective communities, and
citizens Of the republic. This move
nent is an attempt to establish, with
the school house as a nucleus, a com
mon forum where people may gather
Tor social purposes and to exchange
ideas regarding what can be done tc
further their common interests.
Need Of the Movement
''The very definition OF commun
ity." says an eminent educator, "is .
boAy OF men who have things in com
100. who Judge those common things
hsa acommon point Of view. namely
from common point Of view. namely
Interests"
Let US consider, this statement II
the light OF our knowledge regarding
the vast numbers Of foreigners whit
coae yearly to our chores. As a rul.
these people seek out their own kin
form community groups, and perpetu
ate = much as possible their nativ.
customs. Racial prejudices, often q
keen - those Of the old world ar
generated, and IL happens. as Is Otter
IL case that many foreign group
rally occupy the same neighbo1
g. 4 -