The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1912-02-08

love IN the work OF the teacher Only
those who have living, burning love
for the work can hope for eminent sue
cess. He compared the wo.A Of the
teacher in moulding the minds Of the
young to that Of the potter in moulding
his clay. Both the minds Of the young
as well as the clay, when in a plastic
state, may be formed into shape as the
artist Wills, but when once formed its
shape will remain. While the work of
the potter decays that Of the true teacher
shall last and abide forever.
While knowledge and skill on the part
Of the teacher are of immense import
ance, yet greater than these is his ability
to arouse interest. The teacher who
can discover the means of arousing an in
terest in his pupils, has solved one Of the
greatest problems that he has to meet.
This should be followed by arousing
la desire in the pupil to know some-
thing Of the subject taught. The teacher
should also have skill in controlling
interest. Every child has an intetest in
something even if it be only Diamond
Dick novel. The teacher who can guide
an intarest in an unworthy object to an
interest in something of substantial
worth is an artist in his work
supt. Kern gave a most interesting
series of lectures on the improvement Of
rural schools. These were illustrated by
lantern slides showing what had actually
beeudone by way Of making country
schools more attractive and effective
We should keep in mind the three P's,-
paint, plants and pictures. A few doll
Iars invested in paint viii not only
beautify the school premises but make
the buildings and fences last longer.
Wherever possible, water should be pro
vided so that trees may be grown and
flowers and other plants cultivated.
The interior Of the school, too, can be
made more attractive by few appropri-
ate pictures Children will have more
love and respect for beautifed building
than for one that is unatfractive.
Miss Shepard, our state superintend-
ent, gave an interesting address on
"Needs OF The Future In Education. h
She said that we must study the needs
OF the community in which we teach.
We should not try to adopt system
simply because it was successful at one
place. Our young and growing state
has conditions different from those Of
other states whose systems we some
times try TO adopt out here. School
affairs should be kept out of politics.
We should avoid iealousies, as there is
nowhere so great need of cooperation
as in the work of education. Instead of
INDUCING in harsh criticisms of each
other we should show a spirit Of will
ingness to learn from others and to help
each other
As success of our democracy depends
upon education we should not be par
simonious Of funds in the education of
our young. One of the most important
bills ever brought before congress is the
Page bill which provides aid for voca-
tional training. We must have trades
taught by the schools if we are to keep
pace with the other industrial nations Of
the world. There is still too much at
tention given to essentials, such as
technical grammar and subjects 10 ar
ithmetic such as cube root which are
never used by the great majority Of
students. In country schools more at
tention should be given to the training
of the young for greater efficiency in
their work about the home and farm.
Professor Olin of the department of
agriculture aroused great deal Of in
terest in the subject of raising crops by
his clear and forceful address. The
watchcry should not be, "Back to the
farm" but, "Stay on the farm; for
many 60 from the cities to the farm who
have not the necessary knowledge of
country life to make a success. We
should educate the farmers boy to a
more valuable life on the farm, and the
farmers daughter toward greater useful
ness and attractiveness in the farm home.
There is great promise in the fact that
whole classes Of graduates Of agricultural
colleges go back to the farms having
learned how to make them profitable
Prof. Olin described the great improve
ment that had been made in the corn
crop by scientific study Of it and sug-
gested that in Idaho the potato should
be taken as model crop. Then he gave
some directions in the raising of potatoes
that should be known by every potato
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