Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1913-10-18
Some Observations of the Com
missioner of Schools.

AS one travels in the various commu-
mites of Charlevoix Co. from year to
year he is impressed with the fact that
as rule the citizens of the county are
OF the progressive type.
New silos, new buildings, new ma
chinery, young orchards and many
other indications of wsde-awake pro-
gressive farming are to be seen on each
scccessive visit to any particular COM
munity in the county,
1t is lamentable fact that in many
OF the seemingly most progressive
portions OF this great country land we
OF this county are no worse than in
other couuties Of the state or in other
states OF, the union) our educational
facilities do not keep pace with other
things in the march of progress.
We can see in many communities
that are stndded with big horse and
cattle barns, warm and well ventilated,
supplied with clean cement floors,
litter carriers and many other modern
conveniences, poultry houses that are
the pride of Biddy's heart, and other
modern conveniences that are and
should be the pride of any community,
school house that is by no means in
keeping with the general makeup of
the community.
That same school house will be so
| lighted that the child will be forced to
face a strong light which constantly
annoys him, so seated that number
of children will be forced to sit all day
with their feet swinging, so ventilated
that the children will either be forced
to sit in draft or breathe the same
air over and over, so heated that part
of them will be roasting while others
will be freezing.
In the same community in which you
find the neweSl and most up-to-dat
tools, the most modern conveniences,
the latest modes of travel, etc, you
will find school teacher who is forced
to use text book thtat is entirely out
Of date, map tnat gives Cuba and the
Philippine Islands as part of the
Spanish domain, history that does not
mention either Roosevelt or Taft and a
wooden blackboard that is shiny and
can be clearly seen from just certain
angle of the room.
But why this crouch? In spite of
conditions such as we have described
our schools are doing bigger work
than they have ever done before.
In these same school houses will be
found teachers who have had special |
training for their work and who are |
training the young people of the coun-
ty in many things which are new to the |
arentsp of the community.
What is there to the making of pa
per chain or paper toy or working
the picture of some animal on a piece |
of cardboard?
1t is true that the intrinsic value of
the thing may be small but the habits
OF industry that are being taught the
pride that is developed in being able to
do something will more than repay the
time and trouble taken in the develop
ment of this kind of work. Children
who are Taught to employ their time in
doing something will not be inclined to
loaf later in life. Many people are un-
able to see the value of this and many
other lines of work now being intro
duced in the public schools but that is
not surprising for a score eof people
said that Fulton's boat would not 90
but it did. 1t is hoped that we may get
our schools under the control of boards
who can see the same necessity for
modern improvements in the schools
that they see in other lines of work.
Give your teacher tools to work with
md demand results but look thinbs ov-
er carefully before you expect the av-
erage rural teacher to do work that is
On par with the work of the up-to-
late and well equipped city school,
This is my crouch. My next will be
| description of some of the good
hings land there are many of theml
hat see as 90 from school to school.
Respectfully submitted,
j. II. MILFORD, Com,