The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-11-21
.aTHE KICKLE KACKLE OF KIDS -


1.-THE KICKLE KACKLE OF KIDS"
very we'll meaning, jealous, hardworking,
thoroughly conscientious young man, who has
made the mistake too many young men make,
that of taking himself too seriously, has preci-
plated sensation in Virginia school affairs this
week by rendering his resignation in letter adj
dressed to the school board that is filled with
grief and in which the superintendent, principal
and even some members of the school board are
accused of lack Of cooperation to the end that
there may be clean athletics at the Virginia high
school, He believes he is right and with COIL
sistency that commands respect he sticks to his
story He cannot be made to see the situation
otherwise, but his viewpoint is that Of very
young man with admirable ideals, in large de-
gree at fault himself, who has allowed his zeal
to outstrip his better Judgment Athletics are by
no means the most important part of the city
schools. They serve an excellent purpose in the
general scheme of latter day education, but they
are not an absolute necessity to the curriculum
of any school, High school athletics are a means
to an end Roughly expressed their theory is
that sound mind in sound body can soak up
more knowledge in shorter given time than it
would be possible to assimulate under the oppo-
site condition. The letter of the young man to
the board was rather painful epistle If he
were to read it himself ten years from today no
doubt he would then consider it in just that
light
It appears that some of the high school STU
dents have been using intoxicants. That is url-
fortunate, if true. The condition, however, is
not new to most high schools. The fault does
not lie with the schools, the board, the principal
or the superintendent. The most charitable view
of it is that it is the outcome of condition of
environment which reflects upon the city at large.
Boys in their teens can hardly be held individu-
ally responsible for such callow mistakes, for
youth is ever ndiscreet There are of course,
extreme cases, where rigid diciplne is necessary.
The majority of them, however, will work out
their own solution. Outside aid should come first
from the home 1t is not the affair of the schools
until such time as it affects their discipline is
so open and fragrant that bad example is set to
other students. Charity for error or shortcon-
ing can never be so effectively extended with
good results as in the adolescent period of youth
and the law holds that man is an infant until
he is FL.
So far as the present tempest of teapot di-
mansions in school affairs extends it was very
fairly characterized by Director Stewart when
he designated it ''the kickle kackle of kids"
In some quarters the publicity given it in the
newspapers regretted. 1t was an excellent bit OF
news" 1t made people read and talk. No harm
can come from that. The people have right tc
know what is going on in the schools. The schools
of this city have been storm center in the past
and anyone who believes the time has passed
when envy, malice and all Observation-Disclosures is
eliminated in school affairs is merely deceived
The condition which it took several years to
create will not pass in day or night for it was
too deeply rooted and the present expose commo-
ton and blow-up, is merely one Of the passing
showers that follow the more serious athmo-
spheric disturbance There will be others.
In the meantime the schools of this city are
going along very nicely under the most able d.
rection they have ever had and we may feel COM
paratvely safe at our own firesides despite the
fact that Dame Gossip hath it that we are gradu-
ally going to the demnition bow-wows so far as
our institutions of learning are concerned.
MINNESOTA'S MEDIEVAL PENITENTIARY