Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-03-13

school building and it's surroundings,
and it would be impossible to esti-
mate the extent of the influence ex-
erted upon the youth by environment"
states Payson Smith of Auburn, State
superintendent of public schools, in his
report which was recently filed with
the Governor and Council.
Our children spend many hours a
day in the schoolroom," continues
Supt. Smith, and not only are their
minds and characters being moulded
and formed by the influences of their
schools, but their physical welfare is
likewise in large measure determined
by schoolroom environment"
Continuing, Supt. Smith says:
Every school child is entitled to
school surroundings which are clean,
wholesome, safe and morally uplifting
and no town or community has dis
charged it's obligations to its children
until all the school buildings and sur
roundings meet these specifications
It is not possible for the best work to
be accomplished in a schoolroom,
which is improperly heated. made
quately ventilated or lighted and bad
ly furnished Contrary to preVa-
lent opinion the changes which are
necessary to put all school buildings IN
a reasonably decent condition in re-
spect to these things need not be un-
duly expensive. The re-arrangement
of the windows, the provision of a
ventilating stove, an equipment OF
modern desks, decent outhouses;
these are all within the means of any
community. Small appropriations
combined with local interest and effort
would give to all eur rural schools at
tractive interiors. pictures and small
school libraries. Notwithstanding the
considerable Improvement that recent
years have brought in the extension
and Identification of school GROUNDS
and the construction of suitable out
buildings there still remains very much
to be accomplished in the direction OF
further Improvement.
1T certainly should not be necessary
for the children now in school to suf-.
fer the discomfort and the unfortunate
Influences consequent upon the neglect
of towns to provide adequate build
ings. school grounds and equipment.
1t is an imperative duty of the school
authorities of each town to lay before
its citizens an exact estimate or the
things that need to be- done TO put
their school buildings and surround
ings in good condition together with
an accurate estimate of the cost OF the
work. There should be no delay IN
Affirmative action on these recon-
mendations.
The Course of Study.
"The chief function of any common
school is to teach thoroughly the
fundamental subjects that are neces-
sary to the requirement of other edu-
cation. The duty of the common
school in the country is not radically
different from that of the common
school of the village or city. 1t is not
any part of the business of this school
to teach scientific agriculture any more
than it is a part of the business OF
elementary schools of the cities ana
towns to address themselves primarily
to vocational education. 1t is how
ever. in accord with the best educa-
tional procedure to bring the eduea-
tional process as closely as possible In
contact with the actual experiences OF
the child in his every day life and con-
L,
is not difficult to see that the country
school has frequently been misleo
into laying too much emphasis on eX-
periences remote from rural life. Inc
subjects taught in the country scnoois
need not be radically different from
those which have been associated win
the common school curriculum ior
many years and yet be made more e1-
ficient instruments for leading the child
into a sympathetic understanding or ms
surroundings. Reading, arithmetlc.
geography and all the other subjects OF
the country school may be so taught as
TO make use of the material wnlch
comes within the scope of the childs
experience and understanding.
THE statement that the country
school should not be given over 10
courses in scientific agriculture is not
to be implied as a criticism OF schooi
and home gardens and nature stuoy.
SO far as these branches are TO De oe-
fined as elementary agriculture mus
far is elementary agriculture )ustlleu
in the public schools. BY means OIL
the school garden, boys ana girls
AGRICULTURAL contests and similar means
the ambition of our country youth will
be awakened. their interests quick
ened and their educational advantages
improved. 1t is well, however, at
time when extensions of the course Oh
study are being widely advocated TO re-
iterate the Importance of devoting the
energies of elementary education 10
the end of providing that Fundamental
eouipment without which the thorough
aeouirement of other education is DIFF
ficult.
"The reform of the country school
curriculum is not to be made through
an elimination of reading, arithmetlc'
geography, history, civics ana other
time approved, subjects, but rather
through the direction of these towards
the direction of rural children. Prob
lens in arithmetic are not less Valu
able when they deal with farm expert
ence and needs than when they take
the form of a more remote mercantile
application. The program of the coun-
trv school in common with the city
school ought to recognize more fully
the part in education played oy .he
child's physical activities. Begin,
ming with the smallest children and
oo,t;nuino tbrol1ph the course tnefe