Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-15
LANE FOR BETTER
RURAL EDUCATION
Secretary Says twenty-five Million
Boys and Girls Are Greatest
Natural Resource.
HE SUGGESTS MODEL SCHOOLS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-In his
forthcoming annual report Secretary
Lane suggests the need for a national
campaign for a better rural school.
He speaks of young America. our
100000 school boys and girls, as
the chief resource Of the nation, and
asks, Are we doing all possible 90
develop this resource?" HIS report
continues
II these il any OF our institutions in
which the American people take undis-
guised pride and OF which they feel JUS
titled in boasting Il is the public school
system. for this is "the greatest OF Amer
lean invent ons'' and the most success
ful social enterprise yet undertaken by
any people The United States main
tains bureau Of education In this de-
partment. which, upon a small appropria-
ton. collates as best Il can the figures
and facts which most inadequately tell
the story OF the growth and use OF this
most brilliantly conceived piece OF gov
ernmental machinery.
Fducation ~ mtg Industry.
The American people are not indiffor-
ent TO their schools quite otherwise.
They pay for their supper almost as
much as they do for the support OF the
entire federal government; in round num-
bers. three quarters of billion dollars
year, which keeps an army of 100000
teachers at work. Education ~ indeed
our foremost industry. from whatever
point OF view It may be regarded. Yet, I
am assured that II has made less prog
ress than any OF our other Industries
during the last thirty years. with all the
marvellous record OF what the mind OF a
quick people may produce to make life
happier and nature more serviceable,
how little can be shown as our contrlbu-
ton TO the methods Of improving the
mind and skill OF the youngi We have
gone 10 Europe to Italy. Switzerland.
/ Germany and Denmark chlefly-for the
2 new methods with which we have ex-
perimented. and Japan has found a way
to instruct through tho eyes and hands
that viii make these very practical peo-
pie still more distinguished.
Why Not Rural school Campaign 2
There Il no Disgusting the fact that
we have a most difficult problem in the
United States-and can not believe Il
IL ours alone-ln the rural community. A
majority OF our school children are In
rural schools. The query arises, Are
our rural schools doing their part In
making life in the country desirable? An
ambitious people will go where educa-
lion can be had for their children. There
is no sense in talking Of the charms Of
country life and the independence and
dignity OF producing from the soil II the
school at command Is no more modern
than a wooden pillow. The old-fashIoned
one-roomed school house. which holds
forty or fifty ungraded pupils. having
but single teacher who knows nothing
but books is not a modern institution.
though great men have issued from It's
door. II may be all that the county can
afford where many schools are main
tained, but It Is not all that the county
can afford A. schools are grouped and
grades Instituted. The richest state in
the union has over 1900 schools OF this
character. wherein the teachers are paid
less than competent farm hands. and
this brings 10 mind the correlative
thought that one needed reform In the
school system r. the elevation OF teach-
Ing INTO a real profession. as IN older
countries. As Il Is now. a. teacher IL
almost without status in our society.
And this IN addition 10 the ihadequaey
OF the pay. has drawn 20 the profession
those who use 4, only as a makeshift
and those who. out OF spirit. of self
sacrifice and love for the work. serve
in the highest way the public good. OF
the former class we need fewer and TO
the latter should come increasing honor.
Model schools suseested.
IL asked how this work could be done
i should say. that Il could hest be done
by showing to the picked teachers OF the
country the model schools. The quickest
and surest way 20 set this country aflame
with zeal for a better type OF country
school would be to show the teachers
such schools, mako them live In them,
and learn from them BY. seeing then in
action
There is no such lesson as the one that
Is taught by experience. Lectures, NOV
ing pictures and books may aid. But
70 see and be part OF movement OF life
Is 10 make Il ones own. II ten live men
or women were taken from each state
20 some one OF the two or three modern
rural schools and there for a month were
initiated Into the art OF teaching out OF
life. by doing things ana not reading
about things being done and II each Of
these ten went home a missionary for
the new idea. how long would II be before
the states were converted and old meth
DDS abandoned7 And once the right kind
OF school were started in any state
how long would II take others 10 follow
This thing can be done and by methods
that are so simple and direct that they
win be startling. The need is immediate
and surely IL would be a shame TO let q
generation waste itself while the idea
slowly creeps on all fours through a
country that has invented wireless tel
enhor.f
Ia this work the newspapers OF Tn,
country could. and feel assured would
give invaluable assistance. Not merel,
by tho publicity given 20 the movement
hut more definitely by helping In tn,
selection OF the candidates for this op
portunity in sending them TO these Sc
lected schools and carrying on the cam
paign for putting what they have foun,
into reality.
Three 0npS Killed