Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-06-29
ADDRESS OF O. e. WELLS.
Made at the Commencement Exercises
of the Marathon Training School
For Teachers.

LOT 1eacnerS, aU- Une dlRn SCIlOOl duul-
torium on Thursday evening, June
17th:
Institutions DO not spring to life at
single bound, like Minerva from the
head of Jupiter. They are the out
come of patient thought and effort.
The Training school is no exception.
The suggestion from PatZer and
Nagle was taken up by j. A. Lamont
and A. L. Kreutzer, approved by
Harvey, financed by the State Legis-
lature and the county board, embodied
by Wells in a course of study and
utilized by him and others as the
basis of work in schools it has become
an institution of recognized influence
and usefulness. The origin thus
glibly told indicates no serious diff
culties, but deep waters do not al
ways run smooth. The course of
study having been written and ap-
proved, the question of attendance
loomed large. Would any pupils at
tend ? Would they be prepared to
do the work if they came? On the
opening day enough came to hearten
the faculty and the Board.
The average quarterly attendance
for the year was forty, with qualif-
cations above expectations. The
total enrolment for the year was
fifty-siX, of whom ten were young
men. A class of twenty-three was
graduated, of whom two were young
men. There was falling off in at
tendance the second year, but there
after the enrolment was, by dint of
extra effort, kept at or above the
early level. On Saturday and Sunday
the writer and Miss Bohrer drove in
to the country in quest of pupils for
the Training school. Sometimes Mrs.
Wells and Miss Bohrer drove into
the country, and the writer went by
rail as far as the necessity of return
that night would permit, and then
tramped away from the railway as
far as he could and return to get the
train for home. The writer main
tained at his own expense a horse
and outfit for summer and winter
use, mainly for the service of the
school.
A drive with two of the boys one
day after school to the south of Rib
Hill secured prospect, Miss Davis,
who later entered the school and
graduated. Another drive with my
boys around the west end of Ethe hill,
the horse suddenly dropped into a
sink-hole so deep that the shafts
struck the ground, but she ex-
tricated herself without help. Pi-
oneering for pupils had it's advantages
in acquaintance with the county and
its people, and a mutual understand
ing and interest. Institutions that
survive and are worth while usually
have their period of struggle and
testing.
For nine years Miss Bohref and
the writer conducted classes every
hour of the school day. Thereafter
assistants came to help carry the
burden, notably Miss Ellen Mcdonald
of OcOnto, now County Superinten-
dent who has won more than local
or state reputation for leadership and
efficiency. Then came Miss Hamacker
in 1909, Miss Thompson in 1913, and
last but not least, Miss Anette Phe-
Ian who has exemplified persistant,
quiet, forceful influence in all that
tends toward the uplift and progress
of the school and community. The
school has never been allowed the
use of the money appropriated to it by
the county and state. At the month
ly board meetings the president ad-
monished the principal not to spend
the money. The reply was that the
money was given us to spend and no
one would ever thank us for not u.s.
ing it. This was always conceded
but permission to use the money was
never granted. The result is that
the school is not well equipped in
some important lines. For example,
we have an air pump but no attach
ments needful for its proper utiliza-
ton. We have a stereoptican but
scant three sets of slides. The main
room has a good picture and one
piece of statuary both purchased by
the school. This room has some
suitable pictures but they are pri-
vately owned and subject to removal
at short notice. On the walls of the
hallway on the upper floor is the
Aurora, in bas relief, and bust of
Washington, both the gift Of the
class of 1902. If the attic were pro-
perly rearranged, finished. heated,
ventilated, lighted and equipped, the
accommodations of the school would
be greatly increased, much to its con-
venience and usefulness.
The Marathon County Training
School, being the first of its kind, its
faculty felt much interest in the sue
cess of the system, and therefore fire.
quently visited the others, when or
ganized, as need might suggest or
Opportunity offer. With annual or
biennial sessions of the faculties at
first, and later of the principals only,
called in convention by the State
Superintendent at Madison a reason
able uniformity of effort and purpose
has been maintained.
The Marathon County Training
School was fashioned under my hand,
and grew under my eye. In co-opera-
ton with others | have tried TO ex-
tend its usefulness. Much of my
correspondence for the last sixteen
years has had to do with its welfare
and heIpfulneSs. There are now