The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-12-20
BETTER EDUCATIONAL IDEAS
Paper Read Before Our Prison Chautauqua Anent
Modern Education of Children
By Mr.. F. X.


employees are taught salesman
ship, managing. and the other
branches of the work.
And then there is music. Many
a great musician has been lost to
the world because they had no op.
portunity to learn while young.
But learning music is like learning
trade; where one person makes
good, another fails. Some people
try hard enough to master trade
but it is not in them. The same
applies to music.
If child has musical talent,
when and where is there a better
time or place to develop that talent
than right ih our schools9 A young
mind is open and receptive, and
greatly developed by deep think
ing and concentration, and these
two things are the essential ele-
ments of music.
It is a pleasure to say that many
grade and high schools throughout
the country have their band and
orchestras, though this does not
come in the general course. Those
children are learning something
that will come in mighty handy
later in life.
Even if lad does start to learn
his trade while young, he can learn
to play musical instrument at
the same time. 1t is usually hard
task to make child practice, but
they should be taught to stick at a
thing persistently. One or two
hours a day for practice will leave
plenty of time for the child to play
and have its fun. By the time
he has his trade learned. he is also
a professional musician and can
perhaps use them both at the same
time; or, if he isn't working at his
trade, he can earn a living by
playing.
If a person doesn't wish to use
his or her musical talent to earn a
living, they will find it splendid
way to entertain. A person who
can play or sing is always wanted
at all the parties and social gather
ings. And then again, there is
nothing more pleasing, after doing
a hard days work, than to be able
to sit down and play your favorite
piece. The tired feeling vanishes
and you feel that life is worth Iiv-
ing after all.
In a recent issue of the Railroad
Mans Magazine. there was an ar
ticle about man who had worked
at any old thing and was filing
job as manager on a sheep ranch.
| A railroad wreck occurred near his
place and he went over to look at
it. He became interested in
small piece of the wreckage, so
sneaked it off and took it home. 1t
was an air-brake valve. Shortly
afterwards be went to lecture on
air-brake systems, and went upon
the platform and astonished even
the instructors by his explanations.
He went to work for the Santa Fe
and in short time was the head
of the air-brake department. To-
day he is the head of the Westing-
house system and has earned for
himself the title of Worlds Great
est Air-Brake Wizard.
| If such a man had chance when
he was young he would be even
greater than be is.
/ In our public schools to-day
they have course called Manual
Training" which consists of maxi
ing a chair, or table, or book
case. Another period is spent in
charcoal and water color drawing.
They are all right for the person
who wishes TO be cabinet maker
or an artist, but what good are
they to the ones who want to be-
come doctors, lawyers or bankers9
None at all.
j Therefore, public schools should
adopt some kind of system to start
the boys in learning trade.