The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-11-18
GOOD SCHOOL WEEK. DISCUSS
ED IN THE CHURCHES.

The following is q summary of a
sermon preached, by Rev. Waters at
the Congregational church last Sun
day morning on the subject of Good
School Week:
The greatest service we can render
a human bein- is to give him an
education physical Intellectual moral.
Living in an age Of progress it is our
duty to labor for the education of
all, that no child may live with an
enfeebled body, or a darkened mind,
or perverted conscience.
If education is the panacea for
every social evil we might we'll ask
what is education? What docs it
include and by what methods should
it be given?
Educationally we have travelled a
long way since the establishment of
the first American public school in
Dedham, Mass, in 1914 but it would
seem that we might Rok forward to
a still more potent influence on the
vastly more, difficult time of recon-
strnction following upon the upheaval
of the last five years.
Because the State Dept. of Educa-
tion has felt that education is, fac
ing crisis it has organized a state
wide movement that the general pub
lie might be better informed with a
reference to our schools and their
needs.
Education might be spoken of
under the head "The Mechanics and
Dynamics of Education" These two
are the wings which enable the bird
to fly, they are both important and
necessary to progress.
First may / point but the value of
what called the mechanics of educa-
ton. BY that / mean the machinery
or equipment side Of the work. Or
ganization machinery equipment are
being emphasized in every line of
business. Every up-to-date Office,
workshop or store has an abundance
of equipment. Think of the number
of typewriters adding machines du-
plicators, card indexes and filing
cabinets which have come to be me-
cessary in every well equipped Office.
A wheel is a symbol of organization it
conveniences energy minimizes fric-
tion and saves energy. Modern
equipment in the public school saves
energy while increasing the lead
which is carried. Think of the in
convenience occasioned the teacher
and the student in the early day by
the lack of equipment. In connection
with this angle of the subject may /
point out a; strange inconsistency.
Of all the bills relating to finances
by the u. S. Congress in the past
four years, ninety-nine per cent
directly or indirectly provided for
war and only one per cent had any
connection with the work of educa-
ton. Ninety-nine percent to blow
the best brains of the country to
pieces and only one per cent to put
them back.
But whatever may be said about
equipment it is not the big reed of
the hour. Modern buildings, gym
nasiums, large auditoriums do not
make a. school, school is more than
these. Machinery does not create
motion it merely conveniencs it. A
school like every other institution
depends upon spirit and power to
run it's wheels. 1t is a dependent
institution it depends upon us. Our
public schools will continue to be of
value as long as we have sufficient
interest in them to make them so.
In democracy the people are 1T
with regard to the schools. The
schools are always what we the
people desire to have them.
Discipline from the, statements
made around town is one of the
problems of the local school. Because
this is "Better School Week"
should like to ask how much of the
lack of discipline is due to the at
titude of the home. Are there not
parents who criticise the schools and
the teachers in the presence of the
children andsI who listen to their owr
statement OF their misbehavior ane
!, if they do not consider it cute they
offer no criticism. +,
Lack Of discipline is not the only
drawback in the public school sys
tenn. Irregular attendance lis an
other evil to be overcome.
1t cost about $4,000 to maintain
our Washburn schools last. year ant
lin the grades the schools could al
well have been closed thirty days OF
account of non-attendance. In othe
words it cost the State and the ia,
payers of the city of Washburn $532,
for period of thirty days whel
nothing was accomplished through
irregular attendance. In the loca
High School the situation was no
quite SO bad but here again if all til
lstudents who were absent had bee
Iabsent at one time the State and tax