The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-04-14
MAJOR THINGS ARE
NEEDEDINSCHOOLS
ZION ESSENTIALS SHOULD
HAVE NO PLACE THEREIN
Address Delivered By Judge w.
T.. Comstock Before Parent
Teachers Association, North
I.ankato, Last Night; Musical
Program Was Carried Out
ilso.

Judge W. L. Comstock was the
.alaker who addressed the Parent
teachers association of the North
.-ankato school last night, and
s~a.,c on vital questions which con
fIoat the teachers and parents OF
TIC community.
Preceding Judge Comstock's ad
dress. a short business meeting was
held. which was followed by piano
solo by Miss Mabel Sorenson.
Judge Comstock urged the CO
operation of the people OF the com
munity with the school. He EN-
phasized the importance of harmon
ious and interesting relationship be
tween the community and the school
This was spoken from the stand
point of one who has made observa-
ton through the course OF years IN
his labors as a farmer, teacher and
lawyer. Il am interested in North
Mankato because of its exceptional
relation 10 Mankato, said Judge
Comstock. This relation does not
exist as a detriment 10 either one
which is usually the case in similar
located relatively close 10 larger
city. Criminal classes take refuge
in smaller cities, but North Manka-
to has such a good class of law
abiding citizens that they do moi
even need a policeman. The prob
lem which You must solve is that oil
education of the young folks. So far
you have failed to provide in your
CITY for higher education in the
school system. There ought to be
a junior high school on the North
Side.
Educational opportunities do not
affect all children alike. This is
shown by the example of Lincoln
VINO gained his education from few
books read many times and from
personal contact with humanity
Washington was surrounded by a
large library and had been educated
both in private and public schools
Both of these men were educated
one a little more polished than the
other. but the one who was less
rolished has given the world most
learned but each gained his under
standing in different ways. Lin
coins knowledge was due TO an I'M
derstanding of men alone. Our edu-
cation then was not founded in col
lese alone. but in a world of human
iiy. I sometimes think that in these
artificial days that we acquire many
artificial things we fail TO notice. II
IS not art but ones heart that rules
inc world When | look back at my
school days there was more of heart
in The education of those days than
at the present time. but the Parent
icechers' association and similar
Plantations will bring the heart oil
tic people back 10 the school again
In my time our schools were
r.o-e OF a nature of the trade school
and as humanity drifted away from
this school. there has been a tend
ency to follow nonessential things
We are giving less attention 10 ma
jor things and more attention 10 mi
nor things of life. There are many
aimless efforts wasted and nothing
is accomplished. 1t behooves one in
passing TO throw our influence tC
the development of the essential
things rather than to the nonessen
tial. ..
Education is the means of acquir
ing knowledge, but il may be fol
good or bad. The school system
must conduct its force of study
along lines of essential things and
eliminate that which is detrimental
to youth. The goal to be reached
must be that which will make fol
good. the 10th and the beautiful
The good must be for the indivl
dual child alone, and for his needs
The truth must be as il is, not some
thing that looks like truth. The
child should be taught the beauty oi
life. that which leads upward anc
onward to something better. Beauti
full personalities may be ruined by
some careless thought or act that is
taking place in the schoolroom. Lei
this be warning TO teachers. Lei
teachers and parents be on the1l
guard, that no false impressions be
given 10 the mind of the child.
Il. do not know what your prob
lens are here, but ! do know we are
training our boys and girls TO take
the future reins of our government
and its destiny shall be in theil
hands. Therefore, teach those thing:
in your school which inculcate ideas
of true patriotism and true citizen
ship, that the future of our nation
may be safe. In this period OF un'
rest il is an easy matter to organ
ize new movements that are untriec
and untrue. This is true in respec
10 politics, religion and education
Ii behooves us as parents and teach
ers to go slow with the new and un
tried educational project and have
10 do with that which we know j!
essential and safe l plead for some
art in our school and not too much
which leads finally to dollars ant
cents. Let US have more OF thu
ethical, and the lack of interest il
or homes will be overcome by sucl
organizations as the Parent Teach
ers' organization Too much ha!
been left to the teachers and TOT
much of the home influence and re
sponsibility has been neglected ant
tho youth of our land is suffering
from this sort of training. We ar
looking TO the Parent Teachers or
ganizations TO right these condition.
and the relations of home ant
school will come into its own" sait
Judge Comstock in closing.
Following this excellent address
Miss Mabel Hanson sang witches,
and responded TO an encore by sing
ing sort o Miss You" Miss Maym'
Schippel played the accompaniment
A social hour was spent and re
freshments were then served.