The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-09-08

past age. In some DISTANCES it IS
still serving well. But, remove the
haze from the memory, or visit one
of these relics of the past. Like
the Old Oaken Bucket, it is found
out of date and inadequate.
Contemporaneous with the scythe,
the ox-cart and the old oaken
bucket, it has outlived them all. No
matter how elaborate the scythe, it
is unwieldy, and has been replaced
by the reaper. No matter how
trained the oxen, they can hardly
be gee-hawed into line before the
automobile has disappeared over the
hill. The old oaken bucket, so
dear to the hearts Of many, was
found to be the home of germs and
the source of disease, and has given
way to the water faucet. Can the
one-room school be an exception to
the law?
Dear Little Red Schoolhouse, you
have done great work. In the
pioneer days you did your part
when work made Drawn and neces-
sity clear thinking. To a genera
ton still living, you are endeared
by memories of happy days, friend
ships and lasting influences. You
were once their pride and pleasure.
But you have lived too long. You
are neglected by those whom you
benefited, for they do not support
you we'll enough to make you worth
while.
The case against you is authorita-
tive and almost universal. 1t must
soon be complete. You are said TO
be the chief cause Of half the child
rem leaving school in the sixth
grade. You are rallied at by every
educational expert. You are ex.
pensive and return small amount
on the investment. You are un-
sanitary without and within, poison
ing your water supply by bad drain
age, are badly ventilated, badly
heated, and using water pals and
common drinking cups in an age OF
health campaigns. On educational
tests you have lost your last hope
by being proved inefficient in teach.
ing the three RS.
| You are not considered good
enough for rural children, many OF
whom go to the city for their educa
ton, thus draining the farms OF
their best blood.
You have no adequate standards
You do not offer full years work
and often it is doubtful whether
you will open at all. You have al
occasional good teacher and plant
which are shown with pride as the
type of public school, thus creatins
an impression as untrue asSit II
hard to correct. About 20 state
have better schools than Minnesota
fact that is laid largely to you
lack of progress and low standards
You are said to be responsible TO
: large per cent of illiteracy il
. rural districts. You can hold teach
ers, on the average, for only yea
or two. You are failing 20 max
farm life attractive and to hol'
rural people on the farm. You d.
not interest the children, who at
tend irregularly or not at al
I Hence you are a handicap to tn
: youth and a richer rural life.
The chief causes of these defect
: are that you are impractical, an
S cramp the growth and efficiency o
l your teachers Your trustees ar
: often not familiar with schoc
affairs; they exercise a repressiv
influence; and they will not bea
= criticism or welcome strong leader
= ship by the teachers they employ.
r *John J. Tigert in an address q
S Duluth, 1922.
$ In Tarrytown the people de
!. stroyed, in 1897, the little Dutc
t home of Katrina Van Tassel, whic
a was immortalized in Irving's delight
4 full American story. Cruel and VI
t necessary vandalism, for that hous
;, was a literary shrine belonging t
s the world of readers of Irving! Br
r the original door is shown in tn
r Office of a modern building on tn
t site, with the picture of the hous
painted on the panel.
Fortunate it would be for 20,
= Little Red Schoolhouse, if your pie
: ture wre saved from the ruin Q
o Progress, and a modern consolidate
! school dignifed the site you grace
v so long.
II Goodbye, Little Red Schoolhous.
Your memory will last long. b.
: it is time for you to go.-Minnesot
= Education Association.