Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-02-25
OUR SCHOOLS
T. ASkOv Americana:

OOh SSnVOIS
Editor AskOv American:
1t is a native trait with me (cOm-
mon in that part of Denmark, Upland,
where l was reareD that when a
the usual greeting, Good day." be-
fore the farmer returned his greeting
he asked, From where do you come
and what is your name?' First when
this question was answered satiSfac-
torily the farmer bade the stranger
partake in boundless hospitality in
Guiding shelter and food. 1t was and
is yet considered an affront to refuse
to accept at least some nOurishment
before leaving
1t was this inherited popularity in
my system which made me ask who
! is this Gratino? And the answer is.
evidently, a trained teacher or a col
lege or university graduate.
To come to the question of my three
line statement, School is dead end
for youth. The market is closed for
their labor, consequently crime in
creaseS" 1t is especially the last SEN
tenCe GRATING takes exception to and
then later on he almost agrees
with me.
1t will be necessary to take another
trip back to old time Denmark to
dig up the motive for that sentence.
| was a member of the school board
tions in the three schools in our dis
trict. The parish minister was al
ways the chairman of these boards.
After the examinations in one of these
schools the teacher presented a list of
material including a map of Denmark,
some readers. writing material, ETC.,
which the teacher wanted the school
board to recommend the town board to
buy for the school. The minister
said. mo, that will cost too much"
| argued that we ought to recommend
this because | said. Most of these
children have nothing but their phys
ical ability with which to work their
way in life when they are through
school at the age of IA, except what
knowledge they can get in this school,
and as the teacher has more than
so pupils here we ought to give him
all the assistance possible" Then the
minister Tetorted. Don't you know,
Mr. MoSb3k, that the most dam erouS
criminals originate from those with
a high standard of learning?" | said
| did not knOw-but / have learned
since that his statement was danger
Ously near the truth. we'll edu-
Gated man is better fitted to organize
and to transact a big crime when
circumstances like the present depres-
sion make honest existence desperate
for thousands and thousands of grad
yates who for the most part have
never done days manual labor.
That is the curse of our school sys-
tens. 1t keeps the children from the
home and farm work. | pity most of
the city jewellers. They should not
be allowed to beget children because
they cannot offer their children the
opportunity to partake in tie daily
work and to support the home. May |
advise parents never to pay their chill
dren in cash for work performed.
am speaking from experience. NY
father was a teacher and as such had
very little work for me. | then was
hired out to a farmer from when |
was to Is for seven months each
summer. 1t was from four in the
morning to 10 p. m. barefoot, on the
run. We had ~ COWS, 30 sheep and
lot of young stock for which | was
the dictator and caretaker, and | real
ize today more than ever before how
lucky l was compared with nowadays
when children are compelled to at
tend school until 16 or more whether
they like 1t or not. l know several
children in the Askov community who
at the age of fourteen, fifteen and six
teen. are wishing they could get out,
but the law keeps them there. They
would be better off out in the field
in contact with nature, working.
! have seen for many years how
our school system gradually has taken
the responsibility for and the control
Of our schools from the parents under
forced (imposed) insurance system
to which we pay certain premium
in taxes in common school district
and the machine turns out mostly
eighth graders. But the state says if
you will do so and so and pay an
extra premium in a consolidated
school district we will turn out high
school graduates with a gate ticket
to colleges and universities.
1t has been for long time a fad
that all respectable children must go
through high school which creates
among other disadvantages a high
school tax to meet state requirements
in equipment and lot of subjects
that are not worth a nickel to 80
per cent of the children in later Life.
So as to get the largest possible state
aid, the school tax has to a large
extent been instrumental in driving
many farmers from their homes.