How to Secure a Good Country School-House

1879

Agriculture advances with the improved conditions of the common schools

There is more at stake in a little country school than some of us are aware of. The surroundings of a child exert a wonderful influence for good or ill. It is good economy to see that the school-house and its surroundings are convenient and pleasant. For beautifying the ground employ a landscape gardener or the man or men of your own neighborhood, who have displayed the best taste in beautifying their own homes. Before constructing a school, do not be afraid to pay a small fee for plans to be examined. Then, on these plans get the advice of a committee of teachers. Every man is not a landscape gardener or an architect, any more than he is a blacksmith or a doctor. By employing the best men for each place or business, time and money are saved and everything goes off better. There are numerous approved patterns of stoves and furnaces which are made for bringing into the room, in a partially heated condition, an abundance of fresh air, and for expelling the impure air. To do this may take a trifle more fuel but it will prevent cold draughts, drowsiness, pale faces, and poor health. Good health is a priceless treasure, often too little prized till it is taken from us. To regain it we are willing to spend fortunes; to preserve it in our children we should take all reasonable precautions.

A school-room, even the poorest, need not be destitute of ornaments. A little effort on the part of a teacher or of the school board, will secure some pictures, brackets and vases for flowers. Once in a while some evergreens may be tastily arranged and suitable mottoes placed about the room.

And now, after making all needful preparations in the house and its surroundings, do not neglect the most important part of placing a first-class teacher in charge. The people may be poor, the number of children small, the times hard, and the most rigid economy seem necessary; but here is one of the last places wherein to cut off expenses. The enterprising farmer does not try to hire poor, cheap hands to do his work, because produce is cheap or because he is in debt. He knows the best are the cheapest at any reasonable price. He hires men to drive his team, to feed his animals, milk his cows, plant, cultivate, and harvest his crops. He does not expect that even his best men will perform these duties with profit to himself without some of his personal oversight. To perform this work, he often pays a man more wages than is paid the teacher of the summer district school. He is willing to leave this cheap teacher with entire control of his children all summer for the best hours of the day, but he would not think of trusting the entire care of his swine to the best man he could hire. He could not afford it. He would lose money. Swine may live a year or two and that is the last of them. The children will probably live forty to sixty years, and mold the character of those who follow them, and, to some extent, of all those with whom they associate. There is no reason in thus discriminating between the care of our domestic animals and of our children. Is it not a wonder that the district schools are as good as they are, considering their management?

Every farmer does not know how to superintend a school. But few of them know how, and they are aware of it, hence they do not visit the schools or attempt to interfere with their management. In some States the people employ skilled or professional persons to superintend their schools, but in many places there is almost no supervision. The school runs itself, if the teacher and scholars can get along together. Every man ought to be expert at his own business, and has no reason to expect he can do everything and do it well.

To all I say, employ only good teachers. How can this be done? Certainly not without taking some pains to find out that they are good. The candidates should be thoroughly examined in various studies, by competent persons, who make this their entire business, or an important part of their business. This is not all. Good testimonials must be produced, vouching for moral character, correct habits, etc. If the person has ever taught school before, great care should be taken to learn that he has liked the business, kept good order, and succeeded in interesting his pupils. With thorough examinations and a searching inquiry of reliable persons as to character and former success, competent teachers can be selected.

There is no objection to hiring such persons at the lowest possible rates that will employ them, but hire them at any price, and do not take up, even for one term, with a person who does not bear the severest test. In hiring for low wages, this must be taken into consideration: the teacher will not be contented with his place or business. He may think it important to give part of his time to something else, to eke out his small salary. If he is possessed of good calibre, he will soon engage in some other business, where his energy will bring larger returns. This will make it necessary to employ new and untried teachers. Frequent changes of teachers are much to be avoided. — Prof. Beal.