Benton County, Indiana - The Patron, 1906

The Patron

''Honor thy father and thy mother, tliat thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord, thy God, giveth tliee," was the admonition of the Great Teacher on Sinai. All honor to the millions of fathers and mothers who through all the years have toiled in forest, field and town to maintain Indiana'sschools. The prince of wealth in his palace of gold is rarely more than a journey of three generations from the labor of his lowliest servant. The fathers and mothers of three generations in Indiana have felt that they could leave to their children something more than the wealth that might disappear in a night. Though wealth may be useful, every bo}' and girl can be left an inheritance infinitely better - a good education.

Every patron is an important factor in the school. He should never fail to use his influence to secure the selection of good school officers and teachers. An expression of interest on his part will often lead a trustee to build a more suitable schoolhouse, erect neater outbuildings or provide a cloak room, a well of pure water, single seats for pupils, a good recitation seat, extra chairs for visitors, blinds and sash curtains for the windows, a good book case, </oo(I reference books, u wash basin, towel, rack and comb, a flag or some picture? to make the school room look homelike. And what a dift'erence a few nice things made. A bright boy had always disliked his school. One day curtains were put up, pictures were jjjaced upon the walls, a wash bowl and stand were phu-ed iu one corner, and near bv was hung a towel and mirror. "Mamma," cried the bo}- a few evenings later. "I am not going \o i>lay hookey an^' more. Our school room is like home now."

what they want done I intend to do it if I can." The patron may not only say what he would like to see done, but he ought to give such an officer credit for work well done.. And the same may be said about the teacher. The writer has seen over a thousand teachers at work in their school rooms and feels quite sure there was not to exceed one in every hundred of them but what desired to do the best that he or she could do for the pupils. An entire term of school may be injured by the unfortunate utterance of a patron, spoken unthoughtedly or without proper investigation. A bright boy, the pride of his parents, imposed upon a little girl seated near hira and was reproved by his teacher. That night he told his mother that "the teacher punished him for whispering to Mary Rouse." The mother assured her boy that the teacher had no right to do as she had done. This led the boy to become more offensive to the teacher and his schoolmate, and one day he so hurt the little girl that she cried aloud. Tired of his disobedience, the teacher whipped him, and he went home and told his parents that "the teacher had whipped him hard because he had whispered to Mary Rouse again." The parents became indignant, and the father decided to call upon the teacher the next morning. School had been called when Mr. Campbell arrived, feeling it his duty to reprove the teacher. He had never before thought it worth while to seek her acquaintance. In answer to his knock the door was quietly opened by the teacher who cordially invited him to enter and offered hira her chair. He realized at once that she was a courteous lady, and wisely decided to wait a while and see for himself what was going on in the school. One of Mary Rouse's classes was called and she started to hand Mr. Campbell her book, when, emboldened by his father's presence and thinking of avenging himself upon the little girl, the boy threw out his foot, tripped Vlary and she fell to the floor. She was not hurt and went immediately to the class. As soon as the class was excused Mr. Cami)bell arose, went to the teacher and, in a whisper, asked, "Do you keep a good whip in your school?" Only the kindly look in his eye kept her from fainting as she answered, "No!" He quietly left the room, but soon returned with a large, tough and well-trimmed switch. Calling his son to him he wliipped him until the teacher begged him to des'st. The school was saved and so was that boy. In an adjoining county a similar circumstance arose. Neither of tlie parents dclgiiad to see the teaclier, l)ijt both took the boy's part in public and private. He continued to give trouble to his teachers for two or three years; then his family moved to Terre Haute. Five years later he took the life of a neighbor while trying to rob him in a dark alley. He was tried, convicted and hanged. His father spent the savings of a lifetime in trying to rescue him from the scaffold, and his mother went to her grave with a broken heart, all because they taught their boy to have little regard for the laws of the school, and led him to look uj)on his teachers as his enemies.

The writer has taught the children of many hundred parents and has had harsh words with but a single patron; but, speaking from the great desire of his heart to do every teacher, every patron and every boy and girl all the good he can, he would sav: "Patrons, be the friends of the men and women who live and labor with your children for more than half of each 3'ear. Be quick to commend and slow to condemn them; and if sure the teacher is wrong, tell her so kindly, always remembering she is your children's companion, counselor, guide and friend, as well as teacher."

All taxpayers who are parents, guardians or heads of families, except married women and minors, are entitled to vote in school meetings in the district to which they are attached. School meetings may be called at any time by the director or any five voters, five days' notice being given by posting in five public places in the vicinity. Patrons have the right to i>etition the township trustee for the removal of their schoolhouse to a more convenient location, for the erection of a new one or the sale of an old one and the lands belonging thereto, and upon any other subject connected therewith. Patrons are by law entitled to petition against any undesirable teacher, but they are not empowered to select teachers. A majority of those entitled to vote at school meetings may prevent the employment of any teacher whom they do not wish to have employed by voting to that effect at any regular meeting. A majority of patrons may, by petitioning the township trustee, secure the dismissal of the teacher, upon due notice and for good cause shown.

(.lecisiou of the director to tlie trustee, whose decision is linal. Parents, giiardiaus or others are prohibited by law from upbraiding a teacher in the presence of the school, for any cause, fancied or real. When a majority of the [)ersons entitled to vote at school meetings desire that a private school be taught in a schoolhouse not occupied by a public school, or desire the use of the schoolhouse for other purposes, and make application to the trustee, it is the duty of the trustee to permit the use of the building for the private school or to authorize the director to permit its use for other purposes.

The remarkable growth of educational interest among the patrons and peoi)le of Benton county during the last few years has attracted widespread attention, and seems to be almost universallv regarded as unexcelled in anv communitv. While calling ui>on the president of one of the leading colleges of the State the writer was asked, "What is the cause of the great awakening in Benton county? Only a few years ago little was heard of your people; now, I am told, you are leading all Indiana in the per cent, of high and common scliool graduates that are coming from your schools, and only a few days ago I was told by those in charge of the State exhibit that the exhibit your county sent to the World's Fair is ecjaal, if not superior, to that sent from any other county in the State. What is doing all of this?" "The people of Benton county," was the reply; "more than six tJiousand of tlicin attended the conunenccnicnts last spring to honor and encowraye the sixtv-nine liiuh school and one hundred and thirtv-five common school graduates in the county." And so it has come to pass that two State superintendents and many county superintendents and other educators desire to extend their congratulations through the writer to the people of Benton county; and he desires to say to patrons and people that their great interest ill the work of education has done much to encourage him in doing his humble part. The kindness and consideration with which all have treated him, and the words of encouragement that have come to him from the waysides of his fields of labor, have cheered him through many long hours of toil.

Chaptek Xii Tub Pupil

The lawiimkcrs of Indiana have been Iln>ii;;liit\il of the pupil's best interests. Tliey have made laws which say that all taxpayers must pay taxes with which school houses must be built, furnished and made comfortable; that trustees must maintain schools for at least six months during each year and employ teachers to teach them ; that teachers must possess good characters, must be qualified to teach, and must treat all pupils with courtesy; that courses of study must be provided, and that all rules and regulations for the government of pupils must be reasonable. There is a law that ])upils some times forget, and that is that the teacher must protect (ill of his pupils and see that all have equal rights. Then, again, the law says that all pupils between the ages of seven and fourteen must attend the school that has been provided for them.

The teachers, trustees, principals, superintendents, the county superintendent, the County Board of Education, the State Board of Education or the State Superintendent may make rules and regulations for the government of schools, and they must be obeyed by the pupils if reasonable. The rules and regulations of the County Board of Education for the pupils of the schools of Benton county are as follows :

1. Pupils are expected to be at school at the i)rt)per time for opening the same in the morning and to attend regularly during the entire term.

2. The law of the school ie(iuires on ihe {lart of the pupils good order, punctuality, promptness, neatness, courtesy toward each other and to the teacher.

4. Any pupil who shall, on the school premises, write any profane or unchaste language or make or show any obscene picture, or cut or mark or otherwise intentionally deface any school property, shall be punished as the nature of the case mav demand.

5. Children that are not six years old before January 1 of any year should not enter school before that time. Children that are not six years old before a school term closes should not attend school at any time during that term. Teachers are authorized to send home any child that enters school in violation of any part of this rule.

G. No roll or medal of honor will be granted to any pupil whose deportment falls below eighty-five per cent. Large rolls of honor may be granted to pupils of proper deportment that are neither tardy nor absent during the entire school term : Provided, That a trustee or school board may allow five per cent, for absence if the cause for such absence be deemed reasonable. Small rolls of honor may be granted to pupils of proper deportment that are neither tardy nor absent for seventy-five consecutive days: Provided, That no pupil shall receive more than one roll of honor in any school year.

7. Each applicant for examination for graduation from the common school studies should have a certificate from his or her teacher stating that the applicant has completed the com mon school "Course of Study." A diploma will not be granted to any applicant whose deportment falls below eighty-five per cent.

10. A high school pupil failing to make an average of ninetA' per cent, in deportment during anj' one year should not be promoted to the next year's work, and a high school pupil failing to make an average of ninety per cent, in deportment during the last year of the course in his school should not be granted a diploma.

11. Each pupil of proper deportment that is neither tardy nor absent more than 2^2 per cent, of each schoolyear for three consecutive years, beginning with 1905, will receive a

I'upils sometimes tliiiik tl)at the only purpose in going to school is to learn all that is in the books they study. This is a mistake. The boys an<] girls tliat learn to be prompt in school life are apt io become prompt men and woman. Those that try hard to succeed in their school work are almost certain to try hard and to succeed in after life. A careless boy becomes a careless man, and a careless girl who will not work in school finds few friends when she becomes a woman. All must consent to obey laws when they become men and women, so obeying the laws of the school, asking no favors that are not granted to others, bearing an honorable part bravely and well, and striving for the good of all of the school, prepares each boy for an honorable and useful manhood and each girl for a happy, useful and lovely life. Law and order are the regulations of God and man, and the boy or girl, or young man or young woman that wishes to overturn either is his or her own worst enemy. They may regret their mistakes, but the world is apt to drive on and pay little heed to them until the mistakes are remedied. The pupil that has learned to frankly say : *'I have made a mistal-c, but intend to do all I can to remedy it," has won half the battle of life. The pupil should try to remember that going to school is a business. The man that is prompt and regular in attending to his business succeeds. The farmer that plants his corn too late will have a poor crop. The merchant that is late at his store and shuts up once in a while to go hunting will soon lose his trade. The boy that is prompt and regular at school, tries to have good lessons, thwks about everything he is to do before he does it, and obeys the rules and regulations of the school, is almost sure to have good business ideas in any occupation he may choose to follow when he becomes a man.

Alexander Hamilton is known in history as one of the world's greatest financiers. His father was an idle student, but his mother was ever a studious girl. Each inherited a fortune, but the father, caring little for business laws or regulations, lost all of the wealth of both. Little Alexander knew that his father had failed and talked to his mother about it. She told him of his father's carelessness as a student and as a man. Though but eleven years old, the bov exclaimed. "I'll remain idle no longer." He then went to his teacher and told him of his resolve, and from that time on no lesson was too diflBiult for him to get and no task in siliool too hard for him to perform. In three years he was known as the most industrious and business-like boy on the island which was his home. When lie was sixteen the richest merchant on the island oflEered him a partnership and the entire charge of his great business. Alexander declined the otfer. His mother had died, but he had worked when not at his studies, and had saved enough money to take him to New York, where he entered King's College and became its leading student. While there he joined a military companj., and, in addition to his other studies, made a thorough study of military discipline. He stood like an oak in a storm while a hurricane of shot and shell swept over the battle field of Long Island, deluging the green hillsides with the blood of the American army; and when that army retreated he was the last man to leave the island. Washington once said to him : "I believe you are something more than human. You have a streak of light in you that never goes out. When I catch a spark of it I am cheered for the rest of the day.'' Washington and his brave soldiers freed the country, but the young nation would have almost perished if the magic hand of Hamilton had not given it credit. He was but thirtythree years old when he organized the financial system that paid the debts of a struggling nation and made it great. His school days governed his entire life. From his teachers he had learned that a proper regard for the rights of all, obedience to just laws and careful mental discipline insure success in every sphere of life. Much of the knowledge obtained from books in school is of little use in after years; the habits of punctuality, regularity, industry and obedience to law - the business habits of the school - formed during the vears of school life, are sure to exert a great influence upon the pupil's success or failure in all the years to come.

Barnabas C. Hobbs, who was once State Superintendent, was born ninety years ago, and loved to tell of many interesting things about his school days. "I onco went to a teacher," he said, ''who was very corpulent and sedentary in his habits. He was extraordinarily faithful in beginning early and 'kee])- ing' late. School commenced at 7 in summer and 7 :30 in winter. Recesses, morning and afternoon, were five minutes long, and we had one hour at noon. We were fully ten hours in school in summer. We had to sit on backless benches all th()H(! loiij; (liivs, iiinJ wo wiKlicd - aiixiouKly winlied - vtventi or noon or iiij;1i1 would <,oin('. Hours Heomcd like; aj^es. But. peaco 1o his inciiiory, our teacher would take a nap every day, and wlieu Um^sc naps <aine there wfis relief to the H<;hoo]. We enjoyed these genial occasions, and dreaded to see the teacher wake up. lie was an easy, good-natured teacher. He could chew tobacco all day, and he generally kept about one yard s(]uare on the wall beside him darn{>. He was very accommodating to work my hard 'sums" in long division and to rub them out di-y so Ihat it was no trouble to copy them. He made a rule that whoever came to school first in the morning should take the head of his class all dav. I had succeeded a few times in getting to school first, when the contest became spirited. J was there one morning in winter before ."> o'clock, with lunch for breakfast, but found a tall young fellow there before me. I was not more than twelve years old. and never tried to be first at that school any more. One of my teachers was a lady. Many had doubts about her succeSvS. It was not considered possible for a woman to govern a school. She had read much and could talk well. She had a happy way of illustrating prose and poetry by anecdotes of history and biography, and she could tell much about mythology. Lessons of poetry in Murray's Introduction and English Reader became intensely interesting after her stories about Greece and Rome. Ajax, Pegasus and Parnassus. She stirred within me a love for classic literature, history and art, which has never abated, and which has led me to buv many books that would not otherwise have been bought. Then there was a bachelor Irishman. He was very strong in his partialities and antipathies. When he had a favorite he petted and blarnied him, but when he took a dislike to girl or boy, doomsday soon came. He was terrible when his wrath was kindled. Another of my teachers was a lame man from the East. The clearest recollection I have of him now has reference to the difficult times he had in poising fallen chunks on the poker in order to toss them back upon The huge fire. When he thought he had them well balanced and attempted to send them up they would whirl to one side and fall back, producing great merriment among the children, who were intently watching these experiments and who would instinctively laugh at his failures. On discovering our indiscretion and impoliteness it was no unusual thing for him to whip twelve or twenty of us in rapid succession until his wrath was appeased and his honor vindicated. Most of my teachers kept in the school room well-trimmed beech or hazel rods, from two to six feet in length. Sometimes the teacher would have half a dozen in readiness - some well worn and others kept in reserve. Teachers were expected to govern on the home plan. The Christian people of that day had great faith in the wisdom of Solomon, who has left an aphorism for family government r 'He that spareth his rod hateth his son.' They believed the rod had a twofold virtue. It was not only a terror to evildoers, but was a specific against stupidity and idleness. It was used as freely on the boy or girl who failed to recite well as on him who was guilty of a misdemeanor. It so happened that some excellent men and women were brought up under this regime. Beech and hazel rods had a wonderfully stirring effect on both mind and bodv."

There is little need in Benton county for the harsh punishments described by Mr. Hobbs. Most of the pupils of our school are very busy students, and love their work. It is a great pleasure to \isit them each year and look upon their interested and intelligent faces, to see their industry and earnestness, to hear the teachers tell of work well done, and to say or do something that may be helpful to some one. Nowhere can be found three thousand pupils more courteous, zealous, faithful and loyal in their work than are the industrious boys and girls in the schools of Benton county. Year by year they all are moving on, each one earnestly striving to surpass the good work that has gone before; a brave, energetic little army, each soldier of which is determined to win a worthy place " in the world's broad field of battle."

Cheer our glorious Union and our State, both dear and grand; Love them both we ever will and ever with them stand ; Sing of our own county now, the fairest in our land; - Yes, we are proud of old Benton.

Chorus - Hurrah, hurrah, for Benton we will cheer! Hurrah, hurrah, for Benton ever dear, A song of tribute we will sing, sing it far and near; Yes, we are proud of old Benton.

Others sing of mountain homes ; we love our lowly plain. Meadows green, and waving corn, and fields of golden grain; Flow'ring slopes, - and of them all we'll sing the glad refrain,

Country homes of plenty, and our city homes so fair. Church and school our fathers built with honest loving care. All shall ring with happy songs of children bright and fair;

Benton's sturdy "Ship of State" has in iun- loyal crew Twenty hundred gallant boys as bright as ever grew. By their sides two thousand girls, all good and brave and true- Yes, we are proud of old Benton. Chorus - Hurrah, hurrah, etc.

Gracious God of freedom, may the tlag our fathers bore Wave o'er dear old Benton till the earth shall be no more. Help us battle for the Bight till Errors reign is o'er,