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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (April 27, 1895)
a THE OOURIER i 6ANFIELD ON EDUCATION. 7T S the time for the departure of Chancellor Can field draws (ViY nearer the loss which the chancellor's resignation will A. A. entail is felt more and more keenly. That strong, aggres sive personality has been a leading element in the upbuilding of the university, and every department of the great institution will feel the loss of his powerful influence. The chancellor has been one of the most indefatigable workers 'he university has known, and he has obtained a wonder ful grasp of all details in the management of his charge. Nothing has es caped him. He has labor ed for the general good of the university, and for the good of each separate department. His ability and his energy have accom plished wonders. It has been said that the chan cellor was sorely disap pointed ovc the action of the legislature in the matter of appropriations, and that his resig nation really means that he has lost faith in the cause, or the future, of genuine education, higher education, if you will, in this state. Believing that an expression from him on this subject would be of interest to readers of Tiie Courier I sought the chancellor and obtained the following interview: V&f' iWK E V WiKttrFP i "In spite of the hard times,there is a most excellent and promising outlook, educationally, in Nebraska at present. The university, while not receiving all that it wished, nor all that it could use to the profit of the state and its children, was granted enough to prevent the necessity of any backward step; and in such, times as these to hold one's own is equivalent to an actual advance. The completion of the library building enables us to carry as many students as last year, without the friction and strain that for the last two years have been almost unendurable. The general grants will keep the best men in the faculty and maintain the departments in a fairly efficient way and when I say this it must bo understood that even 'fair effciency' with us is still far in the lead, educationally. The loyalty of the alumni, and the confidence of the people of the state, were never greater than now. The head of the public system will be stronger than ever, and do better work than ever, during the coming year. "The high schools throughout the state are going to suffer some from the hard times, which seem to make necessary the reduction of salaries, or a less number of teachers; but they will not suffer as much as many imagine, because these changes will not be as great as are anticipated. In organization, equipment, and teaching force there has been a wonderful advance in the secondary schools during the last three or four years. I doubt that if any state in the union can show greater advance. All our teachers have been more con stant and intelligent students of their work, have attended more conventions and taken more-educational journals, know more of the ' latest and best things in education, than ever before. There is a wonderful spirit of self-sacrifice, and a remarkable esprit du corps that will go far towards tiding over the financial stress now upon us. "Nearly all that has been said of the work and the influence of the secondary schools is also true of the grades and the rural schools. I am in a position to know pretty accurately about this and the change that has come is remarkable. It is easily measured by the attendence and the enthusiasm at the meetings of thecounty, district and sectional associations. The meetings of the latter are ofteflinarked by a larger attendance, by better programs, by more genuine professional spirit than used to be known at the state BMetinga. The rural schools are being graded,.'.eachers are selected twUk more care, more careful records are kept, there is closer contact witk the whole system, than ever before. What is needed in every state, in this public school system, is closeness of organization, more contact, a greater sense of the value of each part and of the inter dependence of all parts And all this is coming very fast. "The teachers of the state did not get the county high school law that they desired, from the legistlatue; but they did get an act which opens the city high schools to pupils from the rural districts without cost to the pubd or his parents, but at the expense of the entire county. This is as it should be, and is a long step in advance. This alone would warrant the assertion that the educational out look was never more favorable. Under this act there is no longer any outbreak in the great public system of free schools, from the lowest primary form to graduation by the university. Nebraska has again taken th lead, and will never regret this action. The statute may need changes as it iB put in force, but the principle is a correct one, and will endure. For thiB act the state is indebted to that brilliant young follow McNitt, one of the best workers in the house this winter; and to the present earnest and energetic state superintendent. "When the people of Nebraska come to talk about securing emi gration they are warranted in saying to prospective home seekers 'We will give you as good opportunities for educating your children as can be found in any state in the union; and better than can be found in most of them. And in spite of hard times, we are taking no backward step in these matters, but are more in earnest than ever in giving every child of the state an opportunity to prepare for the highest service that his community or the state may need.'" FOUND WANTING. Jeanne D'Arc lacked education; Pompadour lacked depth of mind; Maintenon lacked toleration; Esther might have been more kind. , Hebrew Sarah lacked humaneness; Good Octavia wanted wit; Greek Xantippe lacked urbaneness; - Eliot wasn't chic a bit. ''- Cleopatra lacked humility; Ruth was minus worldly wealth; Bess of England lacked civility; Saint Theresa lacked in health. Aspasia lacked in social station; Paula lacked in style and fashion; ;. De Stael lacked domestication; Phryne didn't lack in passion. s Polly's perfect, but, you see, Lacks in toto love for me. J. Edmund y. Cooke. TO THE RESCUE. "How did the living pictures go out west?"' "Not very well. More than a dozen men rose in the audience and covered them with revolvers." The Superiority Of Hood's Sarsaparilla is due to the tremendous amount of brain work and constant care in its preparation. Try one bottle and you will be convinced of its superiority. It purifies the blood which, the source of health, cures dyspepsia, overcomes sick headache and billiousness. It is just the medicine for you. HOOD'S PILLS are purely vegetable, carefully prepared from the best ingredients.