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Literary
June 20, 1940
The Potters Herald
East Liverpool, Columbiana County, Ohio
What is this article about?
In this short story, young Milton attends his brother Harris's college graduation and grapples with the idea of lifelong education. Through conversations with family and friends, he learns that teachers, adults, and even professionals continue schooling voluntarily, ultimately embracing the concept as God's plan for growth.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Thursday, June 20, 1940
Home Education
"The Child's First School is the Family" Froebel
Issued by the National Kindergarten Association, 8 West 40th Street, New York City. These articles are appearing weekly in our columns.
MILTON LEARNS ABOUT SCHOOL
HILDA RICHMOND
Milton went with the other members of the family to see big Brother Harris graduated from college. Milton was only in the first grade, so it seemed a long way, from every point of view, from the schoolhouse near his home to the big group of college buildings with hundreds of young men and women. There were flowers and good times and speeches and music and so many unusual happenings that Milton was a little confused.
"Is college always as nice as this?" he asked.
"No, college is a long period of hard work, Buddy," said big Brother Harris. "This is a kind of picnic or good time to finish this school, just as you have a picnic on the last day of your school."
"But I'll have to go back pretty soon, and you won't," said Milton.
"Mother said so. She said you had finished college."
Milton was not lazy any more than other little boys are lazy, and he loved Miss Ellen, his teacher, but it seemed very hard to think he would have to go to school until he was as big and as strong as Harris. Of course it would be nice to have the good times and everybody happy when school was done, but it was a long way off. He looked up at tall Harris and gave a little sigh, but nobody heard the sigh, and if they had heard they would not have known what it was about.
The next day he came running into the house, breathlessly. "Mother! Mother! What do you think? Dan told me that Miss Ellen is going to school this summer. Why, Mother, Miss Ellen knows everything," he said.
"Yes, most teachers go to school in summer, Milton," said his busy mother. "They learn new things there."
"O dear! I thought school was done when folks grew up," said Milton.
"Mother, may I go over to Grandfather's and see him work in his garden?"
Permission being given, Milton soon covered the short intervening distance, but he did not see Grandfather in the garden, and Grandmother told him that he was not at home. "He has gone to a lecture--one of a course of lectures on gardening, Milton," said Grandmother. "You know he is anxious to win the prize for his dahlias this fall, so he wants to learn all he can about them."
"What is a course of lectures, Grandmother?"
"Well, it's like school, a school for big people, Milton. You see, our minister goes away to summer school every summer, and the doctors must learn new things, and they even have schools for people who work in stores. There is always something new to learn."
"Then I'll have to go to school as long as I live," and Milton actually began to cry. "If all the rest go, I'll have to go," he sobbed.
Before his tears were dried, but after Grandmother had explained that grown people went to school because they wanted to go and they would probably always want to go, his friend Kenneth came running in to find Milton. "What do you think, Milton?" he said, almost out of breath. "Robert's big brother is going to start a little school down by the river and will teach us to swim and fish and make bird houses. Your mother said you could go if you wanted to. Hurry, or we shall miss something."
And when the delightful lesson was over, Milton confided to his mother that he had learned about school for big that morning, and if it was as nice as the first grade and the lessons the college student had taught them in the class by the river, he wanted to go to school all his life.
"And so you shall, Milton," she answered. "It is God's plan that everyone shall learn and grow in understanding as long as he lives, and you will always find it pleasant if you work hard."
Home Education
"The Child's First School is the Family" Froebel
Issued by the National Kindergarten Association, 8 West 40th Street, New York City. These articles are appearing weekly in our columns.
MILTON LEARNS ABOUT SCHOOL
HILDA RICHMOND
Milton went with the other members of the family to see big Brother Harris graduated from college. Milton was only in the first grade, so it seemed a long way, from every point of view, from the schoolhouse near his home to the big group of college buildings with hundreds of young men and women. There were flowers and good times and speeches and music and so many unusual happenings that Milton was a little confused.
"Is college always as nice as this?" he asked.
"No, college is a long period of hard work, Buddy," said big Brother Harris. "This is a kind of picnic or good time to finish this school, just as you have a picnic on the last day of your school."
"But I'll have to go back pretty soon, and you won't," said Milton.
"Mother said so. She said you had finished college."
Milton was not lazy any more than other little boys are lazy, and he loved Miss Ellen, his teacher, but it seemed very hard to think he would have to go to school until he was as big and as strong as Harris. Of course it would be nice to have the good times and everybody happy when school was done, but it was a long way off. He looked up at tall Harris and gave a little sigh, but nobody heard the sigh, and if they had heard they would not have known what it was about.
The next day he came running into the house, breathlessly. "Mother! Mother! What do you think? Dan told me that Miss Ellen is going to school this summer. Why, Mother, Miss Ellen knows everything," he said.
"Yes, most teachers go to school in summer, Milton," said his busy mother. "They learn new things there."
"O dear! I thought school was done when folks grew up," said Milton.
"Mother, may I go over to Grandfather's and see him work in his garden?"
Permission being given, Milton soon covered the short intervening distance, but he did not see Grandfather in the garden, and Grandmother told him that he was not at home. "He has gone to a lecture--one of a course of lectures on gardening, Milton," said Grandmother. "You know he is anxious to win the prize for his dahlias this fall, so he wants to learn all he can about them."
"What is a course of lectures, Grandmother?"
"Well, it's like school, a school for big people, Milton. You see, our minister goes away to summer school every summer, and the doctors must learn new things, and they even have schools for people who work in stores. There is always something new to learn."
"Then I'll have to go to school as long as I live," and Milton actually began to cry. "If all the rest go, I'll have to go," he sobbed.
Before his tears were dried, but after Grandmother had explained that grown people went to school because they wanted to go and they would probably always want to go, his friend Kenneth came running in to find Milton. "What do you think, Milton?" he said, almost out of breath. "Robert's big brother is going to start a little school down by the river and will teach us to swim and fish and make bird houses. Your mother said you could go if you wanted to. Hurry, or we shall miss something."
And when the delightful lesson was over, Milton confided to his mother that he had learned about school for big that morning, and if it was as nice as the first grade and the lessons the college student had taught them in the class by the river, he wanted to go to school all his life.
"And so you shall, Milton," she answered. "It is God's plan that everyone shall learn and grow in understanding as long as he lives, and you will always find it pleasant if you work hard."
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Lifelong Learning
Education
School
Childhood
Family
What entities or persons were involved?
Hilda Richmond
Literary Details
Title
Milton Learns About School
Author
Hilda Richmond
Key Lines
"Is College Always As Nice As This?" He Asked.
"Then I'll Have To Go To School As Long As I Live," And Milton Actually Began To Cry. "If All The Rest Go, I'll Have To Go," He Sobbed.
And When The Delightful Lesson Was Over, Milton Confided To His Mother That He Had Learned About School For Big That Morning, And If It Was As Nice As The First Grade And The Lessons The College Student Had Taught Them In The Class By The River, He Wanted To Go To School All His Life.
"And So You Shall, Milton," She Answered. "It Is God's Plan That Everyone Shall Learn And Grow In Understanding As Long As He Lives, And You Will Always Find It Pleasant If You Work Hard."