Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-09-15
COMMON SCHOOL 6

The subject of common schools commends itself
to the special attention of the people atsthis time.
Those districts which have not organized under the
provisions of the act, should dc So without de-
lay 1t will be recollected that the Legislature have
appropriated cnelourh Of the per cent taxes e-
We in each county for the support &c common
schools In order 10 be benefited by this provision
of the law, is requisite that every district oe fully
organized, and a common school taught therein three
months by an inspected teacher, previous 10 given
tme School districts, therefore, cannot be too early
in settling preliminary questions, establishing by
laws, and regulating their internal police
The school act passed by the territorial legislature
last winter, contains some judicious regulations for
The establishment of common schools; bu, in the
main, it is extremely detective and waning in ma
NY important details which are necessary TO guide
district in the performance of It's duty. As it Is, the
districts LEFT without definite rule of action. in
great number of important matters and much dis
crelionary power is necessarily thrown into their
hands. Every district is in fact required to perform
its own legislation, and determine, in great mea-
sure, ITS own way of tfansacting husiness-all this
IS radically wrong. Not that We assume the ground
that district is disqualified from any want of dscre.
lion or int leence, to enact laws snited to its corpn
rate cdpacltyi Dul III Is presumed that proper
lion Of school districts, would prefer being egislated
for IN this respect, rather than egisate for them
selves Besides, many difficulties and inconvenicn.
ceS can he foreseen, which likely to grow out of
this wide range of discretionary power possessed by
common school districts. Nothing can contribute
more to the success Of good common school system,
than 4 uniformity ofTue and reg aaton throughout
every district. Where each district is governed by
Its own peculiar bylaws and internal police much
arrangement and embarrassment will be likely TO
characterize the general system. To say The least
II The present common school system-of Wisconsin
uorIs ~eA 1t viii be without precedent elsewhere
to be found
That the. defects In our common school system
Will in due time be remedied we have no doabt,
Imperfectons in legislation are necessarily incident
to new settled countries. The Intelligence Of the
people Will soon perfect the system aad we trust ere
long u see our common schools rank with the best
regulated in the United States. The encouragement,
of common schools is at this time ofinca!cnable i'm
portance to this territory the success of our future
welfare and prosperity, depends more upon The cha
racter of our common schools, Than all the natural
resources of our territory combined. Where prima-
ry education is neglected. the most fatal CONSEQUENT
ces to human liberty may be expected 10 follow
Education is the precursor of happiness and of free
dom; the best safeguard of the people, ard The SUI
rest means of public defence. Education is spe-
cies of public property the richest aud most valuable
a nation can possibly possess.