The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-09-06
No. 26.

facts with the knowledge of localities.
"The last exercise of the morning, was the read
Ing of historical anecdotes, and it was delightful to
listen to the various criticisms and remarks which
questions from the teacher elected. upon the events
and acts that the anecdotes recounted. In one
case, for instance, the pupil, noble looking boy of
ID, had been reading about the distress of Colum-
bus, before he had yet seen land, while upon his
first long and weary voyage to America. Itseem-
ed that at previous lesson, the class had read
about the conquests of alerander, the Great, and
so the teacher asked the pupil, "Which he would
rather have been, Columbus in his distress, or
Alexander in his triumph" Columbus" was
the quick response; "Why" said the teacher;
"Because," said the boy, "Alexander was destroy
ing a world, and Columbus was finding -
This and other similar answers, showed that while
the pupils were learning to read, they were also
learning to know and admire whatever was pure,
gentle, magnanimous, yirtuous and brave.
"We renamed few minutes after the school
was dismissed, at noon, when Miss c., ex-
hbited to us the school register. In this were re-
corded the names of all the pupils, with each day
of their attendance noted, well as their studies,
their scholarship, their manners and general con-
duct, the commendaton awarded. to them, or GEN.
sure bestowed on them and all the particulars, in
deed, which kind and intelligent parents would
wish to know concerning the education of their
children. The various items thus recorded were
sumed up at the expiration of every month, and
offered to the inspection OF all the patrons of the
school.
| "It had been ascertained by the school officers
of the district, that there then residing in it,
78 children, over and under l6 years of age, and
it appeared from the register ofMss C., and
that of her predecessor, who had taught in the
winter, that during the year, the school had been
attended by y scholars. There were then go in
attendance, all of whom Miss c., easily in
structed, simply requiring the use of similar text
books, and avoiding the unnecessary multplica-
ton of classes.
| "The district library was also shown me. 1t
contained about 800 well selected volumes, of
which, as Miss c., informed me, 60 or so
were constantly drawn out by the adult nhabit-
ants Of the district
s'You may be assured, my friend, that when l
bade adieu 10 this young female teacher, it was
with pleasant consciousness of heartfelt respect
for her, as one engaged in glorious labor oflove
and usefulness, which patriot citizens ought ever
to cherish and support, as the true beginning and
only assurance OF nations future greatness and
prosperity
"On our way from the school, r., inform
ed me of many other particulars in relation to it,
which have not space to communicate. These
| concerned, principally, the manner in which it
was taught in the winter,-the constant interest
taken init, by parents and by the neighboring cler
gymen, the orderly conduct Of the pupils when
out of school-the great proficiency sometimes ex-
hibited by scholars of unusual natural talents, the
effect upon the character of the neghborhood;
its influence, by way of example upon all the
country around--and finally, its comparatively
trflng pecuniary cost to those who enjoyed its
inestimabe advantages. But enough; and too
much, already, if did not know that you think,
with me, that, in this our time of the advancing
power of knowledge, the common school is the
most important institution ofa free State.''
The shool, of which the foregoing is an outline
sketch, was not in this State of Ohio; else would
gladly give such names of place and persons, as
might fully verify the reality of its existence and
cause it, perhaps, to be still more distinctly and
forcibly presented to the citizens of OHIO, as
model of what common school easily may, and
always should be-
THE COST.
Let no man, however treat it as a mere fancy
sketch, or turn away from it as from foolish vi
sion of things impracticable. 1t needs but slight
effort wisely directed, on the part of those whom
it most concerns, and in little while, just such
school, or one just good, and pleasant, and USE
ful, mightbe seen in every school district through
out the State. To show how very slight that ef-
fort would be, as to pecuniary expense, present
the following statement:
Annual cost of such common school, as is
above described, for single district IN the State
OF Ohio, that shall be kept open months in year,
months under male, and 5 months under fe-
male teacher.
Interest on school house ($4O0,) $24, 90
Annual repairs, 1000
Fuel, &c., 1000
Wages of female teacher, FIVE months, at $l2
per month, go, 90
Wages ofmale teacher, three months, at $25
per month, 1900
Incidentals, 600
$lS5, 90
How trifling an expense, compared with the
object attained! Ifthere were seventy five schol-
ars in the district the annual expense ofthe school
would be less than two dollars and half per schol-
ar. Ought not the very humblest laboring man to
be able to devote that small pittance to the educa
ton of his child?
Your fellow citizen,
JOHN LUTHER.
DR.. Caldwell, an American writer on physical
education, contends that wellbalanced brain CON
tributes to long life. While passionate and tur-