The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-03-30
More about SC n ools.


More about Schools.
ii like inc plan you spoke Of in the last
paper of uniting all our schools into one and
having good school" said friend ions the
other day, shut how is the thing TO be
brought abOui."
''By the simplest process in the world"
we replied; "ltt all the parents and guardi-
ans in town send their children to the dis
trict school, and we shall at once be united
in one school,"
"But that is easier said than done. Here
is my neighbor Smith, for instance. lie
sends lis children TO Miss c., because he is
positive she is the best teacher III town. /,
OIL the other hand, send my children to Miss
H., because | am well persuaded she has 10
superior as a teacher in town; and others
doubtless patrcnize Miss NJ, Mrs, or some
body else, under the same positive convic-
ticn. Now, is It probable that the parents Of
this place, all having their lavorite teachers,
can be prevailed upon TO abondon them, AMI
send TO this new teacher just engaged by the
school directors, who, however highly she
may come recommended, it must be admit.
ted is still untTiel here, and we may find
that we have made bad swap. Then Of
what avail will be our saving Of few dol
lars? Better pay well for good teacher,
than have poor one for nothing"
To all such objections it is easy to reply.
Let the citizens Of Ottawa only be once sui-
fcently walked up on the subject Of schools
to see and acknowledge the superiority and
economy Of the Union system, or the system
contemplated by our school laws, over all
others we have yet tried, and they will not
be slow 10 adopt il; and let the syiem once
be started, and we guarantee there will
be good teachers procured. Every body
will then make it business to see TO that,
especially If the teacher i, well paid, as he
ought to be. No man will be likely to hang
a!oof and sickle for this favorite teacher, or
that favorite teacher, when he finds the great
mass OF the children in town attending one
school, acknowledged on all hands TO be
good one, and two'thirds less expensive than
the one he is patronizing. The children
themselves will cry to quit their lonesome
tedious school, and So where there are hun
dreds to become acquainted with, to play and
romp with, and to contend with for the palm
OF superiority and the prizes Of the school.
The best school system in the world is
that pursued in Prussia, and there are never
less than 800 scholars in one Of her schools.
Three teachers, BY classifying their schol.
ars and dividing labor, can do better justice
to 800 scholars, than one teacher can TO a
dozen at mixed scholars. Aud then child.
rem study somuch better, and are in so much
better health and spirits when they attend
large schools. No small school Of any sort
ever amounted to any thing. The larger
the number Of students even at a college the
better the institution. And this is not only
because larger institutions have more means.
The finest abilities in the world can only be
brought out by emulation and conflict with
equal and superior abilities. Oh, the cruel
~ to children Of this select-this exclusive
system Spoiled by a mistaken pride and
criminal tenderness, II raises children like
The plants Of a hot.house, which wi,her and
ole al The first touch Of the rude blasts Of the
world. lsisa great mistake that children,s
morals are endangered by compa nionship in
school with the good as well as wiel<edly in.
elined. The vicious are infinitely more
likely to be attracted by good example,
than the good by bad one. Au old teach.
or once 'oldus, If he could keep them away
from their parents aud vile association,
while out Of school, he would undertake.
by the good example Of such Of his scholar,
as had been wellbrought up, to reform the
wicked and inclina,ions of every one Of hi,
bad dispositioned scholars.
UrAps!-The Washington Union under.
80 A.. n. E... Al