Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-05-02
BURLINGTON HAWK-EYE.


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Connsn Schools.
The regular meeting Of each school district in
the State takes place next Monday. At this meet
ing the directors are required to sspresent full
statement Of the receipts and expenditures Of the
district, and such other matters may be deemed
important" APresident, Secretary and Treasurer
Of the district also to be elected for the ensu-
ing year. We deem this meeting one Of the high.
est importance, and would urge every citizen to
attend in his respective district. We doubt wheth-
there be any election upon which the true pros
perity Of Iowa 10 dependent, than upon that Of
school officers. II they are persons ignorant of
the Common school system, or prejudiced against
II, indifferent TO it, prosperity, incompetent
to its adninistraten, is impossible for the State to
avoid detriment. "Take cart, 'says aschooc
soner in one Of the best educated countries of Eu
| rope holand-"whom you choose for inspectors;
theyare menwho ought to be searched for with Lam
tern in ones hand" With poor directorsewe shall
have poor poor schools and poor scholars.
We hope, therefore, that the most intelligent en-
terprsng and public spirited citizens will he cho-
sen. Liberal and judicious apr OPERATIONS should
be made for the erection of pleasant and convenient
school houses, and teachers should be secured a.
gainst GO short allowance" It is very desirable
that the report of the last board of directors be
| carefully prepared and contain full account of
their doings. The district also, naturally looks to
| it for the Recommendation of the best ways and
means to improve the schools. It is desirable that
the report should be printed The expense will be
more than compensated by the diffusion Of infor-
nation and by the increased interest which will be
| felt.
! We have from the beginning advocated another
course than has been pursued by the district in this
city. The experience OF the past year has only
confirmed the opinion, that the plan adopted has
] been co waste of the public treasure" At one
meeting year ago, it was voted to open no schools
! until suitable school house be erected. We re-
gret the resolution was not maintained. Other
counsels however prevailed, and Burlington is now
building its seventh and eighth meeting house, but
owns not . foot Of land for building one school
house. We hope citizens will no longer be easy
| under this reprosch. Our churches will he filled
with superstition fanaticisn and ignorance will
be the mother Of our devotion, without schools.-
| Suitable school houses are first necessary. One
should be built this year. Until its erection
in favor of putting the teachers fund at interest.
With the same views which we have adya need
before, we are opposed to the plan of renting
comfortable rooms. and keeping heterogeneous and
crowded schools, as was done last summer.
The advocates Of Church Schools are fond Of sp-
peanS to Scotland in proof the excellence Of that
| system. We have taken some pains to look into
this subject, and have read whatever could meet
with about it. We have seen the testimony Of Mr.
Pennington, respectable clergyman Of the Pres.
Church-new school-of New York, lately travel
ing in scotland, who ssys-that he met with gen.
eral desire to learn about the Common school sys-
tenn of the United states, that he called to give
account Of il in public meetings, and that there
| il an extensive dissatisfaction with the existing
system, both because of its nefficiency and Of its
sectarianism. But the most satisfactory testimony
is from the last number Of the North british Re-
view, which comes TO US from Edr burgh ITSELF
| The reviewer says ssthat the system now existing
in Scotland, is grevously insufficient; that the
condition Of large portion Of the population is de-
plorabe, and only to be compared with that oflsns
obscured by darkest heathenism and that it is i'm.
practicable to extend the system on its present ba
Sis" The reviewer proposes to discuss in future
number the plan BY which parties to be united,
econ the basis of measure which shall not exclude
religion, but leave the question 70 be decided by
the people themselves in their various localisies
This, we understand IL, il the plaa adopted in
this country, as it is best exemplided in New York
and New England. The writer warns the different
sects that the "country may have its patience ex.
hausted in waiting till they settle their disputes,
and that Parliament may pass measure entirely
and exclusively secular in its character. 1t has
for long time been evident that the strife o.
rians has been the principal reason, why in some
instances the management of schools has fallen
into the hands of mere politicians and infidels.
II il matter Of deep regret that the gentleman
holding-we cannot say .fHng--the office of Super
intendent VI Public Instruction in this State, is de-
voting himself with so little earnestness and zeal
s:to perform such duties asp in the language of the
law, ssmay tend to advance the interests of educa-
tom. We have not yet heard Of his delivering one
such sspuhlic Lecture on Education,' 40 the law
speaks CT And yet this gentleman has, by Law, ga
supervision Of all the district schools Of the
State" He receives the emoluments Of the Office
$780, and expenses-we should like to see him
ambitious Of its honors.