Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-02-18

common schools in KcnOshe County.
The cause Of common school education, in
this county, has never been in a more pros
porous condition than now. Our schools in
this county arc at least fifty per cent. in ad-
vance # the position they occupied two wears
hgo. As an evidence of the increasing in
:orest felt on the part of the inhabitants of
'' several districts, the wages paid to teach.
from twenty-five to thirty per cent.
on the average than they were last
This increase of pay to teachers has
ed young men and woman of higher
uer Of qualification, and of more ardent
devotion to the vocation of teaching. We
do not believe there is county in the State
that has SO large proportion Of properly ed
ucated, and well trained teachers as can be
found in this county. These teachers have
done much during the present winter season
TO enlist the public mind in behalf of the in
forests Of education, by holding public meet
ings, and giving addresses upon educational
subjects. BY these means the interests of
common schools have been brought more di-
rectly to the attention ofparents and guardians
and new impulses to action have been awak-
ened. When the people are brought to see
truly that education is the chief strength, row
6. and stability of communities and nations.
they will foster their schools as the first and
noblest interest committed to their charge.
Another evidence Of the growing mpor-
tanIe attached to common schools, is the cree
toa Of school houses, with a more strict re
gard to good taste, convenience and comfort
There have been few such houses erected
in this county during the past year; several
districts have done themselves much credit
in this respect, and conferred lasting bene-
fit upon the children and youth who are to
o,2upy these temples of science. But while
much praise is due some districts, for the
enterprise and public spirit manifested in the
building Of school houses, there are not few
',,.'ricts that ought to take shame to them
y for their neglect and Indifference in
ding suitable houses. We could name
districts in this county, comparatively veal
tiny, where children arc compelled to occupy
s,hooI houses, such as a thrifty and tidy far
rner would deem too rude in external appear
anec, AMI too comfortloss internally for horse
stable. In this age Of enterprise and I'M
provement, there is no excuse for a district
unless absolutely crushed and stricken with
poverty if it have not convenient and at
t-acti,e school house. The day is at hand
1t is now on the very threshold, when the
publ, school house will be taken rs an in
DIX of the stupidity and ignorance or the re-
finnmrn and Intelligence of the neighbour
hood in which it is located What avail fine
farm houses fashionably furnished and sur
rounded with the apenlagas OF taste, ii hard
by there stand 'iualil, tattered apology Of
school hon.43 These abo,les indicative
Of wealth, will only he o'idential that their
occupants are brainless and selfish spcci-
mans of humanity, destitute Of an enlighten-
ed estimate Of their own, their children's or
their coun.ry'S good.
Although some good beginnings have been
made in this county in the matter Of school
l.ousas, Yet there needs 10 bea more enllght-
e1al AMI liberal poles diiused among the
people The ideas Of nt;,c1eos, attraction,
beauty aud taste, are regarded as ~. fractions
not 10 be associated with the public school
house. The country school house is looked
upon as a sort of public stall where every
thing which is too un>lean or filthy
for the private dwelling, may eongregato with
impunitv: caueuSes, town meetings, election
tering speeches and petty law suits, with the
usual accompanvments Of tobacco and filth,
are seut to that common reeptacle-the school
house But these abuses of the school house
arc soon 10 be abandoned; q more eulighten-
81 public sentiment is destined TO prevail
Ii the present progress OF public opinion, in
respect to the appropriate uses of the school
house. he not checked, the time will soon
come when asse,pblages of the kind we have
mentioned, will be deemed as unfit to occu-
py the school house as lady's parlor.
There is not yet, we believe, but one pub
lie school house in this county where Guy
particular pains or expense has been had, to
ornament the grounds about it with trees and
sAribhefy. an sppsRdage so important, SO
A1trasdre an3 so influential upon the youth
- mini ought 20. to Is overI"oked, espen-