Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-01-28
School DIsrRIcTs AND GRADUATION OF

School Districts AND GRADUATION OF
SCHOOLS.
The desire to have schools located near
each mans door is becoming far too prevalent.
The result will be the division and sub-divis-
ion Of school districts to such an extent, that,
many will be unable to support good schools,
erect convenient schools houses or provide
suitable apparatus They will thus be com
PEELED to hire cheap teachers, have poor hou-
ses, and content themselves with schools but
a few weeks in the year.
What return is had for all this sacrafce
None, other than the meager recompense of
saving the children the walk of half or three
fourths of mile If Town Superintendent
will cease their efforts to divide the school dis
tricts of their respective towns and, wherey-
er practicable, consolidate them until they be-
come large and strong enough to support
good schools. have suitable houses, proper APP
pratus and competent teachers, they will there
by accomplish lasting good.
The importance Of the classification Of pu-
pills in each school, and the classification of
schools wherever practicable, cannot be too
highly estimated. Villages and large towns
should consolidate their strength, and build
commodious houses suitable for the accom-
mediation Of separate schools. The most OBJ
vious advantages resulting from such an or
ganization, would be the increased produ:-
tiveness of the teachers labor without an in
crease of expense. Every good teacher at
taches importance to a skilltul arrangement
of pupils in classes according to age and pro
fciency. In most of our district schools the
diversity in these respects is 50 great, that
classes can be but imperfectly formed. The
object of graduation is to classify the schools
themselves, placing the younger children in
one department, those more advanced in their
studies and of maturer age in the other
With this arrangement, the appropriate teach
err whether male or female, can be assigned
to the respective departments, aud each be
enabled so to classify the school in charge,
that no time will be trifled away with the
multiplicity of classes and individual recita-
tions.
One other arrangement will perfect this
gradaton, and mature our public school sys-
tenn. A third grade of schools, as the CON
Meeting link between the district school and
the State University, is indispensable. The
organization of town high schools does not
seem to be adapted to our sparse population
or the necessities of the inhabitants Of this
State. But a county institution Of that char
acter, for the benefit of the advanced scholars
of the entire county, will meet the provisions
of the Constitution, and better supply the
wants of our people A uniform method Of
examination would determine who We're fitted
to enter it as graduates from the district
schools. Such an institution would be appro-
priately denominated County High School.
There the youth could be fitted for the State
University, or acquire a proficiency in the
branches necessary to the pursuits of active
hfe-could prepare for trade, for commerce
or agriculture. The public schools Of the
State would then comprise, the primary and
secondary departments Of the District School,
the County High School and the State Uni
versity.
This renders the system complete. ltpro-
vides means by which every child in the
State, for all time to come, may acquire a
free education in each branch Of knowledge
from the simplest to the highest.
The people Of our State are heterogeneous
in their origin. Nearly every nation upon
the globe has its representatives among US.
They.meet upon our soil, speaking strange Ian
guages, entertaining conflicting prejudices,
moved by opposite aims. These diverse ell
ements must be combined; hostile views
must be reconciled, general amity inculcated.
Trade and intercourse may accomplish much,
but the education Of the youth will establish
permanent harmony and identity Of inter
ests.
Education does more than this. 1t cor
reefs public sentiment. 1t inspires public
truth and honor. It creates wholesome re-
gard for the laws. 1t is cheaper system OF
jurisprudence than courts and penalties. The