Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-11-24
rHR rRYE SCHOOLS.

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the Free Schools for few months
Al this suggests the subject, we viii
take oceaaion to say few things in
inference 10 our schools, not caring
whether our We've areIpopularsor un-
popular.
In the first place, We say that the
money TO be spent for teachers and
house rent. might nearly as well be
thrown away. In saying this we do
not mean to disparage the teachers.
but 10 condemn the system Of hud-
ding together about two hundred chill
dren. three months in q year, under
new teachers, with new rules OF teach
ing and governing. IL indsed..any sys-
tenn Of government or instruction can
be applied to such a school in so short
time. The children are TO be Of oil
ages, sexes. attainments and habits
Some viii be there who have attended
other schools ever since the free school
closed last spring. Others who were
then in the same class. have spent the
summer in playing in the streets. or at
work. II will be the work Of half q
quarter to class such cases. as they
should be, and ATTEST, the classes must
be arranged toIgreat disadvantage
The boy from the street will not read
ny fall in with any rules Of govern
ment. and the boy from other schools
win not at once get the hang Of the
new school," Hence confusion must
BE- the prevailing element during the
whole term. and. as under the present
system. short terms must prevail, our
free schools must be marked more for
disorder and worthlessness than any
thing else. Is there any remedy
That Is q question Of Importance, aud
one TO which the true man should d.
rect his investigation. We will give
our opinion and make our suggestion.
and then allow others o..dissent ormod.
ify as they may desire.
We begin by saying that every con-
alteration that should move the Chris
tian patriot and philanthropist, de-
mands free schools. And. II free
schools are at all desirable. they sho'd
be Of such character as to be nseful.
To be useful, they should BIO kept up
regularly. and managed with ability.
A wholesome system Of discipline
should be adopted and rigidly enforce
cd. They should also be Of such q
character AS TO attract, rather than
repel patronage. and so that those who
attend them should regard themselves
the favored ones and not as the out
cast and poor. Can such schools be
maintained?
We answer they can. But says one,
Il will cost so much. Well, il ought to
cost much. Such blessing ought
DOT to be desired without cost, and
every lover Of children, and Of the
oncoming generation Of men, should
be more willing TO invest funds in
such q manner, than in banks or rail-
roads or fne houses or fine clothing.
There is confesedly one obstacle in
the way Of % good system Of free
schools in Brookville that does not ex-
ist every'Place. We have promising
College thatsuppliesthe wants Of those
who car afford its privileges. This
removes. in some degree. the necessity
Of q graded department in the free
schools. and this destroys their cfiicien-
cy and value. This college has been
built chiefly by the voluntary contri-
buttons Of our citizens. and they feel
an interest in its prosperity and sue
cess. and they will patronlze Il whoev-
or may teach in'the free schools. We
regard the existence Of this college rs
the only hindrance to the establish
ment Of such system Of graded free
schools as would be an honor 10 our
town. While II exists no other good
school can exist. In the first place
those who pay for tuition there. will
not be willing to pay sufficient take.
10 keep up free school. Of the right
kind. They may be outyoted coca.
sionally and compelled TO pay taxes,
but occasionally. say half the time,
they viii put in such a board Of trus.
tees As will not tax for school purpo.
ses, and then the schools will be aban-
doned, at least for year, and the
desks and furniture will Ibc destroyed,
and another board. favorable to schools
must begin anew. II they can no,
outvote directly. they can easily get up
some side issue-the clock question
the hog question. or something else 10
defeat those who viii tax them foi
school purposes.
But there's greater difficulty than
this in the way. Even if the graded
schools are superior in point of real
worth. there viii be kind Of prestige