The Sierra citizen., 1854-05-06
Saturday, May 8, iSj4.
Common Schools.


WE had hoped that before the close Of
the present session Of the Legislature, the
act to establish and regulate common
schools, would be finally disposed Of We
consider this one Of the really important
bills that have come before that body
One that interests actual settlers more
perhaps than any other.
We frequently hear men remark that
they would not hesitate to settle perma-
nently in this State if their children could
enjoy the educational advantages which
are offered in the Atlantic States. Why
such advantages cannot be enjoyed here
as elsewhere, we cannot understand. 1t
cannot be for the lack of money, or compc-
tent teachers to instruct.
1t is too late now to speak Of the i'm
portance of the common school system
That is we'll understood, and nothing more
is necessary than TO visit New England
the land of school houses, to be satisfied
that the system is one Of the wisest ever
devised by man. The States where the
school law has been rejected, Or recently
gone into operation, are a. least fifty years
behind the age In such, the children
of the poor are left to grow up in is norance,
or avail themselves of what is little else
than paupor's privilegc-to enter the
district school as benefciaries Of the coun-
ty, fact that both children and parents
arc reminded OF. by the teacher, and the
children of their more fortunate neighbors.
Though California is the golden State,
there will always be found within its terri
tory families that are abjectly poor-peo-
pie who have been reduced by sickness,
misfortune, or bad management; it will be
impossible for them to pay the high prices
for tuition demanded in the select schools.
and the consequence must be that their
children will remain untaught until they
are too old to learn. The provisions OF
the bill, respecting the election Of school
COMMITTEES and the appointment of compe-
tent teachers, are very comprehensive;
just as they should be.
One of the most intoerable nuisances in
neighborhood is an illiteratc, inexper-
enccd teacher, too ignorant to instruct and
too lazy to learn. Almost every one who
has reached the age Of thirty, can remem-
ber of being at enc time or other the vic
tim of some ignorant tyrant, whose mis-
sion was to flourish hickory over Young
America during six days of the week, and
onthe seventh to lie drank at the neighbor-
ing grocery. These itinerant worthless
always manage to hoodwink the more influ-
entail people in the neighborhood for a
short time, and when they resumed their
wandering at the end of the quarter, they
left no marks to show what they had done,
except the scars on the back of the little
ragged boy whose unsightly habiliments
or plain face excited. the disgust of the
Knight Of the ferrule.
Under the supervision provided for in
this bill. such instructors will not be en-
ploycd. The only class of teachers that
may prove detrimental. is the occasional
sort-such as only engage in the profes
sion as means TO raise the wind wher
nothing better offers. 1t cannot be ex
pccted that teachers Of this class should
take as great an interest in the advance
ment OF their pupils, as others who make
the business of instruction their profession
for life.
We hope that the common school sys
tenn will speedily receive that attention
from the Legislature which its importance
demands.