Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-16
[For the Bradford Reporter ]
Educational.

At meeting of the Bradford County Teach
ors' Association, held at Orwell Hill on the
9Th and 9th instant, it was ordered and decreed
tI,ot there be committee of one male and one
female appointed to prepare, or cause to be
nrppared an article for the Reporter, upon the
.ubiect of popular education, once in two weeks
also a similar committee for the Argus. 1t
,ras further ordered and decreed, that your
bnmble servant should be one of said COM
mtee.
Now. therefore, in accordance with said or
der and with your assent, | will proceed to
nrpsent to your readers few thoughts, hints
and suggestions, upon school house. their 10
calitv structure, arrangement and so forth.
am aware, that | am treading upon delicate
subject every tax payer in the County, who
has no children to educate, and who cares no.
thing for the education of the rising generation,
only 50 far as that education will increase the
actual value of his property during his life
time | say every such person is ready to say,
"whv, do not see but our school house will =
swer we'll enough for some years yet-it is as
rood as the one | went to school in" Now,
although may perchance tread upon the toes
of some such person, l shall give my views
plainly.
First as to the locality of a district school
house The general practice is, to select a
piece of ground that is either in such a shape
that it is not worth fencing, or so poor that it
will not pay for cultivating or else put the
building in the corner where three or more
roads cross each other, so as not to be obliged
to pay anything for the site. Now, would the
inhabitants of any district select such a place
for their dwelling houses When a man is
about to build habitation for himself and
family, does he look for the poorest spot on
bis farm, because the land occupied by the
house will be rendered valueless for cultivation?
BY no means, the pleasantest spot on the farm
is selected The place must be easy of access,
slightly, descending in the right direction, and
free from everything that shall in the least de-
gree impair the beauty of the situation. Is it
not as important to have pleasant, healthful
locality for the building in which the children
and youth of successive generations are to re-
cciyc their education 1t is the duty Of the
inhabitants of every district to procure lot
in a convenient and pleasant part of the dis
trct. of sufficient size to have large play grounds
for both males and females, which grounds
should be enclosed by a neat fence, and taste
fully ornamented with trees and shrubbery. In
selecting location for a school house, refer
ence should be had to the convenience Of OBJ
tanning pure water and if no spring is near,
cts, so that the scholars will not be obliged to
20 great distance to procure drink, or suffer
with thirst, or trouble the neghbors 1t is
sufficiently annoying to those residing in the
immediate vicinity of the school house to bear
the noise, without being troubled by the scholars
constantly running to the well to get water
perhaps frequently leaving open a gate, or do
INC more or less injury to the fixtures of the
well, or in some way annoying and perpleXing
the owner or his family. The place where our
youth are to spend their days in study ought
not to be by the road side or in the angle be-
tween two roads, where they must be annoyed
and disturbed by the noise and confusion of
whatever may be passing in the streets, where
The mud in wet, the dust in dry, weather rem
/ ders it impossible for them to enjoy their
sports
At least an acre of ground should belong to
every school house the land should be 50 neat
y fenced and laid out into walks, and so taste
ilI.y decorated with trees and shrubs of differ
en-. varieties, that the Scho0I h0use shall be CON
>1'Ted the most delightful place in the dis
E''-a spot to which children will he drawn
" us superior attractions The yards Or play
NonnaS should be divided by high fence
'aS would enable the girls and boys each to
'0y their sports without interfering with each
'4ef Instead of having the wood for win
E '''s Use lying in the streets, as is often the
wy =" >lhaH portions OF 1t plied up III tne en-
Wy let there be a wood house attached to the
>DVOI house. or so near to it, that fuel can be
@uy procured from it in wet, muddy, or snowy
''a'Aer and let this building be so large that
vi stormy days the children will have some
~S' place than the school room in which they
'- ENJOY their sports.
v
-V school house should be without two pri-
N' situated as far from each other as the
We Of the lot will allow. What man would
0ue week permit around his own house, the
~s state Of things in this respect, as exists
'y many of the school districts of this
County
Intended, Mr. Editor to have spoken in