Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-07-04
SCHOOL HOUSES AND CHURCHES

8CH0OL HOUSES AN CdUdCd6S
The 6r.t inquiry Of every man of intelligence,
upon arriving at village or town where he de-
.ires to tx his residence, is what your educa.
tional and religious advantages? and what are
your prospec Is? With the na,. who has fami
1y of children, the first inquiry is one in which
he is more deeply interested than am other-not
excepting church privileges for every intelligent
man is aware that ignorance, even in churches
eads to sectaran bgotry and superstition, while
the educated, being able to read, think and under
stand for themselves, are far less liable TO cult
vate such errors
The fertility of the soil throughout the western
states, the high price paid to mechanics of all
kinds for their labor, well the facilities for
money making upon the investment of capital in
almost every branch of business are all too ell
understood by persons who desire TO seek home
in the west, to elicit especial inquiry. Most men,
whether of capital or industry, able TO see an
opening in almost any western town, where they
may probably invest their means; hence the
great object of the parent is to seek home where
his children may enjoy the benefits of schools and
churches.
What would be the probable answer in relation
to such privileges in Mineral Point. We could
point with degree of pride TO six churches, some
Of which are the best in the state and all of them
creditable TO the place. The tasteful manner in
which they are fitted up, and the attractive fea-
lures Of the recent Improvements around por>
ton Of them, could not fail to convince the strsn
ger that so far related TO churches, the citizens
r d. Il.
praiseworthy; and should the conner spend
the sabbath in this place he would be led to be-
lieve that we are no less devoted than liberal
After viewing those fine edhces dedicated to the
services of the Father of all Merces, should the
stranger ask TO be shown our School Houses, we
imagine that the feelings Of most of us would be
similar 10 that attributed to the gaudy Peacock
upon turning his eyes from his beautiful plum age
To his useful, but less attractive feet, and we
fear the man of taste, after viewing them would
conclude he had not yet found the place for which
he sought.
1t is true we have school rooms (some of which
arc toerable good) sufficient to accommodate about
$50 children, and the District board have not
been deficient in their endeavors 10 accommodate
all 10 the best advantage; but in District like
this, with near 500 children of suitable ages for
attending school, something more than we now
have, is quite necessary. We need a good Union
School House. sufficiently large 10 accommodate
the whole District, and nothing short of such a
building will secure 10 the children of Mineral
Point those privileges 10 which they are entitled
Our citizens are by means parsimonious in
providing wearing apparel for their children
neither are they deficient in desire to see them
well educated The public schools are thronged
and private schools well attended, but the grea,
ousoear OF taxation causes many (who by the
way would have little or no tax TO pay) to vot.
against raising the means for erecting suitable
building for school purposes. Il is not for wan
of iiberality, for no class of people are more lib
eral than those of Mineral Point They are eve
ready 10 contribute with liberal hand, for tn,
relief of the needy unfortunate but they arr
unwilling TO be taxed for the education of their
children. We can attribute this to nothing bu
wrong understanding in relation to what is need
ed, which we imagine would be corrected in
great degree, if parents would visit the schools
and see how poorly provided their children arr
with suitable facilities for obtaining an education
As the canvas receives from the hand of III.
artist its coloring. either attractive or repulsve
50 the mind of the child becomes impressed with
the scenery and associations by which il is sur.
rounded. The poet uttered truth when he said
lis Education forms the common mind;
Just as the twig is bent, the trees inclined"
As the young twig yield. its defornity 10 tn,
hand OF the skillful cultvator and becomes beau
tiful tree the mind of the child takes its direc
ton from the influences by which il is surrounded
How important then that every influence be such
as TO give the mind proper direction Tn.
house IN which the seeds of eternity are sow
should possess attractions that car nowhere els.
be found. The scenery around it should be such
that the child's taste may be improved by viewing
H. When we have such building in Mineral
Point, and not till then, can we point TO our schoo
house with the same degree of pride than we car
now point TO churches.