Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-10-30
From the Racine Advocate.
"MR. BARRY AND OUR SCHOOLS"

f "MR BARRY AND OUR SCHOOLS"
Under this heading, the last Democra
takes up and re-echoes the substance o
communication which recently appear
ed in the Milwaukee Wisconsin in regar'
to the candidates for Superintendent o
: Common Schools The communication
: contained the first intimation the citizen
of Racine ever heard that Mr. Barr,
was entitled to particle of credit for th,
present prosperity of our Schools.
A glance at the condition of our school.
, during the past four or FIVE years, viii
abundantly prove qolo is entitled to cred
it who is not Racine was unde,
the District system until April 1852
when the present School Law was adopt
ed. The law contains DO particularly
original features, but was modelled after
the school systems of several cities of New
York; the Committee (of which Marshall
NJ. Strong was member) making such
alterations as they thought the best in
ter SITS of the city required.
Mr.. Barry was Superintendent until
the Spring of '53, one year after the adop-
tiou of our present School Law During
that time, what did he accomplish ? Our
citizens well know that the character of
our schools was not elevated one iota !;
and reference to tbs files of the city
papers during the winters of 1923.
shows that confusion worst confounded"
reigned triumphant in them. brought
about. in great measure by Mr.. Barrys
attempt to change the text books in use,
and other innovations, the "benefts" of
which would accrue more to himself than
to the schools
| In the Spring of '53 Mr. Barry was
dropped, and Rev NJ P Kinney, our
present efficint Superintendent elected,
ln spite of the opposition of Mr.. Barry's
friends. In the summer of SO and under
the directions Of Mr.. Kinney as Superin-
tendent, the present High School Build
ing was erected the plans of which were
prepared By L. Bradley, Esq, assisted by
several friends of education.
In the fall of 1853 Mr. McMynn took
charge of our schools with the express
understanding that he was to labor to
perfect system of education, and not,
as the Democrat insinuates. 60 act as a
mere machine In operating one already
perfected. Although Mr.. McMynn's rep
utation as Teacher is deservedly high,
he yet stands still higher as discipline
rian and systematizer of the art of teach
ing
Mr. Barry was formerly a resident of
this City, and we regret the necessity
which compels us to speak of him thus
candldly; but the course pursued by un-
scrupulous demagogues in order to deco
rate him with stolen plumes, leaves us
with no alternative but to expose the
cheat. Mr. Barry is not the author of
the present school system of Racine, and
has never had any official connection
with the schools as they now exist. Aud
further, we do not believe be has visited
the schools half a dozen times since the
people rcpudiated his course as Superin
tendent
1t is worthy of note that the Schools
of Racine and Kenosha, in both of which
places Mr.. McMynn has taught, rank de-
servedly first among the Common Schools
of Wisconsin and in all essential partic
ulars the schools in both places are alike
the principal difference between them be-
ing that the people of Racine have been
able to spend more money than there ke-
nosha neighbors. Is Mr.. Barry also the
father of the Kenosha schools
~ WI. odil dS d
we will not speak, as we do not regard
his election this fall as among the posi-
bilities. Occasionally a man is found
who while exhibiting the height of folly
in managing his own affairs, will do very
we'll as the agent of others. Mr.. B. is
doubtless not to blame for his own pecu-
MARY misfortunes-
WISCONSIN ScENERY.-We have some
of the finest scenery in our State that the
eye of man ever rested upon.
In the SOUTH we have fine, rolling prai-
ries, of great extent; in the pinery coun-
try, our forests are magnificent, on the
lake shore the scenery, is splendid, and
the many little lakes and rapid streams
in the interior are as beautiful with theis