The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-01-15

| will tolerats u We shall not take much time
10 substantiate thiss ~ any man who wilI take
the trouble to reflect upon \ Avp miDufss, will
see IFS whole truth.
No teacher, however, well be may be qnaii-
fed for his Office, can govern school, unless
he has agood house, 10 teach In. II should be
properly arranged, 30 that every scholar may
know his place, and then ne can be made to
keepit. Unless there is a good house, no regu-
lar system can be kept up, but all will be con-
fusion. Beside this, the teacher should be
comfortable, in order that he may preserve
that equanimity of temper, so necessary to
success, in the government OF a school. If
any reader desires to have this matter more
infinitely explained, we would refer HIM to the
most convenient pedagogue, who will doubt
less, be able and willing to give. him the requi-
site instruction.
In order that a scholar may make anything
like respectable progress in learning, he must
be comfortable. Narrow and round seats,
houses either un omfertably cold, or uncom-
fortably close and hot, are utterly inconsist-
ent with careful study, and good lessons. The
body must be at ease, or the mind cannot work
well, is applicable to men, and Of course, much
more so to children. But besides being an i'm
pediment to the scholars advancement, It is a
gross cruelty. 1t is craef to shut child up in
an uncomfortable house, on uneasy and narrow
benches. for six or seven hours day, and we
do rot wonder that 80 many boy or girl, goes
ssunwiliingly to school," Aside from tempo
rary discomfort, it too often sows the seeds Of
future disease. We confidently believe that
one half of the round shoulders, crooked
backs. and sunken chests which we see on all
sides of us, are traceable 10 the wretched seats
which are to be found in so many of our
school houses. Only think of it! To be COM
PEELED to sit for SIX hours day, FIVE days each
week, for FIVE, ten or dozen years, and that
too while the child lie growing, anc the body
receiving its proportions! We do not wonder
at the results, II any parent desires an, thing
more to be said on this point, let him ask his
children to explain it to him. Or if that does
not satisfy him. let him take their place. and
sit for only single day on bench six inches
wide, with no desk in front Of it, and no back.
II he will do this, he will need to be no fnrth-
er enlightened.
And now, Parents, allow us to make prac-
teal suggestion. Many of you are building
school houses, or are about to build them, and
many more ought to be so. Well if you have
not yourselves the necessary experience in
such matters, 60 straight and consult some one
who has, and get all the latest improvements
in school house building, and having got them,
make good use of them. Until you do this,
you had better not lay brick or drive nail.
for poor and i'll constructed house is worse
than none at all. II you build poor one,
you will slways have occasion to regret it,
while il you take pains, and build good one,
you will have the appreciation of your own
consciences and the blessings Of your chill
iren.
Are you appalled, by the tax? We hope not
for your good name. You have rich farms.
good crops, well filled eranaries, and pockets
well lined. You are blessed with abundance
by mercifui Providence, and shall you with
hold your reasonable contribution towards
this most worthy object. We do not believe
there is one man among all our readers, whose
soul is SO small as to grudge his children the
blessings of common school education, and
a fit place in which to acquire it,
We earnestly commend this subject to the
attention Of all. Now is the time for action in
reference to it.