Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-12-10
For The Democrat.
THE SCHOOL.


Are the citizens of Plymouth ever going to be
blessed with anything ike systematic, we'll con-
Quoted school, with sufficient number of teachers
to acconm odate the pupils? There are two humid
red and seventy.fve children, who should be at
tending school at least three fourths of the time,
while on the contrary, three fon-ths of them are
idling away half their time; many of them fast
yerging toward manhood and womanhOod with no
chance within their limited means of acquiring the
educ alton that can be obtained in schools only
with no inducements held out to excite their ambi-
ton or love of study, they see nothing ahead but
the cherries prospect of living life of ''blissful
Ignorance and they bid fair to sink to mere cy-
pliers in the great scale of humanity; while with
the advantages that the people of this town have
the right and pOucer to give them, they would be-
come useful and intelligent ctizens-ornaiAents to
the town and society at large.
There is no influence, except, perhaps, that Of
the domestic circle, more wide spread in its opera
tons, and more productive of good than that of a
good school, and it seems that we are grossly ne G.
Is citing own best interests and the interests of
Humanity, by sHghting,as We do, the means with
in grasp for the accomplishment of so much
good.
There are many who ask, "why can we not have
a schools while few enquire, "hoto can we have
school that will meet the wants of the people?''
and at present the latter is by far the peril
nent question. And to try to create an interest in
the minds of tho towns'o folks, that the matter may
be discussed. and that some plan of operation may
be fixed upon is the obiett of this communications
The legislature of 1855, put an end to all hopes
of free school, supported by corporation taxa
ton, at least long the present Constitution OF
this State rem ,ins un Uttered, AMI left us meager
unsatisfactory, thing, which, for want of appro-
pirate name is called the SctooI LaU BIZ even that
is better than NOTHING; we must be til ,nkfnl for
small favorS, and take with gratitude, what the
Law has so generously given us;-that is, it has
given to the trustees of incorporated towns the
right to take charge of the educaticnll affairs oil
tn. town, to employ teachers and to establish graz
ded or other chools sufficient for the education Of
the children of the town, and it has also given
two hundred and thirty dollars per year Of public
school money.
Now, with those powers conferred upon the trus
tees, and that amount of mlterial lid from the
State, can we not orgmize 4 Grail! Sciool Of at
least three departments, AMI as any teachers thai
and give US reason to hope for further advance
ment?
1t certainly seems possible; and not Only possible
but reasonable. Let the Trustees hire three teach
ers, one male and two females, to take charge o.
the pupils; let them establish three departments in
dependent of each other, yet all under tine super
vision of the principal teacher, let such and sucl
only branches be taughtn the different de- artment:
will be best adopted to the grade of scholars
tending such department; let them charges they
have undoubted right to-a reasonable rate O
tuition, and regulate the length of the terms; le
them enact wholesome and useful rules for the gen
eral discipline of the schools, and make proper reg
uatons for the collection of the tuition and we cal
certainly have good school,, without danger of the
Trustees becoming liable in their individual capa
city, for the salary of the teachers. Three compe
tent and well qualified teachers can be employed
whose aggregate salary will not amount to more
than $50 per month; and ali other incidental expcn
ses need not exceed SO per month; and for 5000
school could be maintained during the year. We
can safely calculate on one hundred paving schol
whose average tuition for those within the cor
porate limits. will be So aud those without, Sll
per year; and with s23) per year from the State
! it seems reasonable to suppose that, with efficient
management the school may be made to pay forit
self, and become permanent institution, and af
ford to the pupils of the town and the surrounding
country, the means for obtaining good education
at far cheaper rate than can be had by any Other
method.
Will not the pee pie take hold of this matter ant
urge upon the trustees the necessity of some actor
in the premises? Will they not discuss the prac
ticability of the thing, and if the plan above pro
posed not feasible, try to hit upon come other tina
will work.
Something must be done, for we are, in educa
tiona matters far behind the spirit of the age anC
fast returning to the dark ages, n we do MT soor
cease our backward progress. shall be, in iv,
years, surrounded by intellectual night that vii
take an educational effort Of twenty yeors to dis
pei. c.