Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-02-20

vation, that would call at Sholbyvillc
and examine their graded school, and also
the building which they have erected for
that purpose. This was induced TO do,
that might obtain all tho information !
could for tho benefit Of those who are try
ing to get up house for that purpose, and
schools Of that kind, In this place. Ifyou
arc willing. viii give the result Of my OBJ
servatIon to you for the uso Of tho public.
Tho people Of shelbyville have, by taxa
ton, built thom house, and are now sup
porting q school Of about flvo hundred
children. The house Is about ninety feet
long and and sixty wide, three stories
high, with eleven large rooms. ono OF
which Is tho hall, in tho third story. !
spent one entire afternoon, examining the
building, and witnessing tho operations Of
the school. The Principal, Mr.. Moore, ]
found to be very much Of gcntleman.--
Iio took me through the apartments, and
gave mo oil the information asked relative
TO their mode Of conducting the school,
and also pointed out any defects which no
found to exist In the arrangement OF the
house: some Of which were, the mode OF
warming n. the size Of tho hall, which -
too small, tho want Of sufficient ventila'
ton, and Of asuitable place to deposit the
hats, caps cloaks. &C. The present plan
Of warming Is by stoves. II Is thought
that furnace would be preferable, both as
a matter Of econmy and comfort. / was
much pleased with the arrangement and
order Of the school. There are six grades
in which are graded all the pupils In the
school, according to their advancement In
their studies. The highest department 10
taught by tho Principal. and at present
consists Of but few recitations, separate
ly, but he Is all tho time, when not thus
employed, in attendance in other depart
ments, giving instructions and watching
over the interests Of the school. There is,
10 addition to those departments named, a
German department, where the German
language is taught for accommodation Of
the Germans who wish their children to
retain their vcrnacular language, and 9th,
ers who wish theirs TO acquire it. This
department is not graded as are the Others.
This think is wrong policy; while think
the German language should bo taught in
our institutions Of learning, think that
all children should commence and 60 regu-
larly as in the English, but not to have a
distinction Of nation kept up In different
parts Of the same community, in our sys-
tenn Of education So far as that particu-
lar locality is concerned, there Is no blame
Of course for this, their object in adapting
tits only good; yet / think it will be found
to be an error, and one which they will ul-
timately change. 1t is certainly the worst
Of policy for the Germans to desire to
keep their children exclusive. They will
never bc able to do 1t. Their children
will not consent to II, but will Of their own
accord, adopt the language and habits Of
the country; and the more impediments
arc thrown In their way, tho worse II will
be for them. Let them acquire them
through tho schools,a and they will get them
correct and pure, but deny them this, and
they will get them through those outer
and surrounding influences which arc cor
rupt and vulgar, and In so doing will inn
bibc all tho poison with but little Of the
good.
With the order In this school was high
ly delighted; thore Is ono half hour dovot-
cd TO each recitation less five minutes for
recess; aud all the departments arc under
the same rules, so that all recite at tho
samo time, and oil have recess at':the same
time; and the whole Is controlled by tho
sound Of the bell. They have no general
recess, whom oil the school 60 out upon
the play grounds, as is most commonly tho
case, but can walk out and In, and enjoy
tho fresh alr, and relaxation from study
OF FIVE minutes every half hour. which Is
all sufficient, and, think, much better than
tho ordinary way Of oonhnlng them for an
hour and a half, and then giving them q
longer time to romp and halloo out Of
doors.
They have more children In their school
than thcre living inside tho corporation
that are Of lawful ago to attend; the OK.
cess Is from tho country. This speaks
we'll for tho intelligence Of their commu.
nifty, and also indicates their future, and
! should hope would remove all grounds
of fear as to their continuance, which /
learned to be. the case with some when /
was there. Can Il be, thata community
will, from any cause, draw back, and refuse
to sustain an enterprise they have had the
lbcral'ty and energy to prosecute so far as
they have theirs? Surely not Already
are they attracting attention from abroad.
Men Of moral worth. capital, aud enterprise,
are making inquiries for situations, with a
view Of securing tho benefits Of their gra-
ded schools for their children. Other
towns are waking up-also to tho subject,
and are looking up to thcm.for a model,
and pleading them as an example.
The township trustees. Of Lawrence :
burgh township have introduced. tho sys-
tenn in our township for term Of fv Q
months, which is as long as they hare
funds at present. to justify. So far. toe
school is doing vel, but as there is,no hou sc
largo enough to accommodate all, th ey
have to be divided into different ..hous .es,
and scattered all through tho town; this. ol
course makes IL moro difficult to carry oul
tho system. They hope, however, to be
able to build house suited to the pur'
pose. and will no doubt IL they are not
,rovaufo.l bvf fhoaa xyho th;nk ,,cro. nj