Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-07-25
For the Columbia Democrat.
Summer Schools.

vations on the operations and effects OF the
common school system. l have passed over
several townships, and found many directors
and others inte. ested in the welfare and !
improvement of the schools, though in some
localities they are lnboring under iflicul.
ties, and are exposed to distrrcting inAu-
ences. The best friends of education in
some places would be wiling to sacrifice a
little time and expense in order TO make
progress, but find their hands, in measure
tied by others, and cannot see their cherished
wishes carried into effect. l shall leave q
more extended notice of my visits to partic-
ular schools till my next tour when the
school. will be in more general operation.
In Madison found four schools open,
and like most Of the summer country schools
attended principally by small pupils who
bavc not such favorable opportunities o.
attending in the winter. Some of the older
class however were found iu all the schools,
and were pretty ready in answering ques.
tons when propounded, and in other ways
acquitted themselves SO as to reflect credit
on both teachers and pupils.
In Greenwood only one free school was
open though several were or had been open
by subscription, thus manifcsting liberal
spirit and commendable appropriation Of
2 little money. which some coDstrue into
such an onerJus tax when thus applied, as
to stand aside and let the world around
them move ahead, all the time regretting
and lamenting that they can't keep up.
In Pine, jackson and Mt. Pleasant, no
chools were open, though 1 had pleasant
interchange of views with number OF their
school men.
In Sugarloaf there was one school in soss-
i n, taught by a young man, pretty well
attended.
In Benton, sew, raj of the schools were
open by subscription, though as in some
other districts they expect to have some free
school after harvest. Found but one free
school open. In conversation with several
of the directors Of this township, was
pleased to find that they manifest the spirit
of progress, and felt desirous to take such
measures as will promnte the best interests
of the community, and that as good
education is one of the greatest boons that
can be conferred on man that the public
fund can in no way be more benefcially
expended thau to- effect The intellectual
culture Of their children.
In Fishlngcreek, there were three schools
open, though could not visit but one, as
the school at Saltwater closed for vacation
the evening of my arrival, and at one there
was no school on the day ofmy Wit. At
the school visited as well as with an inter.
view with some Of the directors, l found
some encouraging indications, to show that
this township will not fall short of her
neis shbors in making the school Jaw yet
work to the practical advantage of the
community.
All the schools thusfar alluded to except
two were taught by fema es, and where such
are properly educated they seem peculiarly
adapted to the pr f ssion of teaching, 1t
requires vast amount of patience, tact and
good Judgment to classify and instruct n
school comprising nearly every grade #
advancement and every variety of disposi.
ton.
Twas cordially received in all the dis
tricts visited and in few places directors and
others accompanied inc to the schools. In
the schools visited saw much to commend
though in some ample room for improve
ment in several things. observed the
modes of teaching gave some instruction to
the classes, and such advice to the teachers
as seemed requisite, and closed with short
address to the whole school, for the encour-
agement of both teachers and pupils.
The school houses in many places present
a dilapidated appearance, and look more
like dwelling places for the bats than
training places for the youthful mind
They do, perhaps, for temporary shelter,
and till better can be provided, will have
TO answer as substitutes for The purpose for
which they were designed. An old box
stuck up by the way side upon a few
square feet grudgingly fenced off from some
field corner, destitute Of shade, with nc
external attractions but the distant hills and
diversified landscape around, with no inter.
nal decorations like maps or charts 70,
intellectual entertainment, can of itselt
present but few attractive features 70,
youth. There are some houses to which
this description is not all appropriate, and
the schoolhouse at JerSeytown is the most
striking exception have noticed, being
painted outside and papered within, which