The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-04-09

Ma EpIroa: Allow me to call the attention
u your readers and Of the Citizens Of Ottim-
wa to the important mater indicated BY tie
heading Of this article.
II 10 astonishing that town like O.'umwa /,
With 20 much Of enterprise and Intelligence
having apresent 50 prosperous and fn'nre
% full Of promise. should be without = Free
School aud Public School house. Indeed Is
is with some reluctance thet a. a cinz-n
Ottumwa plead guilty TO the existence of
snch fact, and with some misgv,ncs III now
write lest our worthy editor should exclude
from his pap.r statement >, disgracein'.-
But such IL IN. fact; and the so,ner we are
brcugh. to face I. and address, ourselves 70 the
proper remedv--Ths better frns. Ths-e a-e
hundreds Of children in our CITY. ard Tier,
are hundred. Of dollars at orr comnaod FOR
sch ,ol-pnrpose,. but we Fave no puV(l school
and what is " ,rse. not even the sh11o~ of
house in which such school nigh. be kept
n il be asked why this is the case, several rea
ons might be given.
The first and chief reason. I aprrehend is a
desire on the part Of our citizens, when they
do erect school house, to put ua the righf
kind Of ones. They want house Of ample
size and tasteful app.anc. and thev have been
putting of the matter until some future d.v
"Just little aheas." when they shall feel able
and willing to incur the expense. Thus it
seems to have been. q year AGO. when the pro-
iect at, sch,rl-h Mise was dis.u sed, and sew
eral meetings bel in referenc. to it. A val
nab'e lot ~,s selected a1i plrchas.i fr the
purpose; committee was app ,inted to pre- :
sent plans and specific atoms 10. horse OF
certain capacity and cost-ani tins all went
on swimminglv. But then the tor was s-ri-
ons mater. H,dn't we better defer u another
wear! Sit was decided. The Subject was
postponed; and now the year has almost gone
round, and that spaciors house is vet r1brilt.
Is it not time something were don: in the
matter? Deeds are wanted not words. Il is
desirable that each Of us have a comm ,dior,
and elegant dwelling. BIT because am not
now able 20 prepare such residence, can not
Therefore to do without a dwelling. and 10 igs
nv family in the street or in the high grass OF
the prairie Adwelling must h,ve-of som.
kind spacious and elegant IL ! can-contrac-
ed and plain il I must. So in regard to a
school-build,ng. Our necessities, il we but
saw them. demand that We have horse. first
rate il possible but even sscoai or third rate,
rather than none. 1t is pnor policy to let the
children Of our city 60 uncared for no provi-
sion made for their schooling, and run the risk
Of forfeitine (if We have not already done SOY
our share in the Education fnn'; all becaIse
we are not not able to build a large house
That we are not able to build as eo"d house
as il desirable or necessarvis what am nor
At all sure Of; bn. If such be the case. 'vhy
then, let u, bs,ild I'll. best we can. There are
probably two or three other reasons which
have had som" influence on school matter "a
mong us ard which demand tention
II NUT must not be dissembled that there Is
to SOM extent a want Of conf fence ia the
efficiency and utility Of snch training is offers
fond in public schools. and disposition TO
look to private schools for that instruction and
discipline which the intelligent parent wishes
his child to enjoy.
There is disposition to look at the cost tax
If yon please TO call it so-occasioned by
schools and sch,ol- houses. 10 the exclusion of,
what is not less 10 be regarded. their prof.
On these poir Is propose. il The indulgence
be granted me, offering some remarks iu an
other communication.
one OF THE 'PEorLE.'