Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-11-02

cOuuuOnce ID rcpOsed IN his ability to
serve the state which now, in common
with others Is laboring under many
dificultics.
FOR The lowe state DcnocSat.
Educational.
The subject Of Common School education
y one that sueht 10 engage the attention OF
every American citizen. When we reflect
that il 10 the bulwark Of Democracy, and,
thst human liberty and human happiness,
are wide spread Or restricted in proportion
10 the prevalence Of Common School educa-
ton. We can but feel anxious respecting the
conduct. management and support ot thes.
Durssriss Of human freedom. The W est is
sssursted with the spirit Of speculation to
such frsnzied extent, that tho most intel
ligept Of our people. while acknowledging
the importance Of general education, and
giving freely Of their money to build school
houses. and pay teachers. never enter these
temples Of knowlcdge.to enquire into the ca
pscity Of teachers ~ the progress Of pupils.
A good teacher may toll from month to
month, without receiving encouragement,
from friendly visits or having his ambition
stimulated by those whs send him their
children for instruction. This is oil wrong
Its natural tendency is to make tho teacher
indifferent to anything but his salary. when
he sees his patrons 10 entirely indifferent
THE STONE SCHOOL House.
On Friday last took notion Of visiting
the eohvvi hop, i" t',v s>tumu r,cnooi rv"-,.
on tho corner of Perry and Seventh streets.
10 not believe that there are dozen pat
rons of this school who have ever visited It.
10 know how it il conducted. Such wa my
impression in conversing with the teacher.
But Davenport may be proud Of this
school. II is under the charge Of l.. l..
Bowers. whose system Of teaching filled mo
with admiration. The school is divided in
u three distinct apartments On the right
entrance Of the first story is the Primary
Department, Oh the left, the intermediate
department, and in the upper story the
more advanced department Of scholars The
building 10 ~ framed. that there are two
flights Of stairs leading from above, into sep
nrate yards. which prevents any informing
ling Of males and females. either Oh tn,
play grounds, or elsewhere.
TIRE SYSTEM.
Mr.. Bowers has perfected system o
teaching which surPasscs any that | have
ever seen in practice. The school consists
Of $50 pupils from the ages Ola to IA years
male aud female, in the three departments.
The Primary department is in charge OF
Mrs. Buwers and is composed Of about 90 as
bright looking little ones IS ever saw
They are in all stages Of progress in the
Spelling-book from a. b. c to the story Of
the Country Milk Maid" aud that signal
from the teacher, they will sing in concert, "a
number Of educational songs, repeat the Ia
bles Of weights and measures, and draw up
an the black boards.
Mr.. Bowers has the entire school under "a
discipline that cannot be improved. No
word Is spoken. All is done 10y signs. A
pupil wishes to retire, he raises his hand,
and points TO the door, if the teacher gives
permission II is by similar sign and the
pupil retires without his classmates knowing
anything about it. or having their attention
diverted by noise. Everything is like
clock-work, and the classes move in complete
order, and without noise At touch Of the
bell, class will sit erect, at q second touch
they viii srise, and ncisslessly march to the
front. stand in array. and 1t the wave Of the
teacher hand retire to the recit alton room
without disturbing the other pupils. No.
b Mr.. Bowers, skill % teacher confined to
the system Of order and discipline adopted
There IL more digni6ed and gentlemenly
department among these pupils than We Of
ten witness In social circles. No pupil laugh,
u N error made by . classmate. No dog
ed indi6srsnes u displayed by the back
ward scholoss, but common ambition o.
emulation SCENE 70 pervade the entir.
school They respect their teacher, and he
sssns 70 govern and instruct them as by
magic.
In these exercises the results Of Mr.. Bow.
srs, LAHORE were fully apparent Each class
was prompt. and attentive. Not pupil
lost question, but look eagerly for their
turn to come that they might show their
ability TO respond. In arithmetic, q class Of
Ads scarcely twelve years old. had reached
Progression and on Review. showed that
they had not "skimmed' over the proceeding
pages' Every one was prompt with rea-
con and . rule. So Of the Geographical ex
sssissa Scarcely question touching Lati
sads nd 1pagituds,o or the names boundaries
o. localities Il places was missed With
out going further i>to detail we confidently
affirm that NJ. B. is d. sblest teacher Of
Common sehoOls in the State u Iowa and
he y ably assisted by Mica Julia n~mnh-
vsu. In the highest department We COME
10 amassmsnt 1t the admirable discinline
oedsoy and progress Of his school. Our c;t;~
Hsnsnnay b assuRsd thst they can spend ma
a111coa more peo6tably than in yiitins
~ ssheal' Il saeouraGs the pup;ls Il
qhnlaaisp n stady, end gIves ratis(b et,on -
Abnasllot teAshse who hAssharee n IN
~ sssaaelsd sshsel.
Il. q r Hnnnnfs.
~
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