The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-09-23
Fr he JOURNAL.
Schools.

notices for the annual School meeting are
posted and q few thoughts on the subject
of schools may not be out of place at this
time. The people of River Falls have ac-
quired quite reputation for the interest
and iberality manifested in the subject OF
education, and we sometimes think that
we are inclined to be little boastful IN
this respect.
So far as Hberalty in furnishing money
for the promotion Of the cause OF educa-
ton is conserved, perhaps we may justly
claim some credit. But if we will take a.
candid view of the present state OF public
sentiment, we viii find that there is Ia
mentabe want-and we might say al
most a total want of interest in the sub
iect of education. We are aware that
this may seem like bold and unwarrant-
ed assertion, but let us examine the SUBJ
iect, and see if there is not indeed too
much truth in t. We are to judge ofthe
interest taken in cur schools by the con-
duct towards them of those who should
be the most interested and not by their
professions of interest. Professions of
deep and heart felt interest are frequently
heard to fall from she lips of our best and
most worthy citizens. But do their ac-
tons comport with their professions Let
us see.
Take the last term of our district school
if you please. Now we are not going to
find fault with the school or with the
teacher, for they are not at fault and we
are inclined to believe from the reputation
previously acquired by the teacher that
the school would compare fayorably with
other district schools in this section Of
country. But who is there among those
who have sent their children to the school
who know from personal observation
whether the school has been well kept or,
not? Trne, we have not heard word Of
complaint thing never known in this
locality before, nor have we heard a word
Recommendation; in fact we have heard
nothing about the school, except when we
ventured TO inquire of those who had
children Of suitable age to attend school,
and then the sum total of our information
would be that there Was school in our
village and that it was believed to be do
ing well. Now ifthe school has been the
best that has been taught in our district
the teacher should have credit for it, for
it has been her own work entirely, but it
appears that no one knows whether this is
the case or not.
How many parents have visited the
school during the last t,rm? How many
times have the district officers and those
whose bssiness it is to exercise supervis-
ion over the common schools found time
to visit them in their official capacity
We will venture the opinion that the last
term of our district school has shared the
fate of all its predecessors and that the
school has not been visited either by pa
rents or officers. If there was proper
state Of feeling on the subject of education
If indeed there was anyinterest taken
in our schools would this ignorance and
indifference totheir condition. prevail Does
not the conduct of those who should be the
most interested in schools say as plainly
as language can express it, we have no in
terest in them, - 1--WE don't care wheth-
er school keeps or not"
We sometimes hear the academy spoken
of and an apparent interest manifested
in its welfare, and we think there is lau-
dable desire among our citizens to have it
prosper and become credit and an hon
or to our town, but the academy is new
thing among us and new things are apt
to attract attention, and thereby create an
interest which otherwise might not be felt,
but how long will it be before the interest
IN the academy will settle down to the
common level of the district school?-
Professor Wilcox no doubt has frequent as
surances ofthe future prosperity and sue
cess of the institution from our leading
and influential citizens and patrons of the
school-the profeSsed friends of educa-
ton, But we have no doubt that if the
Professor could occasionally have these
protested friends of education, comforta-
bly, seated in the school-room and see An
approving smile enliven their countenan-
ces as they watched his arduous labors for
the intellectual and moral improvement
of those whom they intrusted to his care
land in whom they should full quite as
much interest to say the least as he does,)
he would have quite as much confidence
in the ultimate success of the institution
as he now has.
We are sometimes at loss to account
for the want of interest manifested by |
parents in fhe education Of their b;llo