The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1858-11-18

School Government, upon which alength,
interchange Of sentiment ensued, cspeci
ally ia reference to the Formations Of 4
Teachers Institute, which was unani
mously regarded as the very best meth
cd that could be taken ior persec.ing
teachers in their profession, and for Tic
establishment OF proper aud uniform
system Of school government. The fol
lowing resolution upon the subject wa,
passed b, the Board
& ResOfped, That We recommend the for.
nation Of a Teachers Institute in thi.
4 county, and request the County Superiu
tendcnt TO use his influence to perfect its
organization rs soon as possible.
Mr.. BLASk strongly recommended the
system of classifying scholars, and the
use Of the black board in recilations.
4 number of sug gestions were made
in reference to the textbooks TO be used,
] and the kind of seats best adapted for the
comfort Of the scholar. nj reference to
the first, the benefits arising from the use
OF uniform series of books, were freely
acknowledged, andes the State Superin
tcndcnt, with whom the law leaves the
privilege of determining the series, has
recommended Pinneo's Grammar, Ray s
Mathematics, McGnfy's Readers and
Spcller, and Warrcn's Geography, the
Board was in favor of seconding the
efforts OF the County Superintendent to
make the use Of this series universal in
our schools.
In reference to the seating Of the
schools, an emphatic dissent was given,
by the several members of the Board,
against the barbarous practice of forcing
children TO sit for hours on rude benches.
with their backs unsupported, and with
no chance Of changing their position. or
of resting their bodies. The physical
conformationsof the child has thus often
been distorted. his physical welfare thus
often sacrificed. The economy that
dooms child to this torture is nothing
! less than inhumanity. Besides he wearies
| Of his books, finds study hard, almost inn
practicable, soon acquires distaste for
the school-room, invents excuses to re-
main away, and if permitted, eschews
learning entirely, and grows up hearty,
perhaps, but gross and ignorant. Or,
/ if forced to school, has his mind i'm
proved at the expense of his body-a
itde learning purchased at the expense
Of a curvature, weakness, or some other
affection, of the spine.
The subjects of District Libraries and
County High School were passed over
by the Board without action.
The next question before the Board
was that of fixing the salary of the Coun-
ty Superintendent, which, after some lit
tie discussion, was placed at the sum of
$500.
Explanations in reference TO the opera
ton Of the law were then given by sew
cral gentlemen, allof whom strongly IA
vored the present system. The only
change which seemed, in their view, de-
sirous, was one which would give to the
sub districts the power to erect their own
school houses, without consultation with,
or the cooperation of, the other portion
Of the township district. As the law
now stands, those districts which have no
school houses. are dependant entirely
upon the generosity or whim of those
who already possess them, for their cree
ton, and it is too often the case that Il feel
ing OF selfishness or Of Jealousy is allow
ed 70 interfere le deprive them of what
they both desire and need. The present
provision, il its Intention is not lhwart-
ed. would act just and cquitably enough.
but il is a serious objection that the full
fillment Of that intention is made DEEPEN
dent upon those whose interests are, if
not in anlaYonism, at least not directly
advanced by its being carried out. The
effect OF the provision is, also, to retard
an advance in the comfort, style. capac-
ity and prctension Of our school- houses,
inasmuch rs there is a general indisposi-
ton % give our neighbor luxuries, when
We, ourselves, have only necessaries. The
simplest and cheapest form of house
would in all cases be contemplated BY
the districts, for no other would be apt to
receive the sanction Of lhcir neighbors.
Ills q question, too, that should, BY all
means, be left with those who arc alone
interested-ihe people Of The sub -dis-
uicis. This was the general view Of the
Board, and We believe is the umlnimois
opinion Of the people.
After some explanations in regard to