Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-04-08
PLYMOUTH, INDIANA, THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1865

too, is far in advance of us, having in sue
cessful operation one of the very best of
school systems. Indiana. the fifth State
in the Union, brings up the rear in educa
tional facilities. This state Of things calls
for the most prompt and decided action en-
the part of all classes of the people.
We propose giving series Of articles
on this subject. We believe our entire
system needs remodeling, or rather to be
thrown away entirely, that system may
be formed which shall suit our wants
Money may be appropriated for this object,
but without proper system, 1t will do lit
tie good,
What then has been done for education
in our State? What is our school system?
if indeed there is any system about it.
What have our present school laws accom-
plshed? what are they doing? what are
they li'eely to do? what ought they to do?
what ought our ool-system to be? These
are some of the questions which may re-
ceive our attention. In treating these top
les we shall "naught extenuate, nor set
down aught In malice" but only state what
our convictions are, after a careful investi-
CATION of lhe whole subject, and n com
parison of our laws with those of other
States
By the census Of 1910 we had thirty
eight thousand one hundred persons over
twenty years of age who could neither read
nor write. The friends of education were
rousod to action. They assembled ia con-
vention at the Capitol, and declared "that
it was our true policy TO adopt some sys-
tenn of general education in accordance
with that marked out by the trainers of
our (the old) Constitution" In the Leg
isature bill was introduced on the sub
ieci, and defeated in the Senate. The ques-
ton Of free schools was finally submitted
to the people of the State, who gave in
their favor a majority of about sixteen
thousand. The next House of Representa-
tives passed bill to establish a system of
free schools with limited taxation. This
also was referred to the people with pro-
vision that it should operate in those coun-
ties only in which it should be adopted
1t was adopted in more than sixty counties
with a majority in the State of seventeen
thousand. 1t will be seen that the people
wois ,aen, as they ore now, far in advance
of our Legislators on tins subject. The
people spoke, but the Legislature did not
respond as it should have done. With
such state of feeling among the people,
it was natural to suppose the State would
advance in Intelligence. But what are the
facts? The census Of 1859 was taken,
which revealed the alarming truth that the
number of those oyer twenty years of age
who could neither read nor write had
sweled from thirty eight thousand to sew
enty three thousand two hundred and nine
ty nine! In our county there were siA
hundred and thirty one.
The Constitutional Convention met neal
the close of the year 1859. and these fact
were brought before il by j. r. NJ. Bryant
a member of the committee on education
where they produced a marked sensation,
and no wonder. The committee on Edu
cation consisted of Messrs. Morrison, Bry
ant. May. Hit, Foster. Stevenson, Noff
singer and Jones'
1t is fair to presume that those gentle
men were friends Of education. We know
this to be true Of Mr.. BRYANT. The Arti
Gle on education in our present Conslitu
ton is hes'rcsuli of their labors.