Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1858-02-18

Shall we have an Academy
re- In another part of TO days paper
will be found call for meeting of the
citizens of this vicinity, to consult upon
the subject of securing increased educa-
.ional facilities. This is movement
which, more than any other we wot of,
commends itself to the hearty SYM by
and active cooperation of every person
in this community. 1t is undeniable that
even at present, our school is inadequ lite
to our wants, though placed upon as re-
spectacle footing, possibly, as that OF
any district of its size in the S ate. Ii,
does not, and is not capable, of accom-
modating more than wo-thirds of those
who wish to receive instruction 1T G.
sent, and will not, i'm year or two, be
sufficient to meet the wants of even a
minority of the district. 1t is, then, APP
parent that additional facilities must be
provided, if we expect to retain among
us that class IA very large one) who re-
gard the interests of education as of par
amount importance, and the only issue
that arises, is as to the manner of aug
menting these facilities whether it is
more expedient to secure them by the
erection of an academy through private
means, and placing it under individual
control, or whether the district should
by general taxation, provide means for
the establishment of a graded school,
Could the latter project be carried out
in the desired manner, individually we
should prefer it, because we think il
would tend 10 benefit all The children
alike. There are some parents so blind
to the advantages of education-so un-
mindful Of this great duty they owe their
children-that when attended with di-
rect expense, they shirk it under the plea
OF inability. But when, through Tie re-
quirements Of law, they are forced TO
pay their quota for tie support of schools,
they are more prone TO regard the claims
OF their children upon ten, in this con
nection. THUS, VIC think, many a child
is educated through this single effect OF
our school laws, who otherwise would
lave been allowed to grow up in igno-
rance and for this, among other rea-
sons. we favor the establishment Of good
public schools. Were it possible, then,
TO prevail upon the people of the district
10 vote the necessary appropriation for
the establishment and support Of school
such as We need, We should infinitely
prefer it. But we do not think this can
be done. To bull i house sufficient to
meet our growing wants, to furnish it
with apparatus and facilities for instruc
lion such as should be provided, and To
secure the services of teachers competent
TO instruct in The branches which should
be taught. would throw upon the district
at the present time burtl.en of taxation
which the majority, we are confident,
would unhesitalingly shrink from. Many
of us, TO be sure. do not think that any
burihen can be too onerous in such n
cause, but suvs.,--a know. is not the
feeling Of the majority, and to allempt,
without the almost unanimous concur
renee of the people. to reach the desired
consummation, would be worse Than use
less.
What, then, shall be done We must
have better schools, that is certain, it we
expect our community to progress salts
fsctorily. Every day the minds of the
people are becoming more and more i'm
pressed with the importance and the ne
ccssily of extended and liberal educa-
ton Every day it is more and more
evidenced that the wants of these E,cli
ties operates as bar to the progress of
community. Men are not sali,fied with
pecuniary success when purchased by
deprivation of the means of educating
their children. Hundreds have forsaken
the West, and hundreds more have been
deferred from making il their home. from
the dearth Of educational facilities-a
necessary incident TO all new communi-
ties. Many family suffers the contract
ed, uncongenial, unhealthy life of large
city, rather than forego the advantages of
education there atlainable. And it is {
certain that no natural advantages in a
community can compensate, at the pre-