Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-12-28

10 the external air. With this, as with
other furnaces, there Is less danger from
fire than where stoves are used in the
ro2ms. One advantage this arrangement,
would have over a common furnace is.
that while the first cost is less, it is also
less liable 10 get out of repair, and, when
out, can be more easily repaired by any
mechanic. Again, an ordinary furnace
is not expected TO last more than SIX or
eight years, and is only to be replaced at
the same cost as at first; besides some
trouble is occ' stoned by having, in some
! cases, to send 10 great distance in ord er
to obtain one at all while, with The
arrangement just proposed, nothing more
than an ordinary stove is required, which
can be found in any hardware store and
which need never cost over twelve dol
! lars.
But trespass too long upon your time
and patience, still there are a few points
on which l viii allow myself to barely
touch ere | have done.
One OF the mos, important is this, all
school houses and other buildings used for
the assembling of large numbers should
be provided With adequate means of
egress in case of sudden alarm From
inattention to this point hundreds have
lost their lives within a short time, and
among them, fifty children belonging one
of the Ward Schools of New York city.
No room should be used for assemblies
which had less than two doors, and it
would be well if these could be situated
at opposite sides of the room. The school
house is not, and from the nature Of the
case cannot be, a place where Arithmetic,
Geography and Grammer, simply, alone
are taught the scholar, nor should il lie
SO considered.
/ Often these and other branches which
| he technically {" studies are a conpara-
lively unimportant part of what he has
learned at school. The minds of the
young are easily impressed, and their
habits are readily formed. All admit
! that the first characteristic of the Young
mind requires that no other than correct
/ opinions and examples be brought in con-
tact with 1t. Is 1t less obvious that the
/ last requires that habits Of nealness, or
/ der, of respects for public properly, and
of that kind regard for the feelings and
wishes Of others, which characterize the
I true gentleman, be enforced during
! youth But, says one, are there no
gentlemen who were trained, and IN fact
/ received their whole education in oar
common schools? Very few. probably not
one--they became gentlemen not through
the aid of, but in spite of the tendencies
/ Of the school house, for though the evil
/ influence of bad example and habits can
never be entirely overcome, It may some
times be in a measure counteracted by The
constant care and vigilance of the home
circle. How frequently one entering the
district school house few moments be-
fore nine, may see yonDg yandal, stand
ing with muddy boots upon the unswepl
! floor or, perchance, upon some outer gar
ment or school book careIeSslv thrown
down, hacking the unpainied, rough fur
niture Of the school with his pocket knife.
But, say you, the teacher is to be blamed
for this True, answer, the fault is in
some degree his; bat IS not bonus offer
ed on such conduct, 10 shat you provide no
conveniences for the formation of better
habits, undoubtedly this is the case.
Every school house should have sep
arate hall supplied with hooks, and unl-
brella stands, foi the use of each sex -
each door should be supplied with two
scrapers, with mats, sc. The floor should
be swept every day and washed If it Is
uncarpeled, frequently. Ii Is well 10 cover
the aises with coarse drugget or mating
If water can be supplied at any reason
able expense il should he done. and small
wash rooms furnished al The end of each
hall.
All Of these things are necessary as
aids to the formation Of correct habits -
these, and, indeed, one thing more which
bad nearly escaped me- bell Of sufFi-
cient size to be heard distinctly in every
part OF the region which Is Untitled to the
privileges Of the school.
/ Without il the formation Of that most
/ important of all business hahiis, pnncl-
uality, can scarcely be expected. As said
before, these are the essentials, bsi be.
vond these, ii seems 10 me, that in the
exception of school buildings. furnishing
aud laying out The grounds around them,
that beauty and even elegance may be
i ,;roel a, ,,-3thou1 iiabIIitv To the rhar-re -