The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-03-18
COMMUNICATE
For the Bedford Gazette.
OUR COMMON SCHOOLS.


In the the first article on this subject, il is
said that our state policy, in the,es;abiishirg Of
our common schools, is the same in principle as
in our laws for the protection OF life nd.prop-
| erty. But tins is not all; [ would by no means
stop here and say nothing more on this point
In the direction Of the schools, tie policy rises
much higher in its motives than. that and be-
comes more ennoblinS in lis principles. Il is
this superior policy and these higher PRINCIPLES
that influenced the minds of our past aud pres
ent Legislators and evaled also in the breasts of
all our great and good men, IA reference ;to
tsehe6f nogse 1'sfsFde ffett, rT' "a IS;
nor is i attended only 10 place facilities in The
hands of our children to be regarded as means
subservIent TO the business engagements of lie
The true idea of the education of our children.
is not reached if We think of nothing more than
,,w hat is contained IN books aud certain rou-
IEae of studies, ~hIch, when gone through ith.
! S%aposed to be accomplished, and then laid
a.idl ~ be used as interest NAV suggest, or con-
vania ncs demand. The spirit Of our school sys-
Ton, ;ncndas much more than this ii does not
simply aim Inequality our children for the bu-
sin4es emnloy pgents Of lite, but it also aims to
law snre fonnN Nation for theri moral good and
soc;al eniovm4nis. Ii conprehends what ev-
sr NAV have % I'd influence in developing the
mind bv giving oirSction 10 thought and prop
er motives to action. Y contemplates not On ly
the groWth but the imp s92geme"f OF the mind
also and has immediate ahs prospective hapP'-
ness view as its greatest objct. mat education
which secures this TO our childrSn-to the grea-
test number OF our children, orsAs lhe world,
is the best education; and that SYSTEM best adapt
ed TO accomplish this purpose, is thN otSt sys-
tenn. ii Is the desire in our common schools,
10 give tho ough instruct ion in all the PrahcheS
Of an elegantly refined English educatlon, and,
with this, associate that correct moral aRd Soci-
al Influence, which leads the little chli% INTO
the paths OF duty which gives direction ~ the
immortal spirits of youth and teaches therR TO
aspire to the rewards Of virtue, by iwell DOING
which imparIs to them that knowledge whos'k
ways are usefulness and honor; which leads \
them to make their own individuality subseGvef
the interests otthe public good and reflect pro-b
perly upon the ties which unite them 10 fripndsA
and kindred and the world around them.
In some places these interests are felt and
acknowledged and IN others they are not. In
Brdiord, | am happy TO say, there many
persons now thinking rightly on this great sub
sct It is too true that our schools here have
mseasv been of the lowest grade, and our citi-
zens have not heretofore enjoyed tae advanta-
'ges. neither have our children reaped the bene-
fits. which our common school system places
within their reach. The schools in town have
been Faboring, in some respects, under more Sc
rious Disadvantages, than The schools in any of
our townships. Besides, the poorest kind of
teachers that were sometimes employed, and
very badly conducted schools, our children were
obliged to 90 TO those unhealthy Easements
which, were rented for school purposes Put
Bedford is waking mp in regard to this inter
est. The stern necessity OF having better
schools and better school Accommodations, is
acknowledged by all. But from theehrst ma
king up on this subject, difference ot opinion
existed, and still exists to greater or less de-
gree, as TO the best plan TO be puI sued lE the
erection oil school houses and in lelsvatlng the
character of the schools. We ha1echildrrn for
six schools, and less number v!fii not suffice.
A few of the citizens were in favor OF having
six houses located in different parts of the town
But under such arrangement very little
improvement could be expected. Others
thought that three larger should be built, each
with an upper and lower room, and each
house to accommodate two schools. But obiec-
tions were urged against this plan. II was
thought three plots each sufficiently large TO
accommodate one hundred children with play
ground, and suitably located, could not easily
| be had and that three buildings Of this kind