The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-07-21

Essentials Of Pleasant village.---No. v.
GOOD SCHOOLS.
Nothing tends more to make vii
lage honorable and pleasant than its
Schools. In none of our villages do
these excite one-half the interest they
ought. We are SO accustomed to hear
our school system praised that we have
a vague idea that it will do its work
itself. If there is path-master or
supervisor to be chosen, it is a matter
of interest; but how many care who
have charge of our schools? If we
compare the means of education for
people in this land with that in other
lands, we may well feel proud. But if
we compare what we have done with
what we might do, shall we not find
abundant room for progress
In this country everything is touched
by public opinion, and the school is no
exception. AS in a cold winters day
we seek to warm a room, the heated
air as it touches the glass in the win
dow is chilled by the air without, so
we must increase our fires and yet have
less heat. Thus the social air, in the
school-room, the thought and feeling
among the scholars, will be influenced
by the thought and feeling out of doors.
If we feel that there is no more i'm
portant work done in the town, in field,
or store, or workshop, than is done
every day in the school-room, then the
children will catch something of our
interest. If we feel that child goes
to school to be out of the way, and to
learn little of reading, writing and
arithmetic, it will probably accomplish
just as much as we expect, and no
more. A word of sympathy from pa
rents can strengthen the power of the
teacher. And our lightest, most Cos
siping word Of fault finding will weaken
his power. The teacher must not only
guide the intellect, but in some measure
train the heart of the child. How
many parents are there who expect,
and are ready to welcome this moral
influence? There are those who ex-
cuse themselves for a want of interest
in the schools because they have no
children to send. What then? There
is gathered the army who are yet to
build up or degrade the village-to
make it mean or honorable. We all
want good homes; and these are those
who are to found homes better or
poorer than those we have to-day. We
talk of individual influence; and these
are those who are yet to learn their
power. And shall we be Indifferent as
the work of preparation goes on?
Remember, that we have not told the
whole evil, when we have told the
wrongs bad man has done; we must
add to the dark page all of good he
might and would have done had he
been trained ari ght. For so much has
the world lost.
And every village and town should
have within it and easily to be reached
the means of continued culture. 1t is
to be regretted that some gain dis
taste for study in the school room. 1t
is to be regretted that many more seem
to think that all we want of learning is
enough to guide the hand in its daily
task. And yet, there was never a
people who had such a demand made
upon them for thought and all the
power that thought can bring. In this
day, he should be something of stu
dent, then, who would be atrue citizen,
andelevate himself, his neig hbors and his
race. JUST1NIUS.
Dowagiac, July 10th.