Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-03-18
For the Inquirer.
OUR COMMON SCROOLS-NO. 2.

OUR COMMON SCHOOLS-NO. 2.
In the irst article of this subject, it is said
that our State policy, iu the establishment of
our common schools, is tie same in principle
as in cur laws for the protection of life and
property. But this is not all; ! would by TO
means stop here, and say nothing more Oh this
point In the direction of the schools the poll
| Icy rises much higher in its motives than that,
and becoaes more enobiing in its pringiples.--
1t is this superio, policy aud these higher prin-
ciples, that Influenced the minds of our past
and present legislators, and prevailed also in
the breasts Of IL our great and good men id
reference to the schools. Our system is not
aerstg to make the school house supersede
| prisons ond penal laws, nor is il intended only
to place facilities 10 the bands of eur children
to be regarded as a means subservient to the
business engagements ct life. The true idea
of the education of our children ia not reached
il we think of nothing more than what is con-
tanned in books, aud g certain routine OF stud
| les, which, when gone through With, is suppo-
sed 10 be accomplished, and then laid aside to
be used as interest may suggest, or couve-
Diencp demand. The spirit of our school sys~
TEN includes much more thai this; il does not
simply aim to qualify cur children for the bus
lay q sure foundation for their moral and social
erjoyments. Il cemprebcnds whatever Dsg
| have good influence IN developing the
mind, by giving direction to thought aud prop
| er motives TO action. Il contemplsies not on
IL the gro,uth, bat the improvement of the mind
| also, aud has immediate aud prospective happi-
ness in view as It's great object. That educa-
| ZION which secures this to our children to the
| oe mb. q ~
| world, is the best education; and that system
| best adapted to accomplish this purpose, is the
| best system. Il is the desire Of our common
schools, TO give thorough instruction in all the
branches Of SD elegantly refined English edus
cation, and, xith this, associate that correct
moral and soci Il Influence, which leads the 1T
tie child into the paths of duty; which gives
direction 10 toe immortal spirits of youth, ami
teaches them 10 aspire to the rewards of virtue,
By we'll doing; which imparts TO them that
knowledge whose ways are usefulness aud hon
or, which leads them to make their own indi>
viduality subserve tue interests Of the public
good, aud refect properly upon the ties which
unite them to friends and kindred, aud the
/ world around them.
In some places these interests are Eel. and
acknowledged, and in others they are not. In
Bedford, am happy TO say, there are many
persons now thinking rightly Oh thus great SUBJ
jsct. It is too true, that cur schools hese have
mostly been Of the lowest grade, and our citi-
zens bzvc not heretofore enjoyed tie advanta-
ges, neither have cur children reaped the ben
e6ts which our common school system places
within their reach. The schools in our tosu
have been laboring, 10 some respects, under
more serious disadvantages taac the schools IN
any OF our townships. Besides the poorest
kind of teachers that were sometimes employed,
and Yo:y badly conducted schools, our children
we're oblidged 10 60 to those unhealthy osse'
men,s which we're rented for school purposes.
But Bedford is waking up IN regard to tbs IN
teTest. The stsrn necessity OF having better
schools, and better school accommodations, is
Acknowledged by all. Bat from The FIRST wa
!LiDg up on this subject, a difference OF opinion
sxistsSs end still exists, 10 greater Or less de-
,roo "a to ;.he best plan to be pursued in The
erection of schoos h9usss, aud ID eievating the
character Of the schools. We have children
for six schools, and isss number will not SUI
6ce A few Of tho citizens we're ID favor oil
having six houses located in difereat parts OF
the town. But, under such 40 srrangemslf,
very little Improvement could DE ezpecied.--
! Others ,noughE That three larger houses shoald
DO huiit, saea With Al upper ond lower room,
ADD have each house 10 accommodate two
schools. But objections were urged against
this plan. IL was thought that three f!ats,
each sufficiently largs to accommodate one hun-
dred children, could not easily be had, and
tha, three buildings, of this kind, would cost as
much, Il not more, than one sufficiently large
TO accommodats al the schools, and, further,
that the schools could be better graded, aud
conaacsad 20 better advantage in one build
ing, than in three. And then, after considera-
bic debate op the subject, at severn, public
meetings, the voice of the people declared, a.
ihd spring election, by majority of tHenty-
r two, for "Uuipn House, shich is now being
/. carried forward by an active and ensrgetic
board oil. f.directors, andit Is confidently hoped
that The better jsdgwent AID superior reasoi.e q
every man in this enlightened aud Intelligent
! e5h:..pAi.g, vii sustain aud encourage then
+: !ih its 6os' eeppesion, and that we shall soor
s-r+<s ~.