The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1860-03-29

o put new furnaces in the south school bouse .. |
llso to re construct the furnace pipes and chin.
neys in both the brick school houses in order TO
guard the buildings against accident from fire. |
During the past year it has beer found neces-
sary to establish an additional Primary school
In the basement of the new brick house, in order
to accommodate the increased number of this
grade OF scholars. The new primary room has
been fitted up with seats of the most approved
modern pattern-combinng neatness and dura
bility, and calculated to promote the comfort and
convenience of the youngest class of scholars at
tending school,
The seats and desks in all the rooms in the
new brick school house, have been altered with
the view to greater compactness, and additional
seats and desks have been put into these rooms
This improvement was found necessary for the
accommodation of the enlarged number of schol-
lars. All the seats and desks in both of the brick
school houses, have been re-panted during the
past season, and the drains to the Easements of
both buildings, which We're insufficient for the
purposes designed, have been relaid.
Considerable repairs and improvements have
also been made in, and about the school house in
the North ward-such as repairing and building
new fence aronnd the lot; repairing the house,
repantlng the seats and desks, and sundry other
improvements.
PRESENT CONDITION OF SCHOOL HOUSES
The school houses and their appurtenances
are now, with small exceptions, in a good con
dition ofrepar; but little expenditure for repair:
will be required the ensuing year, provided M
| accident OF unexpected event should occur
DESIRABLE IMPROVEMENTS.
| The chief improvement which is now deemed
desirable, is an enlarged room for the Gramma
Department. The necessity for this has been ap
parent during the past year. but the presen
! Board have been unwilling to undertake the ex
penditure, nor will future Board be likely to
appropriate funds for such purpose, until the
city and country are relieved from the present fl
nancial pressure. Nevertheless, it may not b.
amiss to call attention to this want, which ought
| to be supplied as soon as the expenditure can bC
afforded. The reasons which call for increased
reom for the Grammar School, may be briefly
stated -
l. 1t is the duty of the city to provide school
room accommodation for all the children of the
city OF suitable age, whose parents desire then
to attend school.
| 2. If the Grammar Department of the schoo
could accommodate twice the number of scholar.
it now does, the necessity of sending scholar.
into the High School before they are suitably
prepared to enter it, might be obyiated alst
the crowded condition of the intermediate De
partments, might be relieved.
3 In great majority of the Public Schools
both in the eastern and the western States, or
gained on the plan of graded schools with
High School Department; only small per cen
of scholars ever advance beyond the Gramma
School. This Department is intended to EN-
brace all the studies, essential to qualify the pu
pill Cor the ordinary business of life
4. The enlargement of the Grammar Depart
ment would allow reduction of the number o
teachers in the High Schools Principal anC
AccSeA so;o E..
School Department.
SCHOOL TAXES No LONGER BURDENSoME.
Kenosha was the first town IN the State to or
gauize Public School on the union plan Gu
Schools have grown from small beginning, un
til they have reached an educational STANDARD
unsurpassed by any in ,the State. Our citizen
in past years have cheerfully paid taxes to builr
school houses, and provide the necessary conve
niences for the schools Our school houses, thei
fixtures and appurtunances, are now all paid TO
and the city has no school debt This canno
be said perhaps of any other city in the State
which has erected good school edifces. Ou
| city school taxes, are comparatively light
the annual reduction since 1857 is rs follows
City school tax 1857 $9,444,7
1853 6,l800
| 1859 1876, o.
THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE SCHOOLS
| It must not be supposed that taxation AM
money expenditures alone, have made our school
what they are ; money it is true, has been es
sential to their success. Nor is it altogether
because the people have been fortunate in tn
selection of teachers, that our schools have beer
elevated to their pres mt condition most of Eth
Principal teachers since the establishment of TIL
school, have possessed more than usufl quaif
cation for their profession. It must not be for
gotten that the good name and success of on
schools, are largely indebted to goodly numb e
OF our citizens-many of whom have for sevefa
years toiled diligently, and expended much eff
ort for our institutions of learning. The constant
sympathy and sustaining influence of thes
trs1---i largely to give prom
nence and character to the schools. Experience
mas proven that without the cooperation an;
Inn uence Of such friends, no amount of none,
or other appliances, can build up good publ,
sch ools
And since our schools as they now exist are
not only the result oflberal taxation and of faith
ful instruction but also of long and unremitteC
effort on the part of the friends of education
shall they be sustained? After the burden,
have been borne i'll building school houses, and
providing the necessary furnishments, and taxa
ton for school purposes has ceased to be oppres-
sive, shall our schools be allowed to decline, anC
our city lose.the good name it has maintained al
home and abroad, on account of its educational
Institutions?
EASIER To LOWER DOWN THAN TO RAISE UP.
1t is much easier to pull down than to build
up. 1t requires educated mind to construct an
edifce of beautiful and symmetrical proportions
but no particular skill or intelligence is demand
ed to mar it. or raze it to the ground. Works
Vi art and monuments ofgenius, may easily be
defaced by hands that could never restore them.
A painting may be condemned, because too much
expense and labor has been bestowed upon it ;
i so, 1t needs no artistic hand to obliterate its
inner delineations and cheaper its value.
Our schools are in the hands of the people if
the majority so will it,they easily be lowered
wn SO as to lose the respect of intelligent men,;
but the influence that lowers them down, will
never be likely to raise them up again. The en-
lighted sentiment ofthe age the sentiment
that with assiduous care looks after the highest
interests of the people, is never found seeking
to lower the standard Of our common schools, or
other Institutions Of learning. While the people
have right-while it is their bounden duty to
sec that our educational affairs are economically
managed, it is to be hoped that a sense of obi
cation to the rising generation, and to the good
OF the State, will lead them to cherish our schools,
and TO maintain their character and usefulness.
By order of the Board of Education
M. FRANK, City Supt.