Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-12-13

them either economical or efficient Three.
if not four schoohousss are needed now
This number would met our present neccs
sites, il the misereh,e policy of erecting a
school house whens yer vacant place can be
found is persisted in Should we do this
Would not this be only a repetition of old
mistakes? Tn the practical working of this
plan, no division of labor, either equal or
economical, can be made amongst teachers,
nor can there be any proper general grading
or classification Of scholars thus scattered in
rooms allover town.
Mr.. SniitB, the County Superintendent, af-
ter much labor and vexation, has in some
degree graded and classified our schools, and
thus enabled the directors to dispense with
one entire school, but for reasons we have
stated he says the grading and classification
is very imperfect, and must be so. The evil
then lies. it seems to me, in the want of one
commodious school building" where all the
children of the borough may be properly gra,
ded and classified and the teachers and
schools placed under the general supervision
OF responsible and competent superinten.
dent Experience has led to the adoption Of
this policy in the Eastern States, and to some
extent In our own State, with these apparent
results; lst. Ihe comfort and health of both
the teachers and children are promoted. 81.
Teachers are enabled to classify children bet
ter, teach them better, and more Of them, and
! thus lessen the number of teachers required.
Sd. The cost Of teaching can be reduced from
Is to 20 per cent. 4th. In our case there is
| this special reasUn: if the old SysEsm is ever
to be abandoned, this would seem to be the
time to enter upon the new, and save the ex
pense VIC must incur in the erection Of the
four rooms now needed We now come to
ba -, II,
What its to cost, and how its to be paid fer
are ugly questions for taxpayers in the face
! Of = stringent money market in these light
and somewhat Troublesome times. As my
! words neither bind myself nor anybody else,
/ we will estimate the cost of suitable bVild-
| ing, srouud, &C., at $4,000. Such one
would not only be large enough for cur pres
ent NECESSITIES. but would in some degree
meet our PROSPECTIVE wants. The assessment
| of tax '23 to 5 mills is sufficient to keep
! the schools open six months in the year. Now
what extra assessment. TO4.d be required f, 7
building purposesP Here we may observe
that it would be very unjust to impose the
| whole expense of building upon the present
taxpayers. The burthcn arising from this to
some extent should be thrown forward u 2on
| those who succeed US, who derive as much
| benefit from this outlay as we do ourselves.
! The school property should be
worth in cash $4,000
. \ tax of y mills would produce 5000
/ This creates debt to be paid an.
nually Of 1000 per year in 10
| ye@rs 10000
! $4,000
! A tax Of y mills would more than pay the
| first instalment' and interest on the deUs, and
each Successive tax would lie leSs-the last
asseSsu!ent would te a fraction over one mill.
| Thus, by g" tax never exceeding 5 mills, and
falling in the end 70 3E. The means could be
provided to pay the cul rent expenses Of cur
schools, pay the building debt, and place cur
! Common Schools in n state Of efficiency they
! have not yet attained, and can never attain
under the present system. | am aware times
are hard, but the necessity is upon US, we
must build something.
In conclusion | must agree with your cor
respondent of last week that the erection Of
building and the organization Of our schools,
on some such plan as detailed by him. would
be a saving Of money in the end, to say moth
ing of the higher interests promoted for all
time. a TAXPAYER.