Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1861-04-04
G9meat1i0ual.
The School House.
NUMBER II.

NUMBER II.
The Church aud the School House are
the index To a communities morality, IN
ttelligence aud prosperity. By these the
aeacher forms MS opinions as he passes
long; by these the emigrant is attracted
and encouraged to cast IN his lot for life !;
and TO these we must cling for success in
life and salvation in eternity. Through
the school and the church. lie world is en-
lightened. As YET but few school houses
have beeu erected, owing to the scarcity
of our population and the inability of our
people. These are difficulties which have
to be met and overcome in all new coun-
tries. A few will have to take the lead,
and by fighting discouragements and coax
ing the backward and lukewarm they will
succeed. Those who stand alOof at first
or even oppose the undertaking, will
when they see things going along without
them-fall in with the current and pull
with their neighbors BY patience and
perseverance wonders can be accom-
pllshed.
In offering some Suggestions relative to
school houses and how they should be
furnished, | do not anticipate pleasing
Every one. Each district mus b. gov
erned by It's own peculiar circumstances.
Wealth, population and character of the
people. must be considered with other
local questions, which only can be met
and overcome as they arise. My object
is to be as practically suggestive as the
subject and brevity OF this article will al
low, in order to give some general ideas
from which our people can CLEAN some
thing for present use in school house
building:
lst Before you commence to build be
sure that you are fully prepared to finish.
In choosing location for your house keep
the following in view, select your ground
! Gone acre at least) as near the center of
/ thr district and as convenient to the pub
lie highway as possible. DO not under
any consideration set your house on LOlU
damp ground. but on the contrary let the
site be high and airy, (not too much ex-
posed, aud taking IN as wide range O
country as possible.
I'd. Under all ordinary circumstances
build your house large enough to seat
sixty scholars, so as to allow for Increase
of population. The following dimensions
will be found very suitable for country
districts and costing not over $500 when
finished: % feet by 30, with one door III
the end, hall OF recess OF 3 feet with
shelves and pms for baskets. shawls,
bonnets, caps. etc, and TWO doors leading
into the school room. This will b. long
enough Tor four rows of double seats,
three aIses, teachers platform, etc.
Sd. By keeping in view the proper ar
rangement of the school room while
building, it will cost but little more, If
any, 10 seat and furnish II conveniently,
than otherwise The end of the room
opposite the doors, should be finished for
painting instead of blackboard. This
can be done by smoothing the second
coating OF plaster, and painting black
without the hard finish. A recess OF
three feet should be left along this end
fer the scholars to occupy during recita-
tlon and board exercise. The teachers
platform. raised eight inches. and black
board should be between the doors. The
desk, should be made 10 seat two pupils
each incrt asing In height from the front
back, so as 10 accommodate scholars Of al
sizes. The seats all facing the teachers
platform aud board, so that he can have
their attention at any time, to make hi
demonstrations or explanations on tie
board, aud leave ihem for tU'ur5 refer
ence. The utility aud con, enieuce # thi:
, arrangement of seats aud black hOafd>
cannot fail to commend the approbatioI
and approval of every living, progresslv,
educator in our Territory.
4th Paint your house inside and out
you will gain by the outlay. Fence II
your school grounds, and see that gooc
variety of shade and ornamental trees j
set out Immediately. Let each schola
be encouraged to assist in beautifying tht
grounds and planting trees and shrubtery
and let it be distinctly understood tha
YOUR teacher shall take charge of th,
school house and grounds as we'll as you
. children. This all can be accomplished
with very little expense, if each paren
will do little and encourage the children
In their work. If order and neaines
reigns without the school room, with tast
and cleanliness within, no fear of disorde
or filthy slovenliness among the scholars
Put a rowdy INTO school room, wherI
everything is clean and orderly, and b
n will not only be afraid to act bOisterOu
or rowdyish, but he will feel ashamed t
break the harmony of everything. ]
dirtv. rest assured that next day will fin
him neat and Trim as he knows how. Bu
on the other hand, put the best and mos
S orderly pupil into a room where every
). thing is in disorder, tackless benches
slab-side desks, open floor, broken win
dow, etc., and his pen knife comes out in
stinctivelv as if such things were onl
- placed there for whiting and defacing
| need not argue this point, for all VIII
have ever carried pen knife, or rea
! human nature. know that this is SO.
In order 90 lnsure success in teaching
and framing he yeaag 10 habits Of studl
: neainess and order. LEI your school room
Of he silen, ieachprs of these things. Max
~ them not only attractive bat instructive L
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