The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-10-08
Graded schools.

"A '"oIouShIy organized system OF grad
ed schools is an element Of progress and
refinement in any community and sure
indication of its prosperity, and we are
glad to know that the citizens of McGregor
| through their efficient board of education
are about to inaugurate some improvements
upon the old plan.
In many cities where the design of this
system is carried to the greatest perfection
all children over six years of age are oblig
ed to attend regularly every day the re.
spective departments to which they belong
and are there subjected to the wholesome
discipline of we'll drilled teachers, who at.
tend not only to the intellectual develop.
men:s of their pupils, but also to their
"manncrs and merals." No word of coarse.
ness or profanity is allowed within or about
the buildings, or quarrels, nor. rude or
bosterous conduct to be countenanccd in
the least, but at all times gentlemanly and
lady like department to be cultivated, so
that in very few months the effect Of this
| training is felt upon the whole community
and becomes apparent to all that as means
Of moral reform this system has the ad-
vantage of all others.
In our cities and towns, at the east. they
are emphatically, and the high schools par
tcularly, the peoples colleges. Extensive
libraries, cabinets and apparatus for illus
tratins the sciences; maps, charts and globes
are open to the student free of expense
We, here, just commencing cannot expect,
very soon, even by rapid progress, to attain
the perfection Of this celebrated system,
but We may approximate and it should be
to US all pleasure to contribute to the
well-being of the children and youth among
US, and we can every one of us aid this
enterprise either dire ,tly Or Indirectly.
Many men known to us as great and
good, are among the warmest advocates of
this wonderful source of power among US.
Prof. Ray, author Of the popular series of
mathematics, now become standard text.
books, was principal of the wonderful high
school, Cincinnati, and was an enthusiastic
friend to all institutions Of similar char
acter; he lived for them, and died in his
prime from intense devotion to his work.
Our own Admiral Foote is one of the most
outspoken men we ever saw in favor of
these schools. Ths. writer Of this article
was once favored Uy visit from him and
his brothers in the Rockwell Street school,
Cleveland, and as he looked at the eighty
little girls seated in three semi circles and
listened to their exercises, he proposed TAX
ing tie whole Of us to the Worlds Fair %
and it is fact that report of the Cleve
land Schools, published in large pamph.
let, which he was carrying in a breast pock.
ct saved his lfe--it receiving a bullet de.
signed for the Commodore's heart it is
now preserved in it's mntilated state among
the curiosities in the Library Room of the
Cleveland High School.
All honor to the founders, and the ad-
herents Of this admirable system which
forms so prominent f ature in the rapid
upbulding Of our nation, and We doubt
whether there would have been so powerful
a rebellion to crush, if this means of en-
tightening the people had prevailed at the
South.
Long live our common schools in the
free liberty loving North! N.