Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-01-22
For the JOURNAL.
SCHOOL PAPERS. NO. 5.
The way out of Difficulties.

ten the only possible plan of doing good
is an impossible one; the only mode of
action which can be proposed is one that
cannot be acted. This thought haunts
us as we sit down to put in form the plan
promised last week.
There arc two modes by which the
public instructions of society take form
and become established. The first and
the natural method is that of gradual
outgrowth from the spirit and culture of
the people; tho second is that of an ex-
ternal force which plants and supports by
resistlcss authority what the people do not
desire and do not love. By the first
mode free and intelligent people, grow
ing in civilization and culture and virtue,
plant and rear among themselves the in
situations of learning, benevolence and
religion A; by the second strong gov
eminent" constrains the people to the
observance of that which they hate
The natural method of outgrowth is alone
agreeable to the genius of American socie-
ty; the other is not to be thought Of
This principle applied to education shows
that we can have schools of no higher
rank than the people can be prepared to
appreciate and support. Culture, wheth-
or literary, scientific, or social, cannot be
forced upon our society. BY mutual ac-
ton and reaction, society and its institu.
| tons of education must advance with
equal pace. "The way out of difficult
ties" then, in the establishing and main
tanning a good school, presupposes the
! hearty support Of the governing majority
of It's patrons. If people will not have
p good school, the whole matter is set
tied. No power on earth or in heaven
will compel them. Surprising that the
patrons of the school are willing to take
the requisite pains on their part,-to
send their children punctually and regu-
larlv and to sustain wholesome authority,
we propose a thorough grad ing as tho
remedy for many evils.
1t is generally understood that Pres
colt has a graded school indeed, Pres
colt herself thinks so. We like to agree
with the public, yet, we are compelled to
confess our conviction that Prescott has
not graded school, in tho full sense of
the term, and does not wish one. The
one attempt at complete grading failed
partly at least-becausc no such school
was desired.
Grading implies, according to the
usage of the best schools of New Eng
land, a course of study laid down through
which the pupil advances, passing to the
higher studies only SO fast as he masters
the lower. The choice of studies is not
given to the scholar in any part of his
course. He enters the Primary room,
passes through the studies assigned to
that department, and is advanced to the
Intermediate Having taken the bran
ches belonging to that grade, he goes up
to the Grammar school. From the
studies of the grammar school he may
90 to the High school. The course of
study is unyielding. Tho teacher does
not ask the pupil what branches he will
take up, but the pupil inquiries into what
classes he shall go. We venture the pre-
diction that Prescott will never know
what it is to have first class" school
till her people shall repose confidence
enough in their school board and teach
ers to allow them to lay down course
of study and have self denial enough to
forbear complaints, though that course
of study remain rigid upon even their
own children.
The benefits of such thorough graz
ding arc inealculable. By it subordina
ton is secured. A spirit of obedience is
nurtured. Teachers are released from
that multiplicity of classes which so dis
tracts and divides their labors and wear
les their patience. Thoroughness OF
knowledge on the part Of the pupil is
gained; he is permitted to enter no class
till he is prepared for it by previous train
ipg. His education is made systematic
and complete. When it's ended there is
no need of its being :. finished"
We ask the thoughts of the friends OF
education to this subject of grading. We
believe this to be the rock which is to save
or which is to wreck your school. We
would be glad to hear such an expression
of public feeling as would sustain
mo yement towards making Prescott a
school in reality what it is in name. That
plan which will work in Boston or Prov