American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-06-29

prenticed, than those who attend our COM
mon schools There is ample time, be-
tween six aud twenty-one, to obtain both
a good trade and a good education. A
boy while learning a trade, should have a
few months schooling every year. Such
is the practice in New York, and New
England. This policy produces intelli-
gent farmers, mechanics, and artizans, who
are the bone and sinew of society in re-
public.
9th. "Onr present arrangement dis
courages high schools, to great extent"
Here is ,chat I suspect is the rub. That
the district school will ultimately supply
the place of our academies, and fit our
boys for the practical duties of agricultu-
raj, mechanical and mercantile life, or for
entrance into the colleges and universities
of the country, is the hope and confident
belief of not a few Of its friends and sup
porters. The Union schools of the west
are doing this now, and I confidently an
ticipate the same blessed result in our own
State. Until they do accomplish this,
they will never secure the cordial assist
ance and activesympathy of the more op-
.ulent classes. If the vast sums now ex-
pended upon academies, where boys and
girls are boarded at an expensive rate away
from parents and guardians and the salu-
tary influences of virtuous homes, were
diverted to the supporter common schools,
graded schools would spring up in every
village and township, and the teachers en-
gagged in our academies would find remu.
nerative employment in educating the
whole people. We have proper respect
for academies; they ARE still necessary
where district schools are poor, but we
wish to see them superseded as soon as
possible.
Having briefly replied to his objections
to the law as it now stands, will point
out few only of the evils which think
would necessarily follow the proposed
change.
1st 1t would reduce the standard of
the district school throughout the State.
If no one can attend after the age of six
teen, our schools would be robbed of their
best scholars. 1t is not to be expected
that any future classes will make more
rapid advancement than the best scholars
in our district schools are now doing con-
sequently the requirements of teachers
would gradually fall below the standard
now required, theirpay decrease, and the
best qualified be driven from the business
of teaching"
End. "The poorer classes would be de-
prived Of all opportunity of even toler-
able education. If it is true, as the wri-
ter states, that "the schools of the rural
districts are the main educators of the
people" would ask how many Of our Ia
borers, mechanics, OF even land holders,
can afford to pay from 800 90 to 5000 90
year to educate their children at an acad.
emy? In case a boy should arrive at his
sixteenth year in the middle of school
term, and while engaged in successful
study, he must either be turned out TO
mental starvation at the very time he be-
gins to take an interest in his studies, (un-
less he has the means of paying his way
at an academy or continue only as mis-
cradle dependent on the capricious chari-
ty of board of directors. God forbid
that the children of the poor should be
reduced to such sorry plight as that.
As grateful debtor to the Pennsylva-
MIA School System, protest against such
change, and | am surprised that you,
Mr.. Editor, one of its fathers should give
the least countenance to such an innova-
ton.
CHANNING.
ParkerUiz7e, Chester CO., Psnna,, April
1