The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-02-24
From the Independent
The Schools OF Michigan In time of WaE

From the Independent.
The Schools OF Michigan In time of War.
Two and half of the last three years have
been in the midst Of civil war, which, consider
ing the men and means engaged, has never had
rival in magnitude. To this conflict, Michigan
with population Of $50, 000 has sent over fifty
thousand Of her sons Hundreds of them have
gloriously fallen in defence of freedom, hundreds
more have not less noby fallen prey to dis
ease, or been returned to US, bearing honorable
scars or other disabilities incurred in the field.
Yet, in those three years of war, what do our
school statistics show of increasing population
what moral and material strength in cur undi-
mnshed efforts in the cause of education In
those three years. our population, between and
20 wears OF age, as shown by the school census,
has increased from 246, sS4 10 272,737-sn in
crease of over twenty six thousand; and of this
about twelve thousand was during the last and
most destructive of the three years. In the
same three years, the number attending the
public schools has increased %, 642 and the
number of teachers has increased from Z, 943 to
s,Sl5.
The amount paid to teachers has increased
from 3467 ,2S6, in 1850, to $5lS,o62, in 1868.
In other words, We have paid S5o,775 more to
teachers in the common schools in the third
Of eight hundred and forty thousand dollars
raised for school purposes the past year, nearly
one half was by the sef-taxation of the people
of over four thousand several districts. In 1850
the districts raised by voluntary taxes for teach
ers wages, $33,6s9; in 1868, $lo6, 32S; and
now, at the close Of the third year of the war,
the districts report over a hundred thousand
dollars on hand.
Doubtless similar state of prosperity may be
shown in most or all of the States where free
dom instead of slavery is the watchword OF the
hatter themselves, and assure their dupes, that
they can 6ght on till the resources and -pirit Of
the North will be so exhausted that we will al.
low them to break up the Government that
guarantees US this wonderful progress. Deluded
men In the third year of their gigantic raid
upon liberty, our schools have increased in
length, in numbers, and in means. Does this
look Ike exhaustion?
While their deluded constituencies are suffer
ing for the absolute necessaries of life-many
almost naked and literally starving, the Injuries
of life only remembered as joys OF former loyal
day, with currency not worth ten cents on the
dollar, their territory overrun by the mightiest
army ever marshaled on earth, with the moral
sentiment of worlds humanity against their
bad cause, and the pen of history already dipped
in the ink to record their unparalleled crime
the loyal North, on the whole, was never in a
more prosperous condition in its financial, mora,
and educational affairs. But for the heart-suf-
yering from the loss of our brave sons and BROTH
ers, murdered by rebel hordes we could hardly
admit with truth that the rebellion has yet hurt
US at all.
Our rapid increase in population lover $1,000
in Michigan, ia 1868, as certainly indicated by
the school census) shows that we are not being
exhausted in men. And our increased expen.
ditures for education, as above shown, and in ali
other departments Of moral progress, as the
statistics of each show, are proof positive that
we are not yet suffering for want Of means.
c. B. 8.
Lansing, Mich, Jan 1854.