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

nal, proposing that the present school law,
which admits scholars between the age of
five and twenty-one to our public schools,
be so ochanged as to admit none but such
as are between the ages of six and six
teen. agree with the writer, that 6 is
young enough for children to commence
attending school, and object to that part
only of the proposed alienation, which
would deprive scholars of being admitted
to, or continuing in our public shools af-
ter the age of 16.
AS the writer has stated his arguments
under different heads, I will endeavor to
answer them in rotation.
lst GA period of ten years is sufi-
cient to complete an ordinary English ed
ucation"
might first inquire what he means by
an ordinary English education. 1t might
properly embrace wide field But |
will agree to narrow it down to those
branches our teachers are required by law
to teach. And commencing with Arith-
metic, ask how many scholars there are,
who, beginning at six, can in ten years at
tain thorough understanding of Frac-
tions, Percentage, and Mensuration, SO as
to be able to make practical application
of them? How many by the time they
are sixteen years old, will have that ma
turity and force of intellect necessary to
comprehend and appreciate the fine speci-
mems Of literature we find in our reading
series2 Without this, no one will ever
learn to readswell. 1t is of primary i'm
portance that every one should have taste
for reading. This is developed and cul-
tivated in our district schools, and it is
seldom acquired at an early age. Young
children may be taught to read, but older
ones alone can be taught to read well. To
dismiss boy from school before he has
learned to read correctly, or toTlove read
ing for the pleasure and instruction it af-
fords, is to do him and society great
wrong. Eternity alone can disclose the
injury.
Again, how many can acquire such
clear and accurate ideas of the philosophy
, of the English language, aswill be of any
practical benefit to them, by the time they
have reached the proposed age of dismis-
sion? Or of Geography; how many can
be made to understand the reason of the
change of seasons, why the days are long
er in summer than winter, the cause of
the tides and eclipses How many will
comprehend the theory and practice of
our General and State governments The
law requires all this to be taught. Not
only this, but Natural Philosophy, Alge-
bra, and Geometry, are now taught in
some of our common schools, and by teach
ers too who have acquired their education
from the same source, never having so
much as rubbed their backs against an
academy"
End. "Our present arrangement takes
in class hard to govern our fast boys
and young rowdies belong to this class"
These have never received the proper
training at home, as their present condi-
tion abpndantly proves, and if they are
deprived of all chanceof education at our
public schools, who are to fit them for So
ciety, or to make useful citizens of them
No one will deny the vast influence for
good, well conducted school can have
over these subjects. Under our present
arrangement, if boys do not behave well,
the directors have the power to suspend
them until they reform. My short expe-
rience as teacher warrants me in saying,
pupils over sixteen are no more difficult to
govern than younger ones.
3rd "Our schools are too crowded and
our teachers have too much t. perform. :"
The remedy for this lies in more teach
ers and larger school houses, not in turn
ing redundant scholars out of school.
4th. " Parents, having so many years
to school their children, put it off from
year:to year, and keep them at home on
the slightest excuses"
The true cause of this evil lies in the
apathy of parents, and to correct it they
must be awakened to a proper sense OF
duty. Any one who realizes the necessi-
ty of an education, knows it is of vital
| importance that children should attend
school as regularly and constantly as pos
sible. The way to encourage this, is, to
increase the interest of scholars in their
schools by the employment of more eff
cient teachers, and not by enacting laws
like the one proposed.
9th. " Our boys being let go to school
until they are twenty-one, prevents them
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