The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-11-03

OUR GRADED SCHOOL.
TO The Inhabitants Of Plym )uth School District
L wish to call your attention to matters
Connected with our free school. and its
present conditions and prospects.
In consequence of the increase in this
district, of the State and county School
Fund, and the large number of pupils who
desire and need school privileges, the Cor
poratiOn Trustees have, with commendable
public spirit, appropriated the sum of
Three Hundred Dollars for the support of
The school this year, which, added to the
State and county fund, will make sum
nearly sufficient to give Us three terms of
twelve weeks each of free school during
the year. In view of this, it becomes nee
essary that some more thorough and eff.
c ent system than the one now in operation,
should be adopted. We have here the
material in money and pupils, for one OF
the bert graded schools in the State
There is large class of intelligent boys
and misses, between the ages of ten and
fifteen years, who are just beginning to
re llize the need, and appreciate the utility
o. q school education
We have decent seminary building,
and with two or three ward school houses,
We will have ample accommodations for all
| residents and non-residents who may wis h
to attend school here.
But there is one serious trouble. Par
ents and guar lians do not seem to feel any
interest whatever in the school They
seem to understand in a general way, that
there is certain fund set apart for the
purpose of paying teachers for instructing
their children, and they seem to think
that when they have furnished their boys
and girls with books, and started them o #
to school the first day or week of the term,
their whole duty in this respect is done
The matter is then dismissed from their
minds and apparently they care no more
about it. They do not visit the school.
very rarely make themselves acquainted
with the Teachers and all they learn of
the condition and management Of the
schools and the progress Of the scholars, is
from the casual remarks of their own or
their neighbors children. To my certain
know edge there has not half dozen diff
ferent persons visited our graded schools
during the two last terms, and do not
know OF any person not connected with
the schools making more than one visit
och term. This is entirely wrong,
an the result of this apathetic state of
feeling is seen and felt by teachers, and
particularly by pupils. No school can
succeed as it ought, unless patrons as we /
as teachers, take hold and show an inter.
est in it.
No doubt this seeming indifference is in
some measure owing to the fact that the
school Is commonly called free school. as
many people have an idea that free school
cannot, or ought not to be as good as a
select school. This is an entirely wrong
idea. Our school certainly costs enough.
The tax payers Of this district pay into
the county and town treasurys nearly
500 per annum for its support. To be
sure the school is open to all children
within the required ages who wish to prof.
1t by the provision thus generously made
for their education. But scholars are
expected to give something in return for
this outlay. They are required by the
law and by the rules laid down by the
State Superintendent. of Public Instruc-
ton, to give their time and attention to
apply themselves diligently TO their studies
aud to obey in letter and in spirit the rules
and regulations Of the school, SO that some
benefit may accrue to themselves and TO
society generally from this large expendi-
! ture of money. And here, let me say, is
lie Point least understood by both parents
and nm, lis, as regards the rights and duties
Of eacI, tents generally think that
they have the right to s.en1 'hs'f en'laren
to free school half the tine, or All 'he
time, just as they may think proper, anu
if they do sen. them half the time during
the term, it is SO much clear yain And
many of the children think if they get into
the school room two or three times per
week, In season to stand up with their
class while the members are reading or
reciting, and have good play spell at re-
cess, they can say they have been to school
and thot is all that is required of them. L
am glad to say there are many exceptions
10 this. Many parents who appreciate the
advantages Of free schools, and who desire
that their children should be benefited to
the utmost by them; and many children
now pupils in the school, who attend reg