The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1865-03-09
SsT0X Payer.v

In the last number of the ADVERTISER there
appeared an article. in the nature Of manifesto
from the pen of "Tax Payer" stating that there
were complaints about the School Board, and
that the schools are not in a satisfactory condi
ton. End urging the propriety Of electing suita-
Bile men to fill our school Offices.
Whether TAX Payer assumed his CO pnomen
for the purpose of representing the people, or
for the mere purpose of giving tone of author
ity to his production, am unable to say, but l
shall treat him according to the general sgnif-
cation of his name.
On inquIring Of the teachers found that "rax
Payer" had not visited the schools, and I was
consequently forced to the conclusion that %
had learned OF their defects AT saloons, street
corners, and other loafing places where such
matters were investigated with very little desire
to arrive at the truth. In fact some Of "rax
Payer's'' namesakes, who make the most noise
about msfciency are those who have so little
control over their own children that they can
neither keep them off the street or At school; ;
and if the teachers attempt to enforce rule to
prevent absence and hardness said namesske: at
once make a howl about the school being good
for nothing-the morals Of their children being
corrupted &c. TAX Payer" like many others
seems to indulge in cchong the complaints of
Others without attempting to show upon what
they are founded, or to point out remedies for
existing defects. This would seem to arise more
out OF the unchafitable desire to publish a fault,
than from the christian m olive of correcting an
evil. 1t is difticultto find men who are willing
to neglect their own business to attend to school
81, .bo:.
80 profusely as to be worthless.
When ''rax Payers article appeared it was
thought that he was one of the very men to fill a
school Office had he not defed the plainest prin-
ciples of English composition by commencing
his proclamation in the following lliterate style:
"rhe annual election is at hand. I'VE hare
any good men tor that Office they should be elect
ed"
To introduce relative witkont first introduc.
ing its antecedent, and to forget in the second
sentence what was the subject of the first, are
both violations of principles so selfevident that
our best authors have not seen fit to set them out
even in their primary works; while the idea OF
electing man to an annual election is SO repug-
nant to the principles of our government, which
permits every citizen to go to the election with
the author of such an idea might not get the
SURFACES Of the people. ---.. ---a
Although the Board has lalored under some
difficulties yet the members thereof feel perfect
ly willing that the people should indulge in
complaints whenever they feel like doing SO; fol
it is right that has always been freely exercised
and often affords TO . man means of relieving
his own conscience of covering the deficits OF
his children. But to throw difficulties in the way
Of teachers, instead of assisting them; or to IN.
der.rate their qualifications, or underestimate
their labors, merely on account of complaints. or
on account Of q dislike entertained towards any
member of the board, is evincing very little wis
dom and muchless justice or charity. = If croak.
ers would visit the schools and inform them
selves about their condition they would find
that nearly all their complaints are entirely
groundless. And yet since everybody is liable
to be scapdaiized and misrepresented, the hon.
est faithful and industrious teacher must come
in for more than his share, because his occupa.
ton brings him in contact with the ignorance
and prejudices oEthe whole town.
MEMBER OF THE BOARD.