The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-01-01
A Graded School for Coudersport.

EDITOR JOURNAL notice the School Direct
ors of this Borough have levied a pretty heavy
school tax for the present year. think they
might have waited till we had paid off our on
erous Bounty Taxes before putting this addl-
tional burden upon Us. But for one, | will
cheerfully pay these high taxes if they are de-
voted to a real improvement of the schools of
this place. But if the money is simply used to
build an ordinary school house and to main
tam the ordinary school, ] shall feel that THREE
FOURTHs of the money collected from me is un-
necessary. therefore urge upon the School
Directors the importance of erecting building
suitable for Graded School of the first class,
and when the building is completed employ a
first class Teacher by the year. to take charge
of it as Principal, and make it equal to the best
Academies in tie State. There are some
things done in other towns which we cannot
do, but we CAN have as good TRADED School
as any other place if we only make the effort
In favor of this measure | quote the following
notice of Superintendent Wickersham before
the Convention of County Superintendents at
Harrisburg:
| "Agreeably to special order, Professor J. P
Wickersham delivered highly instructive and
eloquent address, making many valuable sug-
| gestlous to the members of the convention. Dc
strongly advocated the establishment of State
! Normal Schools, in all the districts, and where
no such schools exist county schools should be
established to the end that teachers should be
| fitted to take charge of shools He referred to
the Importance of laying school statistics before
the people as means to awaken more general
interest IN the system OF feducation. he had no
views in regard to schools that he is unwilling
| to be made known to the public. In several
respects the schools can be much improved
without legislation. Schools should be graded
everywhere, for which many strong reasons
were given.
All the branches should be taughtin the pub
lie school, which can only be done by grading,
and the employment of teachers should be
permanent. The public mind must be more
thoroughly awakened to the importance of a
good school system. The county superintend-
ent shonld be, not only a teacher of school
teachers but also a preacher of the gospel OF
common schools. The people must be aroused,
lifted up, and enlisted in the good cause. The
newspaper press must be called OF to perform
its part in the great work of agtating the sub
Ject before the pubic, ana laying all important
facts before their readers. Ministers of the Cos
pei too. should participate in this work, by act
ing, preaching, and praying for the success OF
the great educational system of our State.'
Com
CB We heartily approve of the suggestion
of our Correspondent. The Academy at this
place has had an intermittant existence for the
last seven years until it has finally suspended,
with TO hope of present or future resurrection.
A Graded School would meet the wants of the
whole Borough, and much of the surrounding
country. The principal might be permitted to
receive a certain number of students in the ad-
vanced classes, of those who reside without the
district, collecting certain rate of tuition and
which would be considered part of his salary
t is simple waste of time, money and pa
tience to put up shed in which to crowd sixty
or hundred children to be "taught'' by one
person. AS Coudersport has never paid ?or a
District School House, let it build one that will
do credit to its well-known love for education.