Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1867-08-02
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Sub DisAict No. ! takcs Tic Pri@e Bqano

Our public schools are the safeguards Of
our liberties Whatever tends TO render
them more efficient condaces just so much
to the glory and rermancncy Of our free in
s'itutions. Hence, if for nothing else, we
should employ every possible means to ox,
cite deep and abiding interest in the gsaa,
educational work, on the part Of both chid>
ren and pareats. Byron Township, confess
edly in advance Of al other townships in the
county in the support and encouragement Of
her public schools on Saturday, the 9th ult.,
inauPnrated a celebration ard observance
worthy Of her educational reputation, and
which We trust will be adopted and mains
tanned by every other township in the coun~
ty. Although the first Of the kind, and an
experiment whose practicability seemed to
many very doubtful, yet we believe the cele
bration on Saturday, despite the lille draw
backs consequent upon inexperience, placed
not only the practieabiliy but desirability
Of the scheme entirely beyond doubt. Its
effect could only be to awaken liyelier in
teres, in schools on the part Of parents and
desirable competition and renewed ambi~
ton to excel on the part Of teachers and
children. We might also instance in its fiN
vor its benefcent and elevating social iuau,
ences in bringing together in the most at,
tractive manner and for the highest aud no.
blest purposes both the old and young Of an
entire township. The idea Of the celebration
originated, we believe, with our County Su-
perintendent, Mr.. S. q. Pierce, whose per
sistent and well considered efforts, during
the past two years, have given a new impe>
tus to our public schools throughout the
county. He advised the Byron celebration
as an experiment, with the view, upon its
success, Of recommending it TO all the town
ships. The plan could not be fully ma, ured
without experiment, but was to include
gathering Of all the sub bdistrict schools, to,
gether with all the friends Of education ia
the township, examination of the schools,
tho awarding Of prize banner to the school
which should be adjudged to have passed
the most crcditable examination, and p;c>
nic dinner THIS general outline was fol>
lowed On Saturday, and, all things consider.
ed, with gratifying success.
Crab Apple Grove, the place selected for
the celebration, is Il beautiful bit oc timber
situated Just north of the railroad and a little
east Of Winthrop and peculiarly adapted t
s-rh Thn (1nmmlttra la
grounds, consisting, we believe of citizens Of
Winthrop, had cleared away the unlerbrash
and made every arrangements OF stand, Ia
Lios and seats, in most satisfactory mau> |
ner. A more favorable day than Saturday
could not have been desired. Ii opened with |
misty, scudding clouds. which looked some.
what ,hreatenngly, but in few hours they
gave place to scattering, aeecy clouds, which
only served 10 alternate the sunshine with
grateful coolEess.
BY . clock the schools had assembled at
their several school>lioases and were on their
way, with banners flying, to the grove. The
roads presented pleasing and animated ap
pearance as the various school trains with
their evergreens, flags ard banners, now rose
scenied to the alternate holows and finally |
disappeared within the sylvan depths Of Crab !
Apple Grove. One Of the wagons Of the |
Bethel train gave out two or three times on |
the road, delaying the arrival Of the train
until nearly noon. The hour for the com
meneement OF the exercises had been fixed |
a; ten o'clock, bu. delays occurred so that
il was half past eleven before the assemblage |
was called 10 order. Il was found that sew. |
an out OF the nine schools Of the township |
were on hand or or the road. The sub.di. |
re tors ef the township, who were to act as
a committee Of award, the examining com.
miitee, consisting Of the Co. superintendent,
Mr.. s. G. Pierce, Dr.. II. C. Markham and
Mr.. S. W. Rich, together with invited guests,
took their seats on the platform, and Mr. |
Dawes was elected Presiden. Of the Day.
The programme Of the succeeding exercises
was a, follows
Singing by Winthrop Glee Club.
Prayer By Reg. l.. ". Brntnall.
snj.distriet No. 6, Winthrop M. Stock
,eel, teachef--Concert aud single reading.
Singing. oniline Maps.
No. 4, Nr. J, n. Boone, teacher Read.
ing. Geography.
Song by Winthrop Glee Club.
No. 5, Miss Pierce, teachr-Reading.
Outline Maps. Singing.
No. s. Miss Corey, teachg.-Conceri read.
ing by girls. Singing.
Dinner.
No. 3, (Bethe,) Hiss iialier, teacher ITEM.
porary) y).-ou'line Maps. Singing. Concert
reading. Mental Arithmetic.
No. !, M. S. Adams, teachr.--Concert
reading. Outline Meps. Mental Arithme.
tie. Compositions. Singing.
No. ., Mss Hunter, teacher.-sincing
table. Concert reading. Sing
ing. Mental Arithmetic. Geography.
No. was then examined in mental ar;th.
metic and orthography.
A defamation from each school was then
listened to, after which the Winthrop Gee
Club sang another song.
While the Committee Of award were ma.
king their decision, the following toasts were
offered by the Co. Superintendent:
:" Oar Coun,ry's Flag'-Response by
Capt. J. NJ. Miller.
American lnstitu:ions-Fr Schools,
Free Press and Free Pulpit Response by
Rev. l.. W. Brintnall
Corporal Punishment Response by ].
Palmer.
Short aud pointed addresses were made
BY Rey's Saith and Fulton.