The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-11-12
For the Telegraph.
Correspondence from Bristol.

IOlSCr1cC equal 20 CIldC lcVleu last year, III
teachers wages The maker of the mo-
ltion sustained it by the following remark.
l believe it to be a wise policy and for the
best interests Of our schools, to pay our
teachers liberal wages
An individual arose and made some re-.
marks on the motion which could not be
charged with being directly opposed to
it, but were apparently directed against
lit. The speaker said substantially as fol-
lows; He thought teaching had become a
monopoly. 1t was ascertained by the su-
perintendent, or others, just how many
teachers were required in the county, and
just that number were granted certificates.
Thus monopoly was created by interior
| ing with the natural law of supply and
demand, and teachers were enabled to OBJ
tain exorbitant wages The people should
lock into this matter. They had to pay
the money, and the taxes were already
burdensome. The speaker was not sure
that our schools were any more efficient
than when taught by lower salaried teach
ers. He thought the county superintend-
ent system was bad one, and desired
return to town superintendent. He
thought he had information of some per-
sons who had surreptitiously gained pos
session of the questions to be proposed at
pnblic examinations in advance, and thus
had time to solve all the questions, pass
the ordeal, and unfairly obtain certificates
| A motion was also made to rescind the
motion on record instructing the school
board to allow no meetings to be held in
the school-house during the school-term
Our chairman took the floor, and in an
eloquent speech opposed the motion.
The principal reason urged was that the
school books were misplaced, injured and
lost in every instance when meeting was
held, thus disturbing the regulations of
the teacher, creating confusion and dis
order, and proving detrimental to the best
interests of the school. He had been an
witness to the facts and quoted our
State Superintendent as sustaining this
position
Further remarks were made by two
other speakers, in favor of the motion
One, teacher of old, said he pitied the
teacher who was so narrow minded as to
be opposed to the means of improvement
afforded by evening meetings and lectures
held in the school-house. In his expert
ence he had never thought it much trouble
to take care of the books. Whenever a
meeting was to be held, he always request
ed the scholars at the close of school to
bring their books to him, and they were
always found in good order in the morn
ing. And further, he pitied the school
district which had, by enacting such a
law, proclaimed to its youth that they
could not be trusted with the property of
others, and were expected to be lawless
and violent
The other speaker, in supporting the
tellect alone was not sufficient The morr
al nature of the child must be developed.
The well-being of society demanded this.
To educate the intellect of vicious child
only, gave him increased power for evil
He estimated highly all means of improve.
ment, and hoped that our school house
would be open to all meetings the object
OF which was the culture of the intellect,
or the development of our moral and re.
ligious natures The motion, however, |
was voted down, and our school house re-
mains barred against all meetings during
school-term-funerals excepted.
Now, Mr.. Editor, how can we, debarred
of the use of our school-house during the
winter season, profit by your excellent
I" Suggestions to Young Men," in your is
sue of Nov 5. want to quote part of
your article
Every many of the self-made men Of
this country, who now hold important po
sitions of trust in the gift of the people,
are largely indebted to the country school,
house Iyceum for their success in after age |
Especially is this true of those who have
been chosen to serve as Legislators, or who
have adopted any of the professions where
public speaking is a necessary require
ment Nor do the benefits of such exer-
cises accrue alone to Legislators, or men in
the professions. The merchant, the me-
chanic, the farmer, who can engage accept
ably in the deliberations of public assem-
blies has in most cases acquired his ability
in the debating society or the lyceum."
VIDI