The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1868-12-04
To THE EDITOR or TUE PLAIN
DEALER, Crcsco


SIR, In making q few observa.
tions which, through your kindness
mean to submit to the readers of
your interesting paper, I will be-
gin by quoting the following words,
translated from the writings Of a
great statesman and orator Of An
tiquity: "What gift" Cicero asks,
"greater or better can we bestow
on the common wealth than if we
educate the youth WE'LL"
To instruct the youth oftbis coun-
try we'll, that is. according to the
opinion Of = distinguished writer on
education, to teach them, while
young, those things necessary for
them to know, when they grow up,
and become men and women.
Schools are everywhere established,
to which the children Of the poor
arc generously invited to come, and
without money and without price,
receive the same instruction with
VuO CUllUCCu VI .CuO ElCu.
Here in America the rich stores
of knowledge are accessible to all,
but to the great masses Of the peo-
pie. through the agency of common
schools. To the teachers of those
schools is confidcd the key which
unlocks to the multitude the vast
literary treasures of ancient and
modern times, to them is entrusted
the glorious task of enabling even
the humblest in the land to COM
mune with the exalted spirits of the
illustrous living. and the illustrous
dead.
The poorest mans children in the
country, if they desire to learn
and apply themselves closely to
their lessons, when in school, may
acquire tolcrably good knowledge
Of the English language, and as
books are cheap, they can easily
procure and read them, and become
intelligent and respectable. I
know that teachers arc often found
fault with. because children do not
it is said, improve as rapidly as they
ought when they attend school. l
have heard persons say that the yof-
ten visited schools, and observed
that the invariable custom with
teachers in those schools, is to let
their scholars, when arranged in
classes, read along. seldom stopping
them, except now and then to pro-
nounce = hard word. AS l have not
myself been in many schools since
l came to this part Of the country,
I know hut little Of the manner in
which they arc conducted. I will
however, say = few words on what
l saw in a splendid school which I
was in last winter,ia Fillmore, Fill
more Co. MINI.
This magnificent edi6ce I speak
of was raised at his own expense by
that jealous fried of education, Mr..
Sanderson, of Fillmore, in order to
enable him properly to acc ommo-
date, and instruct the y,ung men
and women Of Fillmore Co. and those
of other places who may be anxious
to learn the manner of discharging
efficiently the duties that will de-
yolve upon them as educators of
those who are to be the future men
and women Of that part of tho great
American Republic. If l were able
suitably to describe the pains that
were taken on the occasion I allude
to, by tho accomplished lady, Mrs.
Sanderson, to form and direct with
refined Judgment the voices Of those
learning to read, and at the same
time to enlighten their minds. l
would at once crafty my own feel
ings and serve the public by recon-
mendiug in some ably written letters
the general adoption Of the method
Of teaching how to read with pro-
priety and elegance, used in Mr..
Sanderson's grand establishment,
the honor and ornament OF Fillmore.
often regret that the labors Of
those engaged in diffusing knowl-
edge, which, as Watson says, con-
stitutes the whole difference be-
tween savage and civilized society,
and to which all nations have owed
their improvement, are not duly ap'
preciated and rewarded. A farmer
gives $40 . month. the year round
with board to . man he hires to
work. while in the district in which
he lives. rich and populous one.
only 30 dollars . month for four
months in winter without board are
given q teacher, having 50 or SO
scholars to instruct and keep in or
#4s