Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-01-24

of the proceeding of the very interesting
Teachers Institute recently held in your
town, among many things which cannot
be too much commended, regret seeing
few with which cannot fully agree. In
the report of the Committee on School
Houses and School Furniture, with whose
recommendations fully concur. except as
to time. | am sorry that no plan is pro-
posed by which such school fixtures as
they recommend can be preserved.
What possible good can result from
enclosing school lots with good
fences, planting them with shade trees,
providing bells, maps, charts, globes. big
dictionaries, &c, and entrusting them to
the care Of even more than a majority of
our present teachers? How long would
good fence stand? How long would there
i be a single tree left to beautify the
grounds2 And where would the outhouses,
clocks, thermometers and unabridged be
in FIVE years? Go to the school houses in
this County, for some Oh which most of
these provisions have been made, and
very slight inspection will furnish the an
swer. know just such houses and
grounds. not more than ten years old, and
what is their condition? Gates off. the
hinges; board fences by the rod used to
kindle fires, &C.; nothing but the stumps
of the shade trees left; the once beautiful
walnut desks grooved and notched by
the jack knife Of Young America
thermometer all right but the glass
tube, which some inquiring juvenile
broke to see what was in it. The
clock would run well enough, but the
teacher didn't like the trouble of winding
it up, and the school officer had made no
provision for having 1t done, and the
boys played winding the clock till they
broke spring. The globes, however.
answered for ornament until some one
bored holes in them to see whether they
were holioU or solid The maps and charts.
not too much injured for show, hung
upon the walls on great occasions, but
during school are generally tied up, and
afford about as much instruction as spell
Ter in Arabic. The outbouses have Jared
4 worst VI all
This is not, as some may suppose. an
oyerdrawn picture Why is it that things
so necessary to good school are not bet
ter taken care of? Il answer. the fault is
with the teachers. Ii they will not pro
! tect such property, il is useless to make
1 the proyisioB. This know is a very posi-
tive assertion. but it's truth | have seen
demonstrated too often to doubt il. During
observations, extending over no inslgnlfi-
cant number of years, | have never once
known such pr, perty we'll cared for e1
cept by The teachas. School officers may
supply all the necessary school fixtures,
aud make regulations for their protection,
but without the assistance and CO operation
of teachers, their labor and expenditures
will be in vain That these are seldom Civ
en-, l am sorry to know is equally true, and
will udd that have not doubt but il
would be easier to furnish every school
district in the State of Indiana with
good school house aud all the necessary
fixtures. than TO bring about this necessary
refom in teachers themselves. AS step
10 the direction OF their reform, | propose
that until the tax payers Of this State
have some assurance that teachers geHer-
ally will do their part in this work they
be required to make the best Of what they
have.
The general resolutions passed by the
Institute are very good indeed, except the
one asking for the passage Of a law ID
provide for the payment Of the usual per
diem to the teachers whilst attending the
Institute; which, taken with the present
provision. means that the State be requir
ed TO pay for the instruction given tho
teachers, and then pay them for permitting
themselves to be taught. Most noble.
generous STATED Give me good coat, and
then pay me for wearing it. But then.
what is the use Of doing things by halyes9
Why not make the same provision fer
school officers and all good citizens who
may attend such institutes, for all these
need educating in school matters as we'll
Ms teachers; and just now the people have
u slack time, plenty Of money and no taxes
10 pay. Oh course they wouldn't mind
footing this little item each year Of one
thousand or fifteen hundred dollars per
County, TO thicken leach tutors meager
ribs whose coat tails go whisiling by A
very pleasant thing, TO be sure, TO board
two weeks annually ut good hotel, as a
charity scholar, ut the expense OF the
County. But after all. would not the
teacher respect his manhood about as
much by qualifying himself for his pro
iession at his oion expense, ss other 70.
spectacle professional men do, aud then
make the people pay IL al back in on in
creased salary? Besides think the peo'
pie do not fancy such State enterprises,
as building canals. running soap factories,
aud educating teachers. Individual is
generally more than a match for public in
terest, and this scheme for educating
teachers would furnish additional evidence
oft The numbkulls. aud the fellows who
quit teaching at the end Of a month or
quarter would not, fear, prove very
paying investment, and the others would
get on better without such help than with
it.
| allow no man to surpass me in respect
for the true teacher. aud therefore | would
much regret to see any engaged in this
noble calling, accepting help from any
quarter, whilst he has the ability to help
himself. X.
On Tuesday the House passed the new
II ructiou bill by a stfiot marty vote