The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-09-09

outside for the first term is too we'll
known to all to need mention now.
At the beginning of the third term,
the lumber and rubbish used during
the concert held in vacation was left
for the Principal to remove. which he
did without assistance. Also sweep
ing tho school rooms many times,
because no one could be found to do
it. These things he was willing to
do for the good Of the school. He
did not and does not now complain.
He only states facts.
The condition Of the sch ool- house
at the time the Editor saw it was
most unfairly described and the blame
thrown upon the writer in his alb
scnce in a most ungcntlemanly man
ner. The school-housc was fastened
as securely as it's construction would
allow; if found otherwise it was open
ed afterwards. Any one may enter
the windows, force back the bolt and
push open the door. The Editor did
not know that the writer was not
responsible for the poor condition of
the bellfry and roof, and the consc =
quent beating in Of rain. The maps,
charts and other apparatus were
piled neatly in the recitation room !;
If scattered about as is describ ID, it
was done by some i'll disposed and
medilcsome persons. AS for the
leaves ena Papers,~ what l,urm did
they do? single hour work will be
sufficient to remove them, and the
writer was told by those who knew
that he would not be cxpectedto do it.
But the faultfiding Editor stops
with censure. His cynical eye does
not perceive that the school proper
ty has been preserved from injury ex-
cept in few unavoidable instances.
The building is not marred or defac-
ed. The splendid seats, the elegant
blackboard are scarcely less than
new. The trees, the out-buildings
and everything connected with the
school shows that altboug h the writer
has not taken lessons of tho filthy
animals referred to SO delicately by
the modest Editor, he can exert suf-
6cient influence over the children and
youth placed under his charge to lead
them to take pride in preserving
those things which have been so lib
orally provided for their benefit. If
the proper persons will thoroughly
cleanse the house as it should have
been long ago, no school-houso can
be found in better condition in every
respect, after 20 much use, than the
one in Cresco. All these things are
of no account to the editor Of the
Times. The beautiful organ, an
ornament to any school room has no
attractions for him. lie even goes
so far as to forget that the picnic,
which a hundred competent witness
es will testify was conducted with
the strictsst propriety, was for the
pleasure and qualification of the pu-
pills, Of whom his own child was one,
in whom, he Ain,self had not shown
sufficient interest to show himself in
the sehool-room even once during the
whole school year. Surely none but
madmen will run the fearful risk of
leaving child to be instructed by
one so utterly devoid of all sense of
propriety.
And now Mr.. Editor, while the
writer regrets the cause which led
him to write this article, he cannot
close 1t without expressing his thanks
to the School Board and the MANY
kind patrons who gave to the teachers
their sympathy, confidence and sup
port. True there were criticisms
made, probably justly. The teachers
did not claim to be perfect. But they
are certain that those who knew most
about the school and its system, the
honest, earnest efforts Of teachers and
pupils to secure high standard Of
excellence, found fault least. While
life lasts, the writer, forgetting all
unpleasant occurrences will cherish
the memory of kind and encouraging
words spoken in the time of greatest
need, and while he does not believe
that teachers can be obtained more
anxious and willing to do their duty
to parents and pupils, than those
just gone, that one may be found
t. take the headship with a truer
sense Of propriety. with more ability
to do justice to the work and with a
skin tough enough to receive without