Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-30
.4sl---.4.. -.4s-.---,.4-s ,.s.---.,ze.. ~.
County. High School.

Ep1ToR BUILETIN:-Let the word go
forth that Buchanan Co., Iowa, possesses
an unusually fine system of schools; that
no teacher is employed in any of her
schools who has not had a course Of nor
NAL training; that the common schools
are not only of higher grade and better
taught than those of other counties, but
are supplemented and crowned by noble
high school, fec. to AZ who may choose
to avail themselves of it's advantages
let all this be thoroughly understood, and
it will do more to build up the County,
to give it an intelligent, thrifty and every
way desirable population, to increase the
value of its farms, it's townlots and build
ings and to develop it's business of every
description, than any other influence that
can be named. In purely financial view
Of the case, the very moderate sum which
would be required to bring about this
state of affairs through the establishment
of normal high school, would thus prove
the most profitable investment possible
for the County. The narrow minded and
short sighted policy never so thoroughly
defeats itself as in educational matters
We have an exceedingly favorable oppor-
tunity to take long step forward educa-
tionally, with comparative trifling tax
expense. This opportunity will not long
remain open, for the proceeds from the
sale of swamp lands will doubtless be ap
propriated to other purposes, should the
people refuse now to favor the high
school
have thus far considered the question
only from financial stand point Are
there not still higher considerations? Is
it necessary to assert that the highest
welfare of communities and states de-
ponds upon their intelligence; that moral
education is incompatible with lntelcc'
ual degradation; that the blessings Oh
good government are only secure whe."e
the blessings of a good education are ful-
IL understood, appreciated and enjoyed.
Are the citizens of Buchanan county pre-
pared to affirm that the rising generation
ought to be satisfied with the education
they now receive in our common schools?
Are there not hundreds Of boys and girls
in our county who have noble aspirations
after higher culture, without opportu-
nifty to attain it? Would they not make
better citizens and reflect greater honor
upon our county were this opportunity al
forded them? Shall we wrap ourselves up
in our seltishncss and refuse the slight ef-
fort necessary to place our county in the
front rank of intelligent communities
denying to our families a boon which
will benefit and elevate them and reflect
this benefit andelevation upon ourselves?
A county normal high school will COM
plete a noble educational system 80 far rs
our county is concerned 1t viii enable
any child to secure, free OF expense, all
the preparation needed for entrance to
the highest universities Of the nation. 1t
will retain in our own midst the scores
of students who are now compelled to go
a long distance from home to find the ed
ucatonal advantages which ought to be
provided here. It will furnish the neccs-
sary training for the teachers Of your
common schools and thus elevate and
render more useful every school in the
county 1t viii make our present expen-
ditures more effective; it will give us
reputation and honor abroad, as county;
it will give every child in tic county that
to which every child is of right entitled,
the fullest opportunity for the fullest
development. Shall we refuse to get one
step further away from the Savage?
J. L. LOOMS