The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-02-22
tcommunical ed.1

Mr. EDiT6R How about the Wicker
sham German English State Normal School
at Brodheadsville? When that project was
set on foot, / looked forward with eager
hopes and bright anticipations for glorious
results. / thought the day was notfar dis
tafft when Sfohroe county, would be lifted out
of the slough of despend, so far as eduea-
ton is concerned, and be raised to its true
level and dignity and assume that position
and importance among the other counties to
which she is entitled But, alas! my hopes,
like many others, have been blasted and
crushed 1 do not wish to bring any re-
proach upon Mr.. ID. +. Schedlcr, far from
it. The gentleman certainly deserves q great
deal of credit for the enterprise, but, in my.
opinion, Mr.. Schoedler has made two grand
mistakes. First he has attempted to estab-
lish a ge,n,an-english school in our midst.
Think not, that | am opposed to the Ger
mans or their mother tongue. For their
language is rich, full, sweet and harmonious.
If you should place before laboring
man, for his dinner, nothing but dessert, be
it ever so good, it would not satisfy the re-
quirements of his nature. He would demand
something more substantial Thus it is with
the people of our country; they are an eng
lish speaking community The german Ian
guage is good enough in itself, but it does
not and never viii satisfy our demands. 1t
may be asked, would | throw the german
language overheard? answer no, but make
| it a secondary study, on equal footing with
greek, latin and mathematics, and make
english the vehicle to convey the ideas
Second, he has endeayored to establish it in
section of country difficult of access. An
institution of learning, in order to be success
full, requires prominent situation, easy Of
access and surroundings pleasant and health
full. There is no question about the expedi-
ency of establishing Normal School in our
county, and Stroudsburg, we believe, is the
proper place, aud the sooner one is located
here the better it will be, not only for the
benefit of the people, but also for the reputa-
ton of the county. 1t must be acknowledged
that our facilities for acquiring an education
are extremely poor. / do not wish to be
understood that | think the people of Monroe
so ignorant that they cannot appreciate edu-
cation They educate their sons and daugh-
ters, but in far different way than they
should. The colleges, universities, semina-
ries and boarding schools of other places
receive them, educate them and drain our
county of Its resources. The money which
we lavish upon other institutions should be
kept at home and appropriated to an institu-
ton of our own. 1t may be. well to gve a
few statistics of our expenditures as I am al
most positive that the majority of our peo-
pie are ignorant of the amount that we send
away annually for school purposes. rs
! know Of fifteen young gentlemen at the
present time, to say nothing of the ladies,
who are attending different institutions OF
learning Their annual expenses are from
three to five hundred dollars, which will
average about four hundred dollars, making
a total of six thousand dollars I have
Ireliable authority for stating that not less
than ten thousand dollars are sent out yearly
to support other schools Is this as itshould
be2 Are the people Of Monroe discharging
their duty properly to their children? Have
they any reason TO say, because their advan-
tages were no greater, their children should
be satisfied? Remember to-day we are fifty
years behind the age with our schools. Par
ents when you leave the stage of action and
your children take your places they will have
just causes to bring grave accusations against
you for neglecting SO ignominiously theiI
sacred rights You have no reason to de-
prive them of this blessing. Reflect for one
moment, what an acquisition such school
would be for us. In less than five years ii
would be almost indispensable. What would
the people of our county do to-day if they
were deprived of theirtwo weekly papers
Why they would think it utterly impossible
to do without them, because aOU they know
their value; they are no longer a luxury but
an indispensable article Thus it would be
with fourshing institution of learning III
our midst. 1t would be, not only resort for
the people of Monroe, but also for adjacent
1. counties A town so beautifully located,
with pleasant surroundings, healthful atmos-
phere and easy Of access should not be left
go unimproved. PHILos.
The excitement aroused in Great
Britain by the publication of the Ameri-
can "case," as prepared for presentation
to the Geneva arbitratiors, has in some
degree subsided, but John Bull is vet in
a very irritable mood. The Times, which