Connecticut western news., 1873-12-05
East Canaan.


 EDrroR CONN. WESTERN NEWS. Deal Sir. A recent article of correspondent rom this place in your paper, though very interesting and highly commendable in all respects save one, was, think. justly open to criticism in what it contained in refer ence to our new school building. This is subject of public interest, and concern ing as it does the highest welfare of one hundred and fifty scholars, is of too serious nature to be spoken rashly about. Ido not suppose the writer intended to Say anything amiss. but the words employed in reference to this point were too rash to pass unnoticed. Even supposing the build ing to be far from what it should be, it is certainly far better than any other the town has ever had, and almost infinitely superior to the pen in which the children of the dis trict have for so long time been herded No person really interested in the public welfare would be guilty of using lanzuag. which would lead the children to be other wise than proud of their new school house. They will be quite ready enough to defsce it without encouragement from those old enough ts know better. But the structure is by no means an inferior one. The build. ing committee consisted of two practical builders, MT. Henry Stevens and Mr. Bras tus Allen, and our practical business man MT. Lyman Duning. It would be difi- cult to find three men who better under stand the wants of the district or who ar. better qualified to provide for them. And this committee gave us what we had riyb, to expect from them, namely: well built fine looking. conmodious, exceedinpl> pleasant, convenient and handsomely fur nished school house. For the locslio, they are not responsible. The black boards were paid for six months ago, but the promise to makethem, like manyother nrorn. ises made now a-days, was broken. Tina, failure is not fatal. The seats are the h.s that could be bought. doubt if bette, Can be found in any public school in Con necticut. Doubtless there are those wb,, prefer the old fashioned slab, but such are hardly competent to judge ot good seats, AS for nose, it is triumph of mechapi cal ingenuity not yet attained to construc, building in which the heavy boots worn |
  Soon after the building was completed. it | was visited and inspected by the Hon. B | G. Northrup, secretary of the State Board | of Education, who brought with him sey- cral gentlemen interested in educationaI matters. They all expressed themselves surprised and delighted with the building in every respect, save blackboards, to whicl l reference has been made. This but con- nrmed a feeling which pretty generally prevailed. After making several state nents, which to say the least were indis- erect, the writer of the article referred tc concludes that for educational purposes the building is failure" beg 10 amend .his by saying that whether or not it is a failure. depends entirely upon those who rom time to time teach inside of it. IT. nope for good results every term, and de- lire to give all possible encouragement to both teachers and scholars. When we ,sye school as good as our school house. yreat progress will have been made Min many good words for both teachers and cholarS, 1 am sir,
 Respectfully yours,
 I.P. PowE11. (