The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1874-01-14

furnished with an able corps of in
structors, we can confidently hope the
graduates therefrom will largely con-
tribute to supply this pressing need
of good and competent teachers. To
afford some inducement, however, to
teachers to prepare themselves for
the duties of their profession and
some assurance of the public appre-
citation of the difficult, responsible
and delicate work they perform, | am
satisfied they should receive increased
compensation.
Dissatisfaction exists also and COM
plant is made about the frequent
! changes in school books, entailing eX-
pense upon parents and subjecting
I pupils to novel and perpleXing meth
ods of acquiring lessons that mystify
more than they instruct.
There seems to be an urgent de-
mand for more training of a techni-
cal kind, that will fit children for
mechanical pursuits and the practi-
cal duties of life. | suggest, there
fore, that school boards be author
lied to make provision for giving i'll
struction in industrial and mechani-
cal drawing, both in day and evening
schools also that schools be estab-
lished wherein trades may be taught,
or arrangements made for such in
struction in connection with schools
already established. sG that skilled
mechanics can be graduated and the
principle inculcated that there is
nothing ungraceful or undignified in
honest and hard labol, and that the
handiwork of the skillful artisan will
confer in the future as noble title
as any to be achieved in profession
al callinss.
More thorough examination Of the
subject strengthens me in the CON
viction that the State mnst adopt
some mode to compel the attendance
of those children whose parents are
unwilling or unable to allow their
offspring to avail themselves OF the
benefits our school system affords.
The solution Of this important ques-
ton presents grave difficulties, but
expect to see them all surmOunted.
Some plan must be devised to snatch
these children from the career of
idlcness and crime to which ignor-
auce Will cOnsign them. BY far the
greater portion OF the inmates OF our
penetentlaTies never attended schools
or had the advantages of education.
Is modern civilization unequal TO the
task OF rescuing the children OF the
indlgeut and the criminal from such
a fate!
CoNCLUsIoS.--Ihe United States
have inst cause for cungratulatiOn IN
! the peaceful solution Of our diilicul-
ties with Spain without recourse to
arms. War is always to be dcpre-
Gated, it is to be hoped that in lhe
! future, as III the present. the true
! test OF wisdom and good administra-
/ tion will be the honorable adjust
nent Of all differences between na-
/ tiOns, without liuEjfg the sTord in
to the scale.
! Our people are awaiting with pain
full uncertainty the conclusions to he
reached by Congress to meet the fl
nancial and business requirements Of
the country. The questions involved
are of grave import, demanding
broad and comprehensive views OF
public policy, and the action of Con
gress will have much to do with Wild
ening os dispelling the feeling OF dis
trust that now holds so many Of our
vast industries in its thrall and para
lyzes trade and commerce. Despite
the temporary prostratjon of bust
ness and enterprise we have, however
eminent occasion for thankfuIness to
the Supreme Being, whose gracious
care and bcneticence are manifest in
every stage Of our progress as a ma
tlon. War and its attendant evils
! have been aVerted. we have the full
abundant crops, increased familiarity
with our resources is revealing new