The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1875-08-27
The Gr0ded Srksss.

In order that no one may have the ghost
Of an opportunity to accuse me Of selfish
motives, let it be distinctly Understood that
I hereby publicly, and most positively,
pledge my honor as gentleman, that | will
seek no position in the Stanford Graded
High School; and, further, that will not
accept any position in it, IL offered to me.
II the effort to build up such school sue
ceeds, Of which success ! have not the
shadow Of doubt, l hereby obligate my
self by an express promise, and an unalter-
able purpose, to withdraw from the educa-
tional field, so far as Stanford and vicinity
are concerned.
l deem this course OF conduct on my
part, to be conducive to the best interests
Of the cause of education here and else
where. In the part that shall take in the
coming discussion, please let no one mag
inc that l am actuated by any bad motive.
My desire is, that you may, as communi-
ty, have far better education at much
lower price, and that too, without making
against the interest Of those who are en-
gagged in the work Of teaching. Remem-
Der, | stand pledged to leave Stanford, only
on condition that the Graded School is es-
tablished. ! know that this arrangement
ought TO be made; and ! feel assured it
will be done.
] am authorized to say that DIR. Hender.
son, the able and enthusiastic Superintend-
ent of Public Instruction, will pay us a
visit ere long, to present this matter fairly
and fully, to our careful consideration. In
the meantime, let us calmly reason togeth-
er, and he thinking over the question
among ourselves. What would be the az
gregate cost Of educat on to the community,
as compared with what we are nov paying.
Suppose we organize a school district Of the
town and the circnmjacent country, sufh-
cent to furnish 200 pupils. Let this Grand
Graded School be the only one in the dis
trict. Six teachers could give thorough in
siruction to 2i0 pupils when skilfully gra-
ded and classified. To secure good Prin-
cipal, a ripe scholar, and an energetic, en-
thusiastic and efficient educator, give him
salary Of $500 The successful working
o: the school depends largely on the cha'
acter of the man at the head Of it. This
imparts unity, system and efficiency to the
whole. Get the right man there, and keep
him there. Then give him five good assis.
tants, at the following salaries, respectively:
$1,000, $500 800, 5000, 800. The entire
amount paid to the teachers would thus be
5000. You would get at least 40 pupils
out Of the district. At $50 each, this
would he $1,000. Deduct this from 5000
it leaves $500. Then deduct the $500
public money from the school fund, you
then have 3,i00 to be paid by the district
for educating 200 pupils for year. This
averages sl7 TO the pupils Of all grades
from the lowest to the highest. You now
pay $50 for the forrest grade.
In the school on the hill, you pay So
for the highest grad, studying Latin
Greek, Grammar. &c. In the Girl School
you pay $50 for advanced English studies
and $40 extra for each additional language
Ancient or Modern. II a girl takes only
one Aneiei and one Modern Language, hel
tuition would be $50 year. 1t is as cleal
as a sunbeam to any one who will take tn,
time to thinK, that the price Of education
by this plan, could be reduced to less thar
one-half what we are paying for il now
But it would be bad policy to get CHEAP
article that is worthless. II We would be
shrewd calculators, We must inquire into
the character Of the article, the quality, al
we'll as the cost. When a teacher has
scholars Of various degrees Of advance