Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-12-24
Isaenets' QJp,n,su.
W. E. PARKER. Editor.
National Schools.

National Schools.
Now that we are emerging from the
wilderness; that the schoolterm in most
of the States is being heightened; that pub
lie attention is being turned to the COM
mon school as a safeguard of public we'll
being, is it not time that we have a nation
al school system, and that the schools be
divested-in name at least-of their pure
ly local character, and wear national
title as a means to the end of assuming a
national character
The public school system is indigenous
to America. 1t was not devised; it grew.
From small local beginnings, as diverse
and disconnected as it is possible to mag
inc, it has assumed somewhat of symmet-
ry, unity of movement, and spirit Of de-
sign From star-dust and nebulR it has
grown to series OF stellar and planetary
systems, lacking only a grand general law
Of motion, and a grand central sun.
In the science of pedagogics, contradic-
tory opinions are becoming reconciled,
true methods practiced, and correct the
cries formulated and understood. The
graded schools of one city differs SO little
from that in another of similar rank, that
the difference is more apparent than real
If the graded school is ever to influence
for good the country ungraded school, as
the schools of certain local cities haye i'm
proved those in surrounding or tributary
towns, it must be by means of an extern
sion of tie State system, and the forma-
ton of one of national character.
Not all the moneys collected under the
State laws for school purposes are ex-
pended in the ratio of collection from the
several districts or townships of the State
Yet no one complains on this account
1t is one principle of the public school
code that the wealthy are to help the poor,
and the enlightened to inform the igno-
rant
If this doctrine is sound in the policy
of the State, why is it not of greater force
when applied to the nation as Il wholeg
Wealthy sections are not only willing, but
anxious to extend the benefits of which
they enjoy to distant provinces. The
missionary spirit is one of the strongest
impulses in the human breast; but il is in
deed, unfortunate that SO much of its
force has been turned in the direction of
sectarian work in distant lands, to the
neglect of educational work in our own.
True, to have any good impulse to ope
rate in its legitimate field, it must be EN-
bodied in system. Hence, lacking a
national school system, We are without a
distinctively national school. In one
part of 'our common country" the pala-
.: Il.
deur the desks of cherry shine with
immaculate polish; and the boards, green
or black, receive neat and lucid demon
stratIon on a surface which tlatters the
slate whose name it bears. In another
Fart, the rain, wind, and sun vie with one
another in dancing through the openings
in the walls of the log schoolhouse, in
order to view the eccentricties of u peda-
gogical jayhawker, who divides his time
between ''lamming' his lively charge and
aiming water-spouts of tohacco-juice at
an oblong box filled with sawdust.
Now, we submit that this country IS too
we'll settled and too highly civilized, too
wealthy and enlightened in the main, to
allow these extremes 10 exist indefinitely,
without their existence becomes u cause
of patriotic humiliation, of national
shame.
A great cry was made in this country
against the bondage of slavery, but, as
yet, the complaints are few and very
feeble against the bondage of ignorance,
which will ever exist in certain sections,
unless national cognizanc; be taken of its
existence, and national remedies be APP
LII F. -,
help ITSELF To leave unenlightened sec
tions to their own efforts towards enlight-
eminent is more unreasonable than to leave
drow ming man in deep water to his own
unaided eXertions for salvation; for the
man can float if he will only keep his
arms down, and his noslrils up; but the
gravity of AN ignorant community is as
naturally downward, as the tendency of
Milton's fallen angles was said to be nat
urally to rise.
But tie benefits Of national system
tons alone. There is room for improve
mcnt in the very best of our schools.
These improvements will be brought
about by comparison eff methods and re-
suits in the various school establishments
of the country. What comparisons can
now be made, save in the statistics of eX-
penditurc of money and attendance of pu-
pills? The proficiency in scholarship, for
which the schools are especially designed,
left to the selfcomplacent Judgment of
each principal or superintendent, or left
entirely in the domain of abstract specula-
ton
Comparison can come only of inspec-
ton, and inspection only of complete Or
ganization The details of State and ma
tional organization of our schools would
be too extensive subject to enter upon at
present. But Il national university, an ed
ucational propaganda, once established,
the details would arrange themselves in
the triple light of intelligence, virtue, and
patriotism, as symmetrically rs the little
particles presents themselves to view in
the kaleidoscope. There was party to
save the Union when threatened; let there
now be party to ennoole and perpetuatc
it, through the instrumentality Of the ma
tional school.
inexpensive to the poor, sufficiently res
pectable to satisfy the rich, their efficiency
confessed on all hands, free from secta-
rian bias or clerical intermeddling, I'M
trammeled by monarchical regime our
better public schools afford the material
from which to mould grand national
school system, such as exists nowhere
else on the planet. The schools are ripe,
and the times are ripe for this movement.
We rejoice that the public school question
is looming up as a political, issue. The
party that carries it forward to victory,
that puts upon it the stamp of popular APP
prevail officially expressed, will be bound
to place it on basis or national impor-
lance and more uniform efficiency.
There is no picture more pleasant to
contemplate than that Of the six millions
of youth In our public schools, wild as
the winds ON the play grounds, but brought
to order most perfect on The tap OF bell,
though held in hand ever so delicate.
Kept in restraint by no artificial means,
no cowardly fears of punishment here or
hereafter, but by the love of decency and
order, which is so easily aroused When
appealed to in decent and orderly man.
ner. Such is tho coming safeguard of
the republic. Let the nation recognize
and train them Nationas 7sachers'
Monthly,