The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1876-09-08
WINTER SCHOOLS.

J
hme to'say to those friends, who, since
the appearance of my article on the
public schools last week, have sug-
gested one view and another, that a
general discussion of merits and de
merits of this law was and is wholly
foreign to my purpose, and would in
no way tend to accomplish the OBJ
ject had in view. must remit all
that matter othe Legislature, which
have not the vanity to think could
be reached or influenced by any
thing might here have to say.
My aim is wholly practical and in
no sense theoretical. | propose
simply to deal with the law as We
have it, and as public officer
charged with the duty of its execu-
ton Tor the greatest good to those
who are, so to speak, my education
al wards, to suggest such changes as
my observation and experience in
It's workings teach me are practicable
and desirable
The great and paramount object
Of inquiry, the whole question in a
nutshell is this: Is there any period
of three consecutive months Of the
twelve, during which, the young
people may be withdrawn from all
active labor on the farm Nd their
uninterrupted attention given to the
prosecution Of the studies Of the
school room If 50, this fact ought
to settle the case unless there be
some insurmountable difficulty in the
way; for as indicated in my pre-
vioAs article, under the peculiar sur>
roundingg of these young people,
their habits of both mind and body,
a continuous and protracted course
of study through period of at least
three months is il Indispensable to any
thing like a profitable attendance on
their part upon the public schools.
Once fairly broken into the harness
and their developing minds excited
to a thirst for knowledge, the three
months school would be but the har,
binger Of better things-with the
school house and the school teacher
all ready to hand and the young peon
pie anxious to continue their studies,
the hearts of the fathers and moth
ers would be warmed up to the deN
mands of the occasion, aud the old
adage, that "wbere there is a will
there is way" would find verifca>
ton in the prolonga;ion of the
schools and in the triumph of the
cause of education with our people.
The months of December, Jan
uary and February, give us the Pc
riod desired, and one far more favor
able for that breaking in and trains
ing process so essential to success,
than the hot relaxing summer
months.
The inclemency of the weather
need not be an insuperable barrier
in the way. At the North and the
North west, where the winters are
far more severe than with us, the
pubic schools are carried on only
during this season of the year.
The next and only difficulty in
the way is the want Of comfortable
houses for winter use-it is this
trouble that has called forth these
latters-that the attention of the PEG
pie may at once be called to the
matter and if favorably inclined that
they may have the time to build the
houses ami inaugurate the change
the coming winter, The school
board has no money with which to
do this work -if no better can be
done, the people of each neighbor
hood may band together and for the
time being put up log houses, line
them with boards and chink them
with clay, and with glass door and
a glass window or two to give the
needed light, and with good stove,
the children could be made as com
Portable there as if at home.
What do you think of itf You
who are the fathers and mothers of
the lsnd--your prompt and favOraN
bic action may secure for your chill
dren who are now fast getting be-
You'd our reach, good school the
next winter-otherwise we shall as a
matter of necessity, no matter what
our views, have to 60 on as hereto
folo. Yours is the interest, yours
the duty and yours the decision that
must prevail - hough not authorize
ed by the Board to say so, | have no
doubt that your wishes will be the
law Of our action 10 the premises.
j. I. BURKHALTBR,
G. S. Com.
fAcworth Advocate please copy.l