The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-11-18
Schools,

sentiment throughout the country in
favor of free schools. Everywhere
in our travels we meet with people,
who in talking of the needs of the
country, place the school at the head
of the list of institutions which need
a more careful fostering and which
demand the earnest attention of par
ents. 1t is gratifying to note that
the people are beginning to feel that
the schools of Clarke county are not
as good as they can afford. \ bet
ter appreciation of the importance of
common school education will pro-
ducc this feeling. "A sturdy farmer
remarked the other day: 81 have
no children of my own, but | have
an adopted son whom | desire to
have a good education, better than !
had. He is large enough to do con-
siderable farm work, but had rath-
CT hire a hand the year round and
scn1 the boy to school. We need
more money to sustain our schools"
\ man with such views on the
school question may be counted as a
solid man. That he is so counted is
proved by the fact that the people in
the late election have chosen him to
fill an important Office in the county.
When we say that the schools of
the county are not as good as can be
afforded, we do not mean to throw
cold water upon the efforts that have
been made in this direction. All cf-
forts for the promotion of education
arc lauda bic. All demands upon
purses of people arc TO be considered
in the order of their Importance
The mental discipline, or in other
words, the education of the yonng,
stands second in Importance to moth
ing but the provision of actual ncccs-
sarics of life, in the household ccon-
cmy. 1t follows therefore that many
things should be dispensed with at
home, rather than that the school
should be lamcly supported. There
are many luxurics, both innocent and
hurtftl, that our people indulge in,
which had better be discarded and
the money put into the family school
fund. Some men spend from five
to twenty-five dollars annually for
tobacco with which to poison their
blood and set bad example to their
children; others spend money for
liquors with like damaging result
to themselves and their families. No
man who is thus guilty has right
to say he could not afford to pay
higher school tax, that the schools
of the country arc as good as we can
afford. Ills actions demonstrate that
he does not duly appreciate the i'm
portancc of education, or if apprc-
cating it, he has not the courage to
champion the cause in a substantial
manner; in either case, his opinions,
on that subject at least, are not Of
much account. We are aware that
the mass of the people Of Clarke
county arc subject to many stern
conditions. The country is timbcrcd
and rough, roads arc bad and mar
kcting is often difficult, in view of
all which it takes time and hard work
for the man who starts in poor to
accumulate even sufficient to make
his home comfortable during the
year. But in two or three years, by
industry and economy, he IS able to
see his way clear, to assist in build
ing a school house and hiring teach
CT, and just here is the point where
the temptation to be parsimonious is
peculiarly strong. \ cheap teacher
is little better than no teacher at all.
The idea that a man should teach