Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-06-14

which the schools or Marshall cOun-
ty form by no means an unimpor-
tant factor, is the result OF growth
Of less than twenty-five years. The
few schools scattered over Marshall
county prior to the adoption of the
constitution in 1852 mainly depend
ent as they were upon local volunta-
ry contribution, formed in no case a
system. The people were then per-
mitted to open and maintain schools,
but they were not compelled to do
so. No state tax was then levied,
and no officers were made response
BILE to the state for the establishment
and supervision Of a general system
OF schools which should be supported
by all and equally open to all. !"
The trainers of the new constitution
realize that knowledge and virtue are
the chief corner stone of a free
republic, laid the foundation Of our
present free school system so broad
and so deep, that its perpetuity is
placed beyond a shadow of doubt
A comparative statement of a few
leading facts will, it is believed bring
into contrast the condition of things
as they existed twenty years ago and
as they are to day. Then the schools
continued in session only fifty days
during the year, now they are sue
cessfully kept open one hundred and
twenty days; then the school master
was sought from afar, to-day one
hundred and eighty-five men and
women adorn their profession, hon
oring themselves, their country and
state alike. Then school houses,
built by special school provision,
now unknown. to-day We have the
extremes Of school houses, from the
very poorest to the very best. The
old dilapid, uninviting rookery, a
relic OF the first temples OF science
in Northern Indiana, still holds its
solitariness in some locations in
Marshall county amid the loneliness
OF some vast wilderness or beside
some dismal swamp. Those, howev-
er, becoming very much like angels
visits" we are now having erected
all over our country, in well chosen
spots, school houses beautifully
adorned, which are the children's
pride and the delight OF our appreci-
ating neighborhood. Seventy years
ago the number of children admitted
into our school was but hand full,
to-day proud armory of over six
thousand children annually enroll
themselves as pupils in the public
schools Of our county, then there
were spent for all educational pur-
poses sum too slight to mention,
to-day We pay to teachers alone
$50. 900 and $4,000 more for special
school repairs, apparatus, etc., then
the value OF school property was
scarcely worth estimating, to-day we
have school property to the amount
OF s120.935, deposited exclusively to
educational purposes. The common
school fund was but a drop In the
bucket, to-day it forms the solid
work In the center OF the broad base
OF our present free school system.
While we very much lament inefllci-
ency still noticible. in our common
school work, we feel that the stand
ard OF teaching has been revised
within the past few years and that
the county board OF education and
teachers generally, have shown a
very earnest and commendable zeal
in the direction OF retrenchment and
reform in all practical school work
Many Of the antiouated customs and
notions are being dispelled, some OF
them remain, 1t is true, to harrow up
our feelings along life's rugged way,
but the people are taking broader
and higher grounds in educational
affairs. Besides the flourishing gra-
ded schools OF the Incorporated
towns OF Bourbon, Bremen, and Ar
COS, we have in the city OF Plym-
outh, a regularly organized school
department, extending from the pri-
mary through all the grades up to
the High school, from which students
are regularly graduated as you can
readily attest from the exercises
observed this evening. Our City
High School is fast becoming the
pride and admiration OF every citizen
in Plymouth. Around this school to-
night, ladies and gentlemen, are clus-
tering many OF the fondest and most
pleasing memories and dearest inter-
ests OF the young men and ladies OF
our city, almost every child in Plym-
outh has either directly or indirectly
received from this school impressions
which will give vent and polish TO its
future history. In reviewing the
work done in our public school
within the past two years. we look
forward full Of hope and anticipation
for the future and point with pride
to the results accomplished through
the common schools OF Marshall
county. Like all reforms every step
taken toward elevating the teaching
In our schools has been made with
great effort and against much oppo-
sition. 1t requires no little amount
Of nerve and patience to elevate up
the standard until all would adjust
themselves to 1t. Ignorance and
prejudice are two strong fortresses
which must be taken and demolished
before any real perceptable advance,
Il. L. -