Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-12-14

towns, knowing the benefits Of super
vision, are willing to undergo increased
taxation that our district and village
schools may enjoy something Of the
same advantage of supervision. Strange
as it is, the objection to county super
vision mainly comes from some Of those
whose school interests, if they have any,
are Immediately with the district
schools. Others will object to it from
selfish motives, for self-aggrandizement;
and for little official glory they are
ready to vote our common school sys-
tenn pauper which ought to be stilet-
toed and buried. All this cry against
common schools, common school work
and the expense Of common schools is
not so bad, per Sc, but it shows the low
estimation in which common schools are
held. The man Of wealth will volunta-
rily donate his thousands to great insti-
tutions of learning, those institutions
that can be reached by the few only,
and yet complains of taxation for the
support of common schools. We often
find in neighborhoods and villages from
two to four churches, differing none in
the essentials, struggling for a bare ex-
istence, while many Of the individual
members Of these respective churches
voluntarily tax themselves $40, $40, $50,
$50, or 500 for the support Of these,
and yet complain that their school costs
too much. Many will voluntarily tax
themselves heavily for the erection OF
church building, where two or more al
ready exist, and still complain that
school houses cost too much. They
must have large, airy rooms in which
they can sit for an hour, once week or
twice a month, while their children for
five days in a week must breathe the
poisonous air of a crowded school-room,
and teachers are censured because they
cannot wiring thought from poisoned
BRAIN A minister feels himself very
much Strengthened if in these places he
must live upon $500 or 81 900 a year,
while the teacher is amply provided for
if he receives $500 or $400 year Why
this disparity, vie,eed physically, l can
not tell. An adult, says Draper, con-
sumes about 3,10O pounds year. It
may be the teacher makes less god of
his stomach. Another view Of the case
might disclose the fact Schools and
school work are not estimated as they
should be- No attack has been made
upon ministers and churches. They are
necessary, and deserve liberal and
hearty support. They have been
brought into view for an entirely differ
ent purpose. When schools and school
work are treated in a common sense
way, business-like way, just as other
great and good undertakings are treated,
we shall hear little of useless and un-
necessary expense" When teachers
are treated as they should be, we shall
have persons competent in all respects
to teach our district schools, even the
little schools" Then teachers and
other school workers will not feel that
they are viewed as an excrescence upon
the body polite They will then feel
that they are counted among the impor-
tant factors for the perfection of the
race. They will feel that if they spend
their whole lives in the work, and per-
chance arrive at old age, the charities
of the world will not designate them as
persons having spent their lives in vain,
keeping school" and consign them to
the tender cares of the almsheuse. To
sensitive nature, these reflections are
terrible. No wonder the older desert
common school work, and the younger
make it "stepping-ston to something
else From the Eastern States, every
year, thousands Of dollars, voluntary
contributions, are sent to Iowa for the
conversion Of the heather of the State.
No objections to this. 1t shows earnest
ness in cause. 1t may be well to de-
vote time, energy and money to the
| straightanino of old trees. the philOsO-
phic method would dictate that the ten
der plants be we'll cared. for, and then
the old trees would need but little
Strengthening and pruning. Let all la
Dor earnestly for the advancement of
our district schools. May the interests
of our State and the interests of our
common schools 'be one and insepara-
BILE" To the Clinton trio it may be
said: Ne sutor ultra crepidom.
w. E. PARKER.