Smyrna times., 1879-01-08
ScHooL CoNsoLIDATIoN.-Iti is unnecessary


to talk of the prestige of the public school |
as power in modern society, or of it's in |
huence upon the enlightenment and pro- |
gress of a nation. We might speak of
Germany as great and majestic power
among the nations of Europe, and we might |
ascribe that greatness and majesty, and the |
intelligence and influence of that kingdom |
to its schools, and its arbitrary school sys-
ten. We might show that the power and
wealth of our republic are closely connected
with the intelligence of its people, and that
this same general intelligence may be traced
to the influence of the school work all over
the land for nearly century. We coult
show that i'll the front ranks Of the army of
push and enterprise the school-master
marches as a standard bearer and carries
the sharp sword of resistless progress. We
might write columns thus, but the people
we'll know this, and we wish to talk of
practical facts which most directly concern
us.
If the public school is power for good
in the land or in a community, then the
| better the school system, the greater its in
| fiuence and the more thorough its work.
1t is remarkable that in whatever they
chance to be interested, so many people are
willing to let the matter 20 half-shod;
satisfied with getting along, no matter how,
| if it only pulls through in some shape.
| Many good men now are opposed to any
change of plan, when with the least pene-
tration they can see that the new will be as
great an improvement upon the old as fifty
miles an hour is upon the old way of
twenty miles day.
The people of our town appreciate
modern improvements they desire to be
even with the times in most things why
not in their most important enterprise, the
schools? Shall we consolidate? 1t is ten
years two late to ask that question; it is not
a question. 1t is a public and glaring sin of
omission not to do it. The schools of the
great cities are united. New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, Chicago, st. Louis have each
a solid school corporation the schools of
the cities of London and Paris are con-
solidated and are we so large burgh that
we need to operate two school boards, and
two separate organizations? In the country,
where square miles must be considered,
separate districts are needed, but in good.
sized town, compactly settled, and where
} the whole range of population limits may
be embraced within two square miles, sew
eral school boards are not required, and two
unconnected school systems are no system al
all, but have the continued effect of putting
the brakes on the wheels of educationa
= progress.
You say our schools do very well
Take a seat, gentlemen, and let's talk
about it. They do very well. So does {
) lumber wagon do very well when you nigh
Y have a locomotive. So does a fifty.tor
n schooner when you can have an Atlantic
mail steamship. Our grades are not right
no positive authority is lodged in the hand
}. of a competent principal we have bu
| no h.
, primary to the grammar room is not great
2 the grades must be work ed to accommO
~ date themselves to numbers and not b.
q proficiency classes must be hurried from
t. the lower rooms up, to equalize numbers
# and thus the range of work in the uppe
departments is too varied and extensive
there is too much primary work to be don
S where the routine should be more elevated
10 and should partake more Of the nature {
,f n high-schoOl work. We want what sma
- Ter towns than ours have, and what we ar
capable of having. frst.class high schoo
where with earnest and effective teaching
pupils may be fitted for the actual busine,
n. of actual life. Where the work may b
" regular and systematic, where the instru
a tors hands may be unbound, and wheI
IS higher and desirable studies may be mad
ii. more thorough.
BIT We have now three grades with unite
lr schools we should have five or six, all muc
es better arranged with regard to number
ID teachers less burdened with useless detail
" system more mechanical, discipline MOI
ri effective, and with the careful supervisio
I'd of a wide.awake principal, and the suppo
Of and encouragement of goahead cor
mittee, much that is old-fashioned wou
disappear from the schools more of II
| 0l1 10 ha hon oA
III cational work in our town would assume
OF modern prestige and more than double
US power.
a We are speaking practically. You 81
that if our schools are united we must p
us up a new and cOmmodious building. n
OF at all. gentlemen; the fact of consolid
DIV ting does not compel us to tumble all Il
ng children of the town together, like a swar
of bees, in one hive. Two buildings a
better than one,-we have two good al
TO comfortable school-houses, three rooms
nd each, and in regard to our two gramm
les rooms it may be said there are not t.
: pleasanter and more convenient rooms
&c the State Some of our rooms are ov
crowded with pupils a part of the ye
is while others are not full by uniting, I
an. numbers could be made equal and kept
;us and with the improved system and the n
,'' interest awakened among parents a
ter people, pupils would advance much me
cite rapidly and thoroughly. Put the thi
In upper grades in one building; the thl
90, lower, composed, of course, of small
children, in the other; then you see h
ola you could arrange the supervision o.
to them; and instead of an increased
ers pense, you would find a saving the Fl
.co. year.
Thus there are many points OF advanti
ohe that we might speak Of, but for which
Its have not space in this article. We n
nile speak more fully upon the subject an
ing Now is the time for those interested in
schools to take hold of the matter; so
one must lead it; bill must be prepa
bort and put before this winters legislature,
in. put through. We should have our schC
70 united and incorporated what is wo
49, doing, is worth doing well.
ded THERE is daily increase of tho popl
Inc. distress in every quarter of England. \
RI. colliery and railroad strikes are develop
MS nevertheless.-The steamer Nova Scot
IT OF on her passage from Baltimore for Glasg
,wn, was somewhat damaged by gales, and
,ode six men injured, one of whom died.
Gen. Grant is at Londondery.-Prin
. 10 Caroline Of Hesse is dead.-Some of
The Ameer's body.guard, went with him
will Turkestan, have deserted and retur