The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-05-19
THE Es}N
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BY REV. c. g. L; ;raJioD
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most rigid substances to its leveling
power. The process may be slow, hut
the results are certain, and must finally
come. And so our own community,
though this process has come to realize
the importance of certain industrial and
educational reforms. Before your readers
the question of the coming week will
come up, as one born in due season out
of this elevating. leveling process which
we have been undergoing since the first
settlers broke The virgin soil Of Redwood.
The subject of education is dear to the
hearts of our people in this place. BY
invisible fingers All ideal education has
been chiseled out of very crude begin
nings. That ideal has grown on the
thoughts of our own community, until
we have come to see the necessity of ad-
vancement in our appliances to meet the
growing requirements Of our schools.
Indeed, all over the known world the in
terest in education is so manifest by all
classes. that close inquiry into all the
many phases of the question and the
adoption of reforms and new methods
are everywhere urged upon our educa-
tors.
Without entering into questions of re-
form in methods of instruction, or in the
excess of examinations, or in gymnastics,
or in the studies which should compose
the grades-each one of which deserves
considerate and thorough investigation
upon the part of our educating classes. let
me merely write few words to your
subscribers and other readers. as to the
necessity, feasibility, and protitableness
to be found in the erection of a school
building suitable to the wants of the p,l-
pills. l write in the interest of what my
convictions tell me is our one imperative
need. There are two great items con-
nectei with the issue of these bonds in
this district. as in all others, which we
desire to notice:
I. There are those who are ever ready
to say to any question of reform and of
progress. by which any thing compare
lively new may be introduced, lit is not
time yet, and urge the force of this prop
osition by asking the question, What ben
efits are to accrue from this expenditure
of money, and introduction of new lines
of work?
How are we to judge, as to whether the
time has arrived for this new departure? !?
There arc certainly many evidences of
this:
l. Public opinion favors it.
2. The actual condition of the present
buildings demand more ample accono-
dations. 1t is a matter of necessity
The present rooms are t. small to meet
the demand of the scholars in their vari-
ous departments.
3. The present capacity renders a
proper gradation of the classes impossi-
BILE.
4. Without the grades required by the
advancement of the pupils there can be
no proper education of the children.
5. a number of our young people hav-
ing carried the curriculum of our present
schools, and not being able to go beyond
it. have sought higher course. academ-
ic or collegiate-outside of our county.
6. That standing cannot be raised and
new lines of studies introduced until there
is ample room.
Z. The building proposed - having
eight rooms in the plans, will give an op-
portunity for at. least ten grades; say two
for Abe primary, two for the intermediate,
and tkrce.for the grammar.
{ s. hnG, ta-a, ,.dition, the benefits of three
grades. Instead of the old four years
course IN the high school department,
can be obtained by our young people.
9. Then We get the benefits Of home in
struction.
! So that, if child starts to school en-.
tering the primary department at six
years of age, by the time he is sixteen, il
kept constantly and faithfully at work,
he graduates from the high school de.
partment.
To my mind there is no doubt as to
this being the proper time when this i'm.
! portant work should be commenced, and
: the benefits acruing to property holders
will far exceed the amounts spent in the
erection of the building and the annual
tax. There is no reason why We may not
here in Redwood have the best advan.
tages in education which are possible to
our young people outside of our own
county. All must be agreed as to the
time and benefits.
II. The expense of building seems tc
be the great question with the people
And yet, when we come to look at the
real expenditure made and the value
which comes to the general Intelligence
of the scholars, as well as many othe,
considerations, the money expended and
the tax paid are very small. Take the
figures. There are $500, $50 worth OF
taxable property in this district, &C
cording to the 1880 tax list. The Board
of Education asks this district to vote
during the coming week, on the question
as to whether they (thc Board) shall
issue bonds to the amount of $4,000
against this district, bearing seven pei
cent. interest, for the purpose of building
a school house for the accommodation oi
the scholars seeking an education
This interest they ask, to be made paya
BILE by annual taxation.
Now, Mr. Editor, let US see the act
ual expenditure which this district will
make. outside of the money invested
in the building. The interest on $15,.
600 at seven per cent is $l050 yearly The
amount of taxable real and personal prop.
erty dow fgures) is $500. $50. There will
be. in case of the issuing of the bonds,
an increase Of nearly three mills in the
tax list of 1881 against the district
Let the people look at the tax list which
our Treasurer has issued for 1850. Dis,
trict No. l. is put down in the list OF
l CT = =