The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-04-14
OUR SCHOOLS.
4 Lender Reporters Observations and
Conclusions.

One Of the most beautiful and path t
ic poems ever written by Americas
favorite poet, Whittier, was in regard
to the incident which occurred at the
'Old School House." wherein he says
in the first verse:
"Still stands the school house by the road,
A ragged beggar running,
Around 1t still the sumacs grow,
And blackberry vines are running"
These words of the poet call to mind
by reason of memories associated with
the old school house, the times when the
practice and habits of the people gene
rally in regard to schools and the edu-
cation of the children were far different
from what they are now.
back, down the trail of time let us
journey in spirit for twenty years
back to the old time of the primitive
school houses Of New England and
Of other portions Of our country, and
we find existing at that time a custom
which has now almost wholly fallen in
disuse-one which always and every
where gives encouragement to the child,
the youth and the more advanced
scholar, aud enables him or her to ac-
complish better things than he reasona-
bly, looked for.
We refer to the old time practice of
fathers, mothers, friends of education
and everybody visiting the schools,
Which fashion and practice always
tends in a remarkable degree to encou-
rage the pupils, and stimulates them to
greater exertions.
This good olden time practice has
bren dispersed with, at least so far as
Cheyenne Is concerned. Very few of
our people ever take the trouble to go
up to the school house and see what is
going on there; not even those parents
who perhaps may have three or four
children attending hat institution.
This is very wrong. Our people
should make it Q practice to visit the
schools at least once Il week, for it will
encourage the pupils. They will be
gladly welcomed by our competent
corps of teachers. and it will tend in a
considerable degree to promote the
efficiency of the school.
Tie writer onc heard the Hon. NJ.
II. Dunnell NOW a member of congress
from Minnesota, then superintendent
of public instruction for that state) say
that some men would turn their cattle
out to pasture and visit them at least
once a week, and yet send their child.
rem to school for months at a time and
never go to see how they are getting
along. There is a good deal more truth
than poetry in this remark. When oul
reporter noticed the hundreds of eagel
little faces that looked up at him yes
terday as he made a brief visit in the
different departments, smiling as he
approved of the writing which they
showed on their states, he twas pro,
foundly impressed with the fact thai
our people ought to go back to the old
time practice of generally visiting the
schools.
Our school at present and which is OIL
course. under the supervision Of Prof
Stark, the principal, is in a most pros
porous condition and vas probably
never in better shape than at present
The corps Of assistant teachers, the
Misses Kingsley, Phelps, Donlevy,
Carmichael, Hawthorne, HANNA,
Forbes and Reed are efficient and com.
petent in every respect, and have, with
Prof. Stark, given complete and entire
satisfaction to our people.
There are at present over 600 scholars
enrolled on the list; the average attend
ance is about $50.
One thing we noticed which is not a
very pleasant fact to contemplate, was
the very small number Of young men
in Acknowledgement more than three OF
four of that class were to be seen.
Why so many young men who are yet
minors should at the present time be
neglecting the inestimable privileges
which are now offered them to get a
irst-class education is more than we
"a understand. Some, of course, are
detained from school necessarily, while
others, we fear, are more interested in
pursuing a course which may eventual
ly lead them down
-"amongf frost and shade
AMI dead mems bones"