The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-12-15
a GOOD SCHOOL HOUSE.

bOOD SCHOOL HODBks
! am in favor Of one for Albany, .
large one too, one arranged in antieipa-
ton Of big growth Of our population.
/ like the way they d. along the UniOn
Pacific. They build a $1,000 or el5,-
00e school house, and then lay out
their town, and houses soon swarm
around it like flies around a sugar bowl
and 10 and behold the frst thing they
are aware Of they have a large thriv-
ing city. The school house did il.
When a man with family Of children
contemplates meying into new ceuh-
try the FIRST thing be asks IL, what kind
of school have you. Suppose Al
bany was in the mind Of the emigrant,
/ can imagine some such conversations
as this ensuing
"Well, how are you fixed for schools5'
"Oh, abem, We have some excellent
teachers, but regular old sheds for
school houses, benches worse than an
inquisition torture box, rooms Too small
for dog kennels, and no more chance u
ventiIate them than dungeon, ] am
sorry to tell you this, bat It is fact"
"Whew, why in thunder doesn't
your city build . new enc. Certainly
with a population of 300 you can af.
ford Il -
eyes, but you see we are cursed
with lot of old kickers, who are our
biggest property owners, without a
child TO their name, or the prospect Of
one, they seem TO care for nothing but
their ten per cent with as little Offset
in the way of taxes as possible. and as
they have little influence the result is
that every effort TO vote new school
building has been defeated By these
chronics."
"Weil that is enough for me, / don't
care TO live in q place filed with men.
who do not work for its interest, and
which cannot boast of place 6t 10
educate my children in"
This is not u visionary picture, but
illustrate truthfnlly the sentiment ct
many immigrants on seeking new
home. They want TO give their chill
dren the advantages of frst-class ed
ucatIon il they can not write their
own name The desire TO give them
an education which ~ill give them .
good position in the world, is intorn
in them, and in going TO city ike Al
5any where it costs more 10 live, they
expect something better than II they
settled in a tackwoOds district. One
, sight, or description, of orr cranPed
up affair is enough to discourage any
one.
, 1t would be a grand thing If ~s only
E could make ourselves realize the fact
that we must have new scheol build
q ing. One is enough. let the city
5 sell the three buildings for FIRE xoed II
! for nothing else, and build one large
3 structure in a ceAtral position, where
5 there viii be plenty of room, lots d
a air, convenience, etc, aud then put Ii
r enough teachers SO that justice can v
e done to the pupils. No teacher livinl
J. can take charge of seventy or eight.
J, pupils and benefit them the way they
n should. Fifty at the most is enough
]. These things should be taken into con
J. sideration.
It Money spent towards educating th
I. masses is like wheat sown in fertil
l. ground. 1t brings forth tenfeld. !
n seems SO ridiculous to hear men opPos
g the expenditure Of ANYTHING for q ne'
ut school house and tie next minute vast
y their money on liquor or tobacco. Ys
es in month they will spend more foe
e. ishly than their school tax wOul
er amount to in a xear 'tOh, eOnsistsHc
10 thou art butter at City cents pound.
&c Well, notwithstanding this oPpOs
If ten. we are after new school hous
ct and can get it if we viii only go
as work and vote it. All that isnecessal
OF is little hard work.
IS, Shall we attempt and see what '
ce can accomplish.