The Press., 1883-07-26
rContrihuted.l

There are some persons 1n ScnOOl QlSUr1ci number two who think very much that way in regard to their schools; believing that life begets agitation, agitation leads to improvement, and improvement tends toward perfection. A little misstatement, ment of motive and-'sbehold how great 8 matter little fire kindleth.
 At the annual meeting of school district number two the following motion was made, passed unanimously, and recorded ssThat a committee be appointed to invest igate plans of school management and studies. Every person present at that meeting was true representative of the intelligence, energy and enterprise of the district. Before passing the question above mentioned the matter had full and free discussion, the powers and Limitations of the district considered, the powers, privileges and duties of the school visitors understandingly discussed.
 So much for the record now little generalization:
 Within small circle inside the district there are about thirty children of the age or soon will be-to enter the primary school (this is only small part of the dis trict, and taken as an illustration ); the parents of these children are persons of in telligence; having the interests of the children and the community deeply at heart, they are anxious to have their little ones start right. They believe that if any primary and intermediate schools the time to make the change is when the schools open in the new school house.
 Judging from their own experience, from observation of the fruits of our pres ent plan. they believe something better can be had. Not satisfied in their own minds what is best, and not having time, in body, to look up the matter, they del. egate one of their number to the special work of Investigating the subject, expect ing he will give them the results of his b. bors then they can judge whether or no any improvement can be made, and be prepared to ask the school visitors for 8 specific object.
 The school visitors are not the people. The people are the school visitors un- able properly to attend to their duties en masse, they delegate certain persons to, o1 for, special work. In order that their work may proceed uniformly, systematic ally and with least clash of opposing minds, certain rules of action are laid down for observance by these delegates. The will of the few acquiesced in by the many be- comes what we term law the law embodies the rules of action for the people, and for the peoples servants hence the observ- ance of the law is but the observance of the will of the people, whether that observance shall be on the part of the people or oi their servants. The people of Connecti- cut, jealous of their individual rights, and to guard against arbitrary assumption on the part of their public servants, have giv- l IL to themselves great rights and privileges. It will be difficult matter for the school visitors of this town to find wherein the people of district number two have over- stepped their rights, written or unwritten more difficult still to find trace of thought or purpose to strain such rights.
 A few words in reference to the schools Are the school visitors willing to tell the people here that all is being done that can be? When will the time arrive for doing solid work How and when will the low CT schools begin to furnish material for the high school? I do not care to say any thing about the high school-it has spoken for itself, and in language altogether too plain, of what there is below it.
 | Prof. Patterson, superintendent of the public schools in Brooklyn, N. Y., in his last annual report says, referring to pre- ceding table therein: ''The table also confirms the statement made in my report last year-that the school life of the great majority of children ends at twelve l then said, 'The requirements of modern life demand that boy twelve years old shall be able to write fair hand and in. dite creditable letter he must be able tc make out bill, spell correctly, read intel igently, and speak and write with reason able accuracy and elearness and he must not only possess fair knowledge of arith metic, but be able to perform it's opera tions with rapidity and precision. ," Nc question but that we can give hearty as sent to this, and with Prof. Patterson say as he says further-'The practical ques tion brought home to us is Are we doing children during the period, averaging less than six years, which they remain il school ?"
 | J. W. Dickinson of Mass, N. A. Calkins of N Y, David N, Camp of Conn. and Samuel s. Greene of R. r., in their late re port to the National Council of Education say: ''There is one ultimate end to be se cured by all school exercises the harmonious development of the faculties of the human mind. To attain this end several subordinate ends must be sought. 1-The child must be subjected to such modes of life as will give him sanad body; 2-He must acquire sufficient amount of useful knowledge. B. He must become master of good methods o1 thinking and acting. A sound body will fur nish the mind with good instrument to use Useful knowledge is both the result and the occasion of that activity of the mind which produces the best development of the powers A good method of work will determine the amount and character of both the knowledge and development acquired" With these and similar ideas before us, and with the example of good schools, in places of this size all about us, we are Ion the anxious seat," and pro pose to stay there until we find grace an6 favor in the sight of the school visitors, and obtain assurance of universal salvation school-Wisa.. ... WANaa:
 The lawn party for the benefit O Grace church, under the management O Mir. and Mrs. Hicks, on the grounds of G. M. Ives, was decidedly the best affair O the kind ever gotten up in the borough A large floor was built to accommodate 24 couple or more of dancers, canopied over head by the great campaign flags, whil, the thick foliage of over hanging tree : rooted over the part of the lawn occupied by spectators. Well towards g hAnaret lamps and chinese lanterns made tn grounds brilliant, with color and light, locomotive headlight and blazing torel of kerosene helping materially in ightin,