Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-01-30
CENTRAL SCHOOLS.

EDITOR INTELLIGENCER:-lt is pro-
vided in the school laws of the state
that whenever two or more school dis ,
tricts shall desire, by majority vote ,
of each district, they may erect at .
suitable place, a building, and conduct
therein a central school for advanced
pupils promoted from the ub-dlstrlct {
schools, said school to be supported at
the pubic cost OF the district con-
cerned.
So far this provision remains virtual
ly dead-lctter on the statute books,
but | wish to ask if it would not be
the part of wisdom for people in coun-
trv school districts to establish the CEN
tral school herein suggested? There is
ample room for improvement in the
matter of schools. Our district schools
are reasonably proficient, but it is i'm
possible to accomplish in "mixed''
school what is absolutely necessary to
accomplish. People generally need TO
be more highly educated, and the great
burden OF accomplishing their higher
education must rest upon the country |
schools, but our present system OF
schools is incapable of the task. we
cannot all have finished education
and be lawyers, doctors and editors,
some one must plOy corn; but because
a man plows corn it does not necessarl-
| ly follow that he should be uneducated.
| Indeed, it ia known to be fact that
things being equal, an educated
man can plow corn better than an un-
educated man can, and beside this, ne
is better able to take care of himself IN
ordinary trading and buying and SELL
ing. The time has fully come when
man must have some education acqulr-
ed either from a teacher or by eXper-
ience in order to be able to grapple
with the world and earn an honorable
aud respectable living. Farmers, who
constitute most important factor IN
this and all other nations, need high
er degree of education than they have
or can ever obtain in our present coun-
try schools. Beside the ordinary
branches such as practical arithmetic,
descriptive geography, first grammar,
spelling and reading, there are other
branches of great and immediate i'm
portance to them. They need to have
some knowledge of civil government,
physical geography, algebra, physiology.
moral philosophy, vocal music, natural
. philosophy, U. 5. history, geometry
trigonometry and geology. Botany
zoology and book keeping are very essen
: tial to the farmer, as also are the
school laws of Missouri which shoult
be made science and be taught in oul
schools. Latin and Greek are OF III
70 immediate importance to the farmer.
n AS have said, we cannot all hav.
finished educations. We cannot al
j, graduate from Yale or Columbia, ant
- the aim of studies | have outline'
: above, cannot be successfully taught
e the country schools we have to-day
Here lies the necessity for centra
ne schools-schools where boys and girl
W of three or four districts, who hav
Il completed the branches taught in tn
sub-district schools, can assemble
sk study the higher branches. The &C
3, vantages of this system over our pres
To ent one are numerous. The strengt
of nation lies in an enlightened all
o. contented yeomanry. This system
en- schools would enlighten the yeomanr.
Do the common people, as the system no
in vogue never can; and 1t would el
", tighten without enactlng discomfort
" ment and unrest. 1t is not my purpo:
a. to say one word against the excelel
colleges of this county nor OF al
TN other county, but l regret to say, th'
en- there are very, very many cases wher
OF in collegiate education has resulted u
ed happily. The colleges, perhaps, are N
directly responsible for this; it doub
~, less resulting from influences and su
he roundings over which the colleges ha
OF no control; however that may be, Il
the fact remains. Boys and girls are Sc
on off to college, and after year or tv
of the life and charms OF college, t
IN country seems uninviting, and count
'y- life insipid and monotonous. VIII
asst thev return home they are ashamed
ous pa and ma, they are too proud to d
ow their old habiliments and return
'o- work, they don't want to live on
VI farm, and the mischief is to pay un
ood pa, to pacify the malcontents, sc
the farm and moves to town. The
ing suit is to crowd the towns and all
ms professions, and all branches OF bu
lco, ness with lot of reckless, half educ
and ed persons who would be better off
pan the country. say again that do
owe mean to deprecate our great educatio
at al institutions. l acknowledge L
'ees they have done great good. Man!
tain man have they helped 10 wealth q
eminence, who might otherwise hi
eka been poor and unknown. Neither
ack | object to any one attending colleg
'ap- he wishes, and especially not if he IL
was that he has great thoughts to utter, t
II OF the legal or any other profession CT
'een not possibly remain without his ASST
'ave ance, and goes to college to fit him
lie fully for the calling to which he fl
med that he is especially adapted; but
AS. say, that in a majority of cases IN
was finer results could be accomplished
pre- central schools than are accomplis
lhls by colleges.
uhd Central schools would enable
zaro pupils TO be at home at night under
rlon watchful care of their parents-a '
the important consideration. If we ass,
ap- four districts thus united, the built
would not be to exceed four miles f
hool those most remote. Any hardy far
four boy or girl of fourteen years and
Tor ward could walk that distance morl
the and evening.
'nsas Again, central schools would /
up c'luCdtiOH' by tiiio hSou
Glow people would be educated more he
some on an equality. Instead of those
orles are not able to educate at college
oois- ing to go through life with the inei
hools education obtained at the com
zer Is school, all who would avail themse
one of the central schools would be
with fairly educated.
en- And the cost would not be q
they Almost enough money to suppo
q by central school goes TO the colleges y
'ctter ly from the territory comprised i'll
n the sub districts. 1t would really
some saving to the man who otherwise W
efore send his sons aud daughters o
lmon school, and would be a great he
dol the man who is not able to sent
bniid children away. Let those go to co
ed by who can, but let us have the ce
No schools for those who cannot. "
choOl F.
than
two- THE POOLS MUST GO.