The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-25

schools in this city. say even not more
than ten or fifteen years ago. Then
IL was customary TO secure some one 10
teach school who was either physically
or mentally unfit for any other occupa .
ton, but at the pre-ent time. few such
teachers are 70 be found here or else
There in the Territory. People begin
TO realize that il requires some intellt-
geuce and education 10 direct the INTEL
ligence of others and 70 educate them
ANY one who could read q little, write
an ordinary hand snd probably cipher
in the elementary principles OF arithme-
tic. was regarded as good enough Tor
school teacher, but the day Of such men
and women is abou. past for various
reasons. 4 desire for something better
has sprung M, and at the same time
the material means to attain that end
have increased, so that to-day we can
afford 10 pay better wages and thus
induce a better class of teachers 20
enter the profession, and also TO
remain in il permanently, thus giving
them an opportunity 70 perfect them
selves II they are at all disposed TO be
progressive. The better results that
have followed from the employment of
such teachers have had their effec: on
the parents, showing them the edYan-
tsge Of much better returns for the in
| creased outlay. The establishment OF
| higher schools for the education OF
| teachers, and their better preparation at
such institutions has done much in the
right direction. Many young men and
women, also, baye devoted themselves TO
/ the cause. and by infusing new life, ana
/ young blood into the profession have
given Il a yigor and youth that has a.
ready resu ted and will result, still more,
N great improvement Of our schools.
In all newly settled countries, the
IrOVerbial odd log school house." Is
the irst educational institution OF any
kind, ana many Of these have existed
in our Territory, but they are fast dis
appearing and giving place 10 more
substantial aud elegant structures OF
brick and and stone, and soon they will
be found only in out-of-the-way places
and new settlements. In these new
structures very little attempt has been
made at architectural display. A
certain almost severe simplicity seems
TO pe-Fade them, but at the same time
very much in keeping with the charac-
ter Of the people.
FREE SCHOOLS.
In but very few instances have the
trustees established free schools, but
with what success we have not heard,
and whether any such schools are in
existence at the present time We cannot
say. The American idea of q public
school Is a free one, and in most parts
OF the Union such schools have been
established. but we fear IN many cases,
without accomplishing the very object
for which there is any excuse for free
school. They are not intended for the
benefit of those who can afford to pay
for the tuition Of their children, but
rather for those who are too poor to do
so. But in too many instances. this
class of people appreciate so little the
benefits of an education that they do
not take advantage of il, even though il
can be obtained for nothing. Free
schools" may sound very well, but
without some system by which certain
classes can be reached, it will produce
but very little, If any more, good than
when tuition fees are charged. There Is
not among the people of this Territory
strong tendency toward the establish
ment OF free schools, as The great major
ity OF the people are in comfortable
circumstances, and fully able 10 bear
the expenses of their own children's
education. They are not disposed to
regard their children as the property OF
the State, and hence under the care OF
the State, but rather as their own
charge; but not on this account do they
believe any the less in education. The
only difference is as TO the method Of
obtaining it. The parent who can not,
or will not educate his OWL offspring
ought not 10 have any.
In a new country such as this the
advantages Of an education are not so
apparent. To subdue g wilderness
requires, it is true, some brains, but at
the same time. a great deal of muscular
force, but as the country grows older.
the necessity for mental training in
creases and the people have not been
slow in seeing 1t, and they will be less so
in the future.
PARTY POLITICS.
One serious drawback 70 the proper
advancement and efficiency Of our
public school system arises from the
fact that in many parts of our Territory
there exist two elements that can not be
made 10 harmonic. namely. Liberal"
aud Peoples" party. As the dis
tricts are mostly under the control Of
the latter element, the former are very
often opposed TO the payment of taxes
/ for the support OF the schools: as an
instance we may call to mind the case
decided by Judge Zane but few days
| ago, and yet other cases. The Lib
eral" element feel that these schools are