The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-05-31
SCHOOLS IN THE WEST.
WHAT THE WEST HAS DONE FOR PoPU.
LAR EDUCATION.

w nal 1hh w hoI has DONh rOh IOI "
LAR EDUCATION.
1t was in the West that the idea OF
graded schools was first completely
formulated and made practically success
full. 1t was in the West that the super
intendency Of schools county and city
was first generally recognized as es
sential to the success of the system. 1t
was in the West that the earliest and
some of the ablest expounders of the
new education in this country, at
tempted the practical application OF
their theories. While yet the country
was but half settled and the public
school system little more than a promise,
former pupil of Pestalozxi introduced
the methods of that reformer into the
private schools of the lower Wabash
Valley. Long before new departure
had been discovered in the schools of
the beginning of great reformation,
the self-same methods, there so highly
eulogized, were being practically demon,
strated in scores of cities and towns in
the West,
RISE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE WEST.
The public school system in the West,
when once the long dormant germ was
fully matured, was a plant of rapid +,
though substantial, growth. But little
more than a quarter of a century has
elapsed since the awakening began and
the true value and importance of the
free school became generally recognized.
In nothing else has there ever been
more wonderful or more noble progrt IS.
The log school houses have vanished, to
give place to hPndsome often elegant,
frame, brick and stone edifices. In
stead of the rudeness and discomfort
which characterized the district school
of the earlier day, every necessary con-
venience is at hand to give pleasure to
the pupil and lend assistance to the
teacher. The pride of every village is
its school building and its efficient pub.
lie SHOOT, in which every child may re-
ceive, free of cost, the best instruction
that is anywhere afforded.
WESTERN SCHOOLS.
There are to day in the five States,
Tof Ohio, Indiana. Illinois Michigan and
Wisconsin more than fifty thousand
school houses in which schools are
maintained from three to ten months
every year. The value OF these build.
ings, with the grounds, is considerably
over eighty millions of dollars, which is
more than one-half that of all other pub
lie school property in the Union.
Nearly three millions Of children usually
receive instruction in the public schools;
while more than eighty-five thousand
teachers, large number of whom have
been trained especially for their work,
are employed as instructors. The total
amount expended each year for the sup.
port of these schools somewhat exceeds
thirty two millions of dollars, or more
than eight dollars for each child of
school age within the States. As to the
character of the instruction given, it is
sufficient to say that it is nowhere excel
led.
THE OLD HoosIER SCHOOL HOUSE.
These primitive school houses were of
course, very rude affairs, built of round
logs, and with as little expenditure OF
time and money as the law would allow.
1t was required that they should be
eight feet high from floor to joIsts, and
that they should be provided with such
furniture as was absolutely necessary
for use in the schools. The floors were
of roughly hewn puncheons; a great
fire place and chimney, built of sticks
and clay, often extended entirely across
one end of the room; the seats were long
slabs with legs driven into them; there
were no desks; but narrow shelf
against one Of the walls afforded the
larger pupils an opportunity to write;
and blackboards were inventions not yet
introduced into the Western country.
Close to the place where the master sat.
there were usually two long pegs driven
into the wall for the purpose Of support
ing a choice assortment Of hickory
switches; for the rod was then regarded
as the most effective and convenient
means of securing obedience. Those
we're the days of the 'Hooser School
MASTER happily known no more in
either Indiana or her States. From The
Centre of the Republic by James Bald
win, in Scribner's Magazine for May.