The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1894-01-26
PROVO CITY. JAN. 2e 1894
UTAH SCHOOLS.

There is nothing in this highly fa-
vored territory which gives a brighter
hope to the friends of Utah than the
splendid school spirit now prevailing
from one end Of the territory to the
other, and the further fact that it has
become well-nigh the most interesting
topic among the people. 1t peryades
all classes and all ages. The people
have had taste of the new boon and
they like it. They find that good ed
ucation increases their personal i'm
portance, wins for them a place in the
social scale which riches, religious or
political rank does not bring them. The
value of the new revival of the school in
terest is means of building up the self
respecting sentiments without which
community becomes coarse, brutal and
savage.
OF course the system of public
schools in use here may not. for want
OF sufficient support, be just all it
should be, but it is by many degrees
better than no schools at ali. Doubt
less upon admission to statehood this
subject will be the very first to receive
the careful attention of the people of
the new state and most liberal and
generous provision will be made for
the support of the schools, as well as
great care be taken to build up our
permanent educational system upon
the very best models procurable. Asa
matter of public economy it takes rank
above almost every other means
in efficiency. 1t costs far less
in dollars and cents to govern
an intelligent than an ignorant com
munity and the citizenship becomes
more efficient, Industrious more
ingenious, more enterprising. There
is one great advantage in Utah which |
does not obtain in many others of our
newer states. The necessity for irri-
CATION and the impossibility of agricuI-
tural operations without it, naturally
throw the people into near neighbor.
hood with each other. They gather
into villages along the lines of irrigar-
ing bitches and here all the elements
of sufficient numbers to make ayaila-
BILE the school provisions exist, Each
little hamlet has its own schoolhouse
and teachers, and naturally struggles
for the very best results, exciting that
friendly rivalry which produces the
highest and best results.
In addition to the common schools
we are fortunate in possessing a system
of church schools in the B. 7. academy
of great utility indeed, in the general
education of the masses. The course
in these excellent schools covers a wide
of educational territory, and
the result so far has been eminentlv
satisfactory. The curriculum outside of
the sectarian field is excellent. Many
Of the pupils of the B. 7. are educating
themselves for the business of teaching
rather than for church work. The at
tendance j enormous. Here in this CITY ,
he B. Z. -.cademy has over eight hund I
red pupils, and young men and women
are turned away every day for
want of room. What a glorious thing L
would it be were the church authorities /
lble to build the additions necessary I
md equip the enlarged schools with !
he necessary teachers, books and I
Dther facilities. h
1t is a touching scene to note the I
vide range of age among the pupils. +,
from the merest tots of six to mature b
men and women of as high as 46 years Z
n age are in attendance upon the B. q
{. A. in this city. This shows the
pirit at work and it is indeed most P
opeful sign Of the times. p
pi