Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 March 1879 — Our Free Schools. [ARTICLE]

Our Free Schools.

The public schools of Rensselaer ate in a prosperous condition under the management of Mr. G. W. Allen, of Vanweit, Ohio. The pupils of each department, take to all appear anees, a deep interest in their studies, and thus follow the advancing mul titudes in their accelerating “March of intellect.” To be successful as a student, a scholar or an educator, traits of industry, perseverance, morality and determination must characterize those who are yet learners in the great school of progress. To be leaders in the school room you must necessarily be leaders in the study room; to be heard at the recitation bench with honor to yourselves and profit to the class, your lamps must burn at nip-fit and by their willing light you must labor; your minds will thus become enlightened, purity will be imparted to your souls, knowledge will take the place of ignorance, your minds will be freed and you intellectual system renovated, ft is by industry grown up into a habit, and ready to be exerted on every occasion wherein good results demand it '.hat eminence has in the past been attained, ami if eminence and success reward your trials in the future, these inwaid inclinations must be manifested, they must become a part of your history, they must be constantly mingled with your thoughts, and serve as guides to your unstable minds. It seems as though Rensselaer, more than most country villages, delights in ire education of her children; for this purpose she has a commodious school building, which contains rooms for five grades of pupils, each of which are under the instructions of well qualified and highly esteemed teacher.-'. I heir labors come from the h-art with as much willingness as light from the Sun. Their abilities enlighten the minds of tbo pupils because they are energetic; because they know the necessity of a liberal education, and execute the demands of the school trustees It is well to labor; it is well to enrich your minds with useful knowledge and show to the world that knowledge is a force acting in her behalf, aiding her in all that, is great and good ami lending strength to the frail hitman race; a race weakened by inaction and overpowered by the great hand of ignorance. Now let the young and rising generation consider the lofty subject of elocation, and rememember that; “Ignorance rivits the chains of bond age; knowledge cu f 8 them asunder.” '