State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-01-12
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The community need to be reminded
of this subject often. The importance of
the subject must be our apology, if indeed
one be needed, for again intruding it on
their notice. 1t is not our purpose now to
GO into the matter generally, but to allude
to one point which is of very mischeyous
tendency. Schools are provided for our
children at the public expense it cutters us
regularly into the yearly expenditures as
the pay of officers or contingent expenses.
This is as it should be; it is wise provis
ion, and should be maintained. The many
complaints we hear made against public
schools, and the disposition which Id prev
alent to have children attend private and
select one, instead of those provided by the
public, demand full and thorough inyesti-
CATION. Many people object TO sending
their children to public school, because
many of the children are rude--make use
of profane language, and behave unbecom-
ing, and they do not like that their chill
dren should fall into such habits. 1t is
said also that so many children attend pub
lie schools the instructors cannot give the
attention to them which is desirable and
necessary.
There is certainly some weight to these
objections, ifthey exist and some authority
should interpose to remedy the evil so long
however, as parents send their children TO
private schools we cannot expect very great
efforts made. Their interests in public
schools is thereby Withdrawn; and thus to
the public at large, to its improvement, the
morals of the rising generation, private
schools operate as an evil. Let us be UNI
dcrstood we do not mean that private
schools of themselves foster evil habits or
engendcr bad practices; but that watchtul
and bealthfill care and anxiety which
should he felt and must be eXerted TO keep
up the character and standing of our pub
schools, is Withdrawn by those who have
the most time to attend to the subject, and
the most influence in advancing its inter-
ess, by sending their children to private
schoois--transfcrring their interest and their
influence with their children.
Again, if our schools are too large, let
the public erect more houses, and multiply
them uutil each child shall be accommodi-
ted with proper care and instruction; if in
diyiduas can do this, surely the public
which is composed of those individuals
with others, can do the same. ..e....
We repeat, that as citizens ola republi-
can government, il is not enough that we
I tdkc EOOu cure VI CuI own ShAuliNsA5 oo ANti<,
Us any one shall neglect to do 30. The sta
bility of our institutions--the moral health
of the community depend upon each and
every one {; and as we value these, then, we
should learn our duty and faithfully per-
/ form it.
| Let the arguments which are generally
used for sending children to private schools
prevail, and it will not be long before those
who attend public schools will think they
have full license, by the common consent
of society, to indulge in all the bad practi-
ces complained of
1t appears to us that the only proper and
efficient remedy is, for the public to multi
ply school rooms, to employ the best ofin-
structors, have every suitable apparatus
necessary, and then for every man to send
his children to these schools. Let his in
terest and influence 60 with them, and we
may expect a reform worth having. As ii
is, private schools are every where multi
plying, and sapping the healthful Likelihood
from our public schools. We have thrown
out these hasty suggestions and only ask
for them that consideration they shall merit
Mass. Mechanic and Farmer.