Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-04-26
Selected for the Hawk Eye.


with our republican institutions. Some
however are sceptical as to the actual
working ofthe system. Their attention is
requested TO the following statement Of
facts.
The Principal Of the Latin High School
Of Boston, in letter written in 1916,
thus speaks of the state of his school in
relation to the occupation, position, and
wealth OF the parents of lis members:
"Those Of us who were brought up in
the public schools in Boston, never asked
whose sons our companions were; but
whether they were clever and good. Mr.
Otis's son, or Mr. Win,hrop's, or Mr. Per-
kins', went for no more than the son of
the carpenter who repaired to the school
house, or the son of the man employed to
sweep the building, unless he were in
truth better scholar or more obliging
companion. In reality, all met on COM
mon level, SO far as outward circumstan-
ces came into the consideration. There is
no institution so truly republican as such
school as this. While we, The present
teachers, were undergraduates Of the
school, rich men sent their sons to the
school because it was the best that could
be found. They learned that it was not
a source Of contamination, but that their
boys learned here to compare themselves
with others, and to feel the necessity of
something more than mere aceaAh to gain
consideration. AT that time poor men sent
their sons hither because they, knew that
they here would get that education which
they could afford to give them in no other
way. They gained too by intercourse with
their weather. mates polish Of exterior
manners and an intellectual turn Of mind
which their friends could appreciate and
perceive, although they could not tell what
it was that had been acquired. Often
times also the poor boy would take the
lead Of his more pampered class-mate, and
take the honors ofthe school in preference
to him.
To US, therefore, thus prepared by our
education to refute the assertions, that the
rich will not use the public schools Of a
high order, and that the poor cannot prac-
tically have access to them, it seems strange
that there should be any question about
the matter.
In class lately belonging to the school
were two boys, one the son Of a man of
extreme wealth, whose property cannot
be less than $500, 900; and the other the
son of an Irish laborer employed by the
city at dollar day to sweepthe streets.
The latter boy was the better scholar.
The list Of one Of my classes lies before
me. In that class there are three boys
whose parents are gerry wealthy; three
whose parents are poor but not lahorers,
and fen whose parents are in moderate
circumstances. Allthesc are looking for
wardto collegiate training. Ofthe three
who are brought up in great aflluence,
neither is among the best scholars. One
might be so, if he would take the pains,
but he will not. Of the three !enominat-
ed poor, two are very good scholars and
one not good. The best scholars are
among those whose parents are in COM
Portable middle life.
"Perhaps any further details would be
useless. | have heard it said by men of
wealth within Jew years, that they could
not afford to send their sons to other schools
to be fitted for college, because they could
not buy better fitting for them, than they
could get here" s
The Principal Of the English High
School, in letter dated June, 1886, re-
marks
"The school under my charge is prin-
cipally composed Of what are called the
middling classes Of our city. At present,
about one third Of my pupils are sons Of
merchants the remaining two thirds are
sons Of professional men, mechanics and
others. Some of our best scholars are
sons Of coopers, lamplighters, and day la
borers. Afew years ago, he who ranked,
the last year Of his course, as our third
scholar, was the son of a lamplighter, and
worked three nights per week, during his
whole course, to save his father the ex-
pense Of books &C., while at school. This
year my second (if not the first, scholar,
is cooper's son.. We have several sons
Of clergymen Of, distinction and lawyers
of .e,ninence. Indeedrl le school is per-
feet example of the, poor and the rich,
meeting on common ground and on terms
quite democratic"
/. INDIAN Writ is many years since
we have SEEN the annexed in print, and
we think it is high time that it should be
set going agatha at any rate, iii as good
as nine-tenths Of the ''old Joe's" that are
daily dug up from their graves in old news
nanarS and started into life hy neilnX "a :