New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-30
why the Free School Law should not be
Repealed.

To the Editor Of The Tsibune:
DEAR SIR / have noticed Of late 10 The Irib-
une several articles from gentlemen, going to show
the improperly of Free School, Now, wish TO
offer a reason why the law should not, in my
opinion, be repealed. First that law is the
means Of educating greater number Of children
than otherwise would be educated. 1t is univer.
sally acknowledged by Teachers and superinten.
dents that more scholars have aseended school dur
ing the same length Of time, and in the same dis.
trict, under the new law than under the old, and
further, that their schools have been better, be.
cause the scholars have been more regular in their
attendance. Now, why all this Because, under
the old School Law, wherever we found men and
they are plenty who were unable to paya rate
BILL part of these men would keep their children
at home entirely, unwilling to acknowledge their
inability to pay rate bill, and consequently aban'
don all interest If they ever had any, IN the educa
lion of their children, either intellectual or moral
and allow them TO run in the street. 10 be compsn.
Mons, in many cases, for their neishbors' dogs.
w bile other men, equally unable to pay ratebnl,
will, however, in order to keep up the appearance
that they are worth a few shillings start their
children, eight or ten as the case generally is, 10
school on ito commencement, unprovided with
books because they don't calculate TO send them
only enough to take of the curse. Therefore. they
will send them perhaps day or two the hrst week,
and day the second week and at the closing up
Of the term they have made out 10 go to schoo
about ten or fifteen days each, and they have learn.
ed nothing. And when their parents are called
upon to pay the ratebiu, they are mad because 1t
is 90 much, and declare that they never Will send
10 school another day in their lives. Now, know
that this as the case at the time the old law was
alive. 1t was in every school which taught, and
irreeularity OF attendance was the universal CON-
plaint uttered by every teacher. And now how n
Il under the Free School law Ask every old
School Teacher in the State OF New York, and
see if majority OF Them don't tell as that they are
better from the fact thatthey bad fuller schools and
scholars attend more steadily. Now, not this
one fact q sufficient consideration 70 induce every
rational man to vote for that law in November
next in order that our Common Schools may be
made better, 90 that the people will love them
more and dread them less
If the Free School law be repealed fatal blow
will be struck to the future happiness and pros
perjty of the State of New York. We deny the
poorer youths the privilege of winning by study
the diadems Of virtue knowledge and science, and
wearing without reproach the honors OF their coun
try.
But an director says, our schools are not as good
teachers as good as under the Did law. We'll, that
objection to the Free School 10 worth no more than
it will fetch And it will fetch just nothing at all.
To hear some men talk one would suppose thstis
if we were fools) that there never was sub
thing as a poor school teacher known TIL within
five or six months. The mass OF opposers to the
Free School law are ignorant enough to think that
because trustee hires poor teacher it is all
owing to the new Law. 1t puts me in mind that
some men are wise, and some are otherwise. II
every man would consider the absolute necessity Of
educating the children Of our land we should never
hear any more such thin objections. But the men,
or good share Of them, who oppose this new sys-
tenn are cursed with that misery and selfish dispo
sition, which makes earth he'll, and man a lost
spirit These misers and bigots are not aware Of
the fact tina, it is education which causes our navy
to dash unchecked through the mightiest pillows
and to Hume the halls Of science and extnguish
the torch of vice and ignorance. No, not they
But education has done this, and Free Schools the
world over are best adapted to bring around that
state Of education which the world stands 90 much
in need of. Free Schools that must encircle the
gobe-and edacstion that will erect the impregns-
bic bulwsrk against crime and suffering. w. NJ. y.
Poldnd, CAaEtdt9ef Co. Jals is. 1850.