Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1851-06-28
For the Spy.
The Public Schools.


Il Mr.. EDIIoR:--I am not a grumber and do no
wish to find fault needezsy but wish to state pair
case and enquire fthee is any remedy for the wrongs
$ which l, in common with may neighbours are suffering
The case is like is-all the scholars Of certain
grade, given territory, be sent to one parcu
lar school, and are positively prohibited by the schoo
a Committee Gom attending any other school, though
there at least two of the same grade within rea
sonable Distance with vacant seats enough to aceommo
date some thirty or forty more scholars Now, the
school, above referred to, pronounced by the Com.
mittee to be he worst school in the city, and fear
too justly; for has been shown that the teacher has
been in the frequent habit of beating, bruising, and
otherwise matreating some of the scholars, sometimes
for very slight offences, in defiance of positive rule Of
the School Committee printed several years since but,
believe not yet repealed, by which ''the instructors
are enjoned to maintain kind and faithful discipline
over their scholars, avoiding all harsh punshmens and
provoking language
1t has been further shown, that though there had
formerly been trouble with this school, or por-
ton of it, vet, while under the and instruction of
the immediate predecessor the present incumbent, it
was very good school and the teacher left only on
account of i'll health but that ever since the present
incumbent has been in the school, the scholars have
been undergoing process of demorazation-hav
changed very much for the worse--which change is
very easily accounted for by any reecng person. who
knows the harsh system pursued in that school,
"Order reigns in Warsaw was the significant dis.
patch of the Grand Duke the Gar and every care
ul reader of history knows at what an expense. The
attempt has been made with some success TO produce
10. G..l. r /
the breaking down, by brute force, of all feelings of
manhood and sefrespect, and the substitution of
tame, craven, and pritess obedience 10 orders, be-
cause they ORDERS and not because they are right
But to come to the second point it is my misfortune to
reside in the territory assigned the school before
mentioned; we are not only willing but anxious to have
our children properly governed, and have them suit
ably punished if they not obedent according to the
rules Of the Committee. But with such facts as have
come to my knowledge, in common with some twenty
or more my neghbors, dare not, parents in
erested in and responsible for the wel-being of our
children, send them to that school, and as we are all
dependent our labor for LIVELIHOOD we are not
able to send them to private schools.
Now, what can we dol The Committee saw YOU
send them to other school but that, yet refuse
respectful request furnish suitable teacher We
cannot conscen.iousy send that teacher, and are
driven to the other alternative Of keeping our children
out of school entirely. Some twenty, and believe
more, children ae at this time kept from school in THU
district for this cause.
Can you tell US, Mr.. Editor, whether the Schoo
Committee have any legal right thus to deprive oul
children Of schooling, whetherw have any remedy
G.