Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-03-15
City Schools.


Discretion is the better part of v.or," IS the
fellow said when he retreated from a contest
with notorious little animal which distributed
perfumery with unwelcome profusion Cense-
quently beg leave to retire from any personal
controversy with Citizen or any body else ;
my only motive in discussing the question of
schools and school masters beng to show the
folly and short sightedRess of those who would
make lazar-houses of our school edifces, and
who, through niggardly parsimony would de-
prlve our children OF that kind of Education to
which they are entitled, whether rich or poor
Our government has wisely provided a mag
niicent fund for the maintenance of Common
Schools. Now whether these schools shall be
4" common in its inferior sense or common 4"
as applied to the terms of admission, must be
decided by these directly interested and having
control of the funds. There seems to be a Dor
ton of this community, and they would call
themselves per ercellence the respectable portion
who would degrade our public schools to the
lowest rank, insinuating that they viii do for
common folks, who have not money enough to
send them TO some higher and more expensive
Institution. With such l have no sympathy
Ny preference. on the contrary would lead me to
have our public schools 50 organized and con-
Quoted as TO afford good substantial education
to whomsoever might choose to avail himself of
It's advantages. Ii is a duty which Free Gov
ernment owes to Its citizens 20 afford them those
advantages for acquiring good education
which alone can qualify them to take part in
the public administration OF affairs and without
which, 1t is the united testimony of all good and
wise men, except " Citizen" our liberties would
soon become endangered, and if conflict is nee
e.sary between the friends of higher institu-
ton and the friends of good public schools, let
US be classed with the latter But | apprehend
no such hostility is necessary Let those who
prefer to send their children to a private school
and are able and willing to pay tor the privil-
eye, enjoy their right. But let them not on tins
account, seek to deprive others less fortunate oi
an equally favorable opportunity to acquire
knowledge aud caltiyaee their intellectual pow
ers.
Take away the common school aud you take
away II course of time our liberties Degrade
The common school, and allow those attending
Summaries to turn up the uoses contemptuously
at It's humble scholars, and you al once give
' - - '71N~-''Nf - --SttHS IL war with
the fundamental principles Of our Governme nj
Then let each work in Its own sphere. Aud -
We think Seminaries are not inten led TO teach
children their \ C's, but to afford an onrortr-
nifty for higher classical education than j. con-
iemplated by the founders of the common school
system, 50 let them organize and raise their
standard OF scholarship as to become worthy Of
the name. But their own interest. shonld
prompt them TO encourage the elevation and inn.
Preyeineut OF our public schools, since IL i !,
them Tie raw material must first be refined
1t may De inferred from the above, that. since
l would place Seminaries higher, [ would con-
sequently sink the public school lower. Now
L Deg leave 10 be understood as not referrinf, tn
any particular School or Sc miuary in nv illus
tration, tor believe We have no institution of
the KIND which is better than all our public
schools should he. And in order 10 have such
pubic schools, people Interested in Semiaari.s
must not oppose such an appropriation of public
idhcs "a Will secure teachers of the right stamp
nor should the friends of common schools en-
cca7oF To throw obstacles in the way of the
building up OF higher Institution of learning
among Us Ii We can have Bat one. let rs have |
the public school II money eau be ra,.ed nv /
private subscription to build up one which shall i
attract students from abroad. let no one object.
SPECTATOR.