Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-12-10

| you AS he is no place else in this country. -
test in the confidence of his love, that al
1 may take knowledge that you have been Will
him. Adieu until We meet in that,land where
there are no tyrants and no slaves. -ar.
..."r JANE G. SwIssHELN.
The Closing ofsh Public schools.
Mr.. EDITOR At the meeting of the Board
Of Education on Monday evening last to con,
slider the suggestion II will not dignity it with
the term proposal-of closing the Publ,
schools at the end of the current year, the
Mayor, who presided, remarked, that the
taxes imposed on the inhabitants of this city
if assessed in any city in Europe would cause
a rebellion Now, it strikes me, that the
suggestion, even, Of closing the Public schools
in this city, is greatly more a cause of rebel
lion than any amount of taxation; and am
surprised-nay mortified-that the matter
should have been broached and no more stir
made thereat. Is it possible that the abroga-
ton of the most important institution of the
city-one that concerns the entire community.
touching not only its educational interest, bu,
its moral and religious welfare-can be agita-
ted and none protest?-not even newspaper
sound an alarm?
had thought the heavier load had been
laid on the shoulders of this burden bearing
community, but, the heaviest is yet to come,
it would seem, and it will have come, most
certainly, when our children are denied the
bread of instruction-when they ask a fish
and are given " the stone" Of ignorance >
and this, too, at the hands Of the property.
holders IF the place, whom, If they had only
the wisdom of this world, would see tina,
a measure more impol;tic could not be de
ylsed.
But 20 farther. To do away, even for a
time, with the Public Schools, is, besides be
ing impolitic, disgrace. Indeed, the p'oposi
| ton to do this is disgrace, and the consum
| nation of it great wrong-a wrong without
excuse The report thereof would bring up
On us reputation infinitely worse than thai
Of Reputation. After such an act the door
# ofingression would justly close, and the hi0
ses rust because of unturning, while those o
c;,ression would stand widely open; for what
| true parent would come to, or what one re-
nain in, community where his Children art
| ,i,nicd instruction where "the cradles o
liberty" as the New England school houses
have been justly called, are not in use!
Neither could any citizen, in whom tr'.,
..ankooa yet remains. pass through our street
Without sense of burning shame, for h,
| you'd encounter our children in idleness, OF
cutting the perricious training Of street.-the
the certain road to ruin.
No, Mr.. Editor, anything, everything is tt
be sacrificed before such step should be Ia
ken The masses, no doubt, have paid thei'
taxes; have discharged their debt towards
supporting the schools and they demand thei
equivalent. If those vino owe larger amount.
refuse to pay, and thus cripple th, school sys
tenn, then let them be dealt with as they woul,
be were they possessed Of less-do by then
according to law and take enough of the
property to meet the debt they owe to tn
children of the City.
During the past year the schools, under tn
wise cure of the present unusually efhcie:.
Principal, have greatly improved. Nor shoult
there be any modification of the plan now il
successful operation. 1t would be very Sc
rious evil to allow the Principal to resign, o
to have him set aside. He is essential to tn
system His experience is above price. -
Every exertion should be made to retain him
I say nothing Of the breaking of faith in dis
charging him after an engagement for yea
-itselfa wrong. ..a......a'. ...'I
The system now in operation, with its even
ing school, is doing an incalculable amount {
good. Particularly is the evening school {
especial Importance. A visitor remarked
the writer, after spending an evening at tn
school, that the was surprised to find such a
excellent school, and more surprised at th
ability of the Principal" ...
Hence, then, no modification of the pla
should be acceded to which deprives US an
the scholars Of so valuable servant an
friend. Extra exertions have been made
sustain other good institutions in our mids
but this one, our Public Schools, demand
more than all. -a..
Mr.. Edisor,-I am not only parent, but
sincere wel-wisher to this City Of my adol
ton. Not one has deeper interest in II
! place, or yearns more for its resuscitation, b'
il our Public Schools by abrogation, for Sc
son, or by modification Of plan are to be il
, injured, have no refutation for remarks mac
against us and but little heart to work for Il
: future ofour struggling City.
No, Mr.. Editor, ,--Agitate! Agitate!
/. A PARENT.
| Decemher ST 1879 .... r. -..s