Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-01-26
For the CiritidH and Telegraph.
Objections 10 Public Schools Considered and
Answered.

For The Ciriiian and Telegraph.
Objections 10 Public Schools Considered and
Answered.
Mr.. EpIToR.-I am glad to sec our gal
laht little State beginning to be alive on the
subject Of public education.
Our Legislature is stirring il the matter
and we artlently hope, that the mountain in
labor will bring forth something better than
o mouse.
We hope that something will be done to
redeem our State from the shame OF having
20 thousand white people who can neither
read nor write.
We do not expect, however, that system
of Public Schools will be introduced into our
State without efforts to prevent it and 1t that
fails to render it inefficient III its operations.
Your late editorials presented some OF the
advantages Of Public Schools, and with your
permission we propose considering some
of the objections to them,
Objection ISL as Public Schools must be
Supported in pa1t By tdrotiom, ii is said TO be
unjust TO tar those rho hare no chioren TO
educate or ,rho may desire 10 educate Their
children IN different poy.
This objection looks plausible and deserves
some consideration.
If nole were benefited by Public Schools
except those who are actually educated i'll
them the objection would have some force.
Such, however, is not the case. Experience
has proven that they are an actual general
benefit. An educated community becomes
active and cnterprising Enterprise is pro-
ductive of wealth and wealth, increasing in a
STATE dimiuishes taxation, and enhances the
value OF property. The enterprise created
by system of public schools becomes thus a
pecuniary benefit to every citizen. ii Cum
berland would have had good system OF
public education like some of our sister cities
in other States, properly would not have de-
prcciated, but the strong energies OF enter
Prise and business would have perpetuated
our prosperity. Northerners sometimes At
! tribute the torpidity Of our towns to the in
stitution of slavery among U.S. There is tot
little Of it to produce any such results. 1t is
tie want of Publi, Schools. General educa-
ton has given enterprise and prosperity to
our Northern and Western neighbors-they
made investments in Public Schools aud
these have paid back hundred-fold. II
therefore Mr.. B-a quiet old bachelor is
taxed few dollars annually to educate his
neighbors children, and thereby has the val
lie of his property increased far above tLs
amount he has paid, he ha. certainly no req.
son to complain of injustice.
But the taxation for public education Of
the chidlcss citizen is but simple justice, AND
puts him on an equality only with his, fel'
! low men, The Father OF a family adds to the
population wealth, and defence OF tue State
| and whilst paying taxes as others do. pay
| for the support OF his children. Asan equiv
aleut in some measure for these extra expen-
ses borne by those who rear families, tie tax
alton for Public Schools, of those who are
childlcss, would be but measre justice. Th,
special tax levied in some States on bacAel-
ors is founded on this principle.
That it is right for the State TO provide
for the general interests OF her ctih N, is eyi
! dent from our entire ~ stem 81 lo.lac"lsc pu
ony.
Take for instance our judiciary. The 5 At
EMPLOYS Judges Mr.. 4. never hi IA .y
suit in his lie aud yet lie il taxed To- "a! til
expenses of Court. We have hunters {
State, county, aud city officers vino are p.i
in part at least by tax alton aud yet hundreds q
our citizens re GIVE no direct benefit from them
Upon what principle then are they taxed
Because these officers are for the general good
If therefore, the State makes tue teacher
officer for the general good, and supp rts hin
in part by taxation, she is but carrying OH
her general principles Of government.
The fact that some who pay for the sup
port Of Public Schools, may not employ tt
public Teacher, docs not affect the argument
Suppose a number of men could and would
employ private States Attorney, is that an.
reason for cX.usng them from taxation il
support Of lis office. Suppose q ci;iz-I
should say; do not like your police, AN,
will employ private watchiunn hrmy lr,p
cry. lie has right to his preference, hn
no one would think OF exoncrating him ir.l
any portion of city taxes.
SO, should any one not see proper to ava
himself of tie direct benefits Of Public School
whilst he derives their general benefits
common with his fellow citizens, he came
, complain Of injustice.
More anon. PLATO.