Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-02-08
THp SCHOOL LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS.

If will be noticed that the dissatisfaction
with the present schoollaws of the state, which
made mistaken and Intellectual attempt to af-
feet the last state election, has been brought by
petition to the attention of the Legislature.
Some of these petitions are moderate and rea-
souabe in their requests, while others con-
template nothing less than a revolution in the
school system of the Commonwealth. On
Monday last petition came up frome one of
the towns on the South Shore, asking for di-
vision of the School Fund among the towns
and cities of the Commonwealth, for the aboli-
ton of the Board of Education, and for the
grant to towns and cities of leave to elect and
fix the compensation of experimenting COM
mittees at their own discretion. Other peti.
tions touching different sections of the statutes
on the same subject, and asking for change
and reform, have also been received, indicat.
ing the existence of degree Of discomfort and
disapprobation which deserves at least fair
and candid hearing.
The jealousy of towns and districts against
encroachments on their ancient rights and
privileges, is natural and justifable. There
are certain prudential and social regulations,
so nearly domestic in their character, that the
interference of the state, and of state agents
who are strangers, seems like usurpation, and
proyokes resistance. The justice of compel,
ing towns to appoint particular and arbitrary
jurisdiction over their schools, against the
Judgment of their inhabitants, cannot be made
apparent. 1t is not justice. Whether the
A.
not, it never will work well where it is forced
upon people against their will. Uniformity
of school regulation is in many respects desir-
able; but the confidence and respect of towns
for their own regulations, is essential. The
subject might properly be left to the natural
growth of the best methods which are certain
to assert their supremacy in their own time.
But while the ten lency to centralized power
in this direction may well be checked, it does
not follow that all central authority should be
abolished, or that the School Fund established
for the most bene6cent uses should be dissipat-
ed and squandered. 1t is not necessary to re-
peat here the arduous, and, in great degree
unrewarded services which have been done to
the cause ofeducation by members of that board
since it was established, nor do more than al.
lude to the great value of many of the works
on that subject which have been published UNI
der its auspices Brief as the period of its
trial has been, so brief that very small part
of its policy has had time to develope itself
fully, yet if the question were to be put to the
people of the Commonwealth, to-day, whether
it should be abolished entirely, or superseded
by any other unknown and experimental sys-
tenn, the nearly unanimous verdict would be
against both
1t is possible to criticise some of the uses to
which the school fund is devoted 1t is not
improbable that experience may suggest bet
ter way of affecting public opinion, and dis
seminating practical information, than by
means of travelling agents. But so far as it is
used in educating teachers for their profession,
it accomplishes nothing but good. The nor
NAL school system is yet in its infancy. But
the experience furnished thus far has not for
moment discouraged the hopes of its early and
firm friends. The theory is incontrovertiblc,
that cultivation in this art as in every other,
is one of the necessary aids and conditions of
success. And when these discontents ask for
division of the school fund, for the purpose
diverting it from its present uses, they are
striking blow at system upon which much
of the future progress and welfare of our com
mon schools are destined to depend