St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-04-19

BY request of the Trustees of the
State University, DR.. Totten, the new
President, delivered an address before
the members of the General Assemb-
ly, at Des Moincs, on the 9th of Feb
ruary. The Address has been pub
lished by the State Printer.
The President divides educational
institutions into three classes LIST.
Common Schools. I'd. High Schools
and colleges. Sd. The University. 1t
is the object of the address to set forth
the sphere and utility of the Universe
ty, and urge an appropriation Of fif.
teen thousand dollars for completing
the Boarding House, now under roof,
and for purchasing chemical appara-
tus, &c. His general estimate of the
University, as distinguished from all
other schools, we regard as undis-
eliminating and extravaganza. lie de-
preciatcs other schools and narrows
their scope. In speaking Of Common
Schools he says:
"The studies of the common school
are, properly, reading writing, arith-
metic, English grammar, geography,
and such knowledge of history as the
reading exercises may afford Higher
than this the instructions Of the COM
mon school should not go for the
benefit of higher education than
this cannot be common to all. The
poor man cannot afford to have the
time of his children employed upon
higher branches for he needs their
services at home, and while the teach
err is engaged with his more advanced
scholars, the children of the poor are
dcfrauded of the attention which be-
longs to them" Page 6.
These views seem to proceed from
the hypothesis that the common
schools are simply charitable institu-
tons for the poor, and as the poor
cannot allow their children time for
pursuing the higher branches there
fore these branches should not be
taught in the common schools. These
sentiments are injurious in spirit and
tendency, dishonorable to a Republic,
and contrary to the facts of history
in connection with the origin and
progress of our common schools. That
we have not mistaken the meaning of
President Tottpn is evident from his
saying in the next paragraph to that
from which we have quoted, where he
speaks of the higher studies as giving
man social and intellectual SUPERIOR
ty: " 1t is unjust that the income Of
the school fund, and the money Of the
taxpayer should be expended for the
benefit Of those who for the most part
can well afford to pay their own ex.
penses.7 That is, the assistance Of
the State should be given onl y as an
act of charity to the poor.
These are degrading and calumnia-
ting representations of the system OF
public education. That system is as
absolutely ignorant Of any distinction
between the rich and poor, as are our
courts of Justice and halls of legisla-
ton.
And these sentiments, by a natural
and logical necessity, as well as by
reducing the schools where four fifths
of the children of the State receive
the whole of their education to hope.
less inferiority, would operate disas-
trously to the cause of University-Edu.
cation itself.
Fortunately for us, the true idea OF
Public Education is incorporated into
the Constitution, and laws of the land
Every member of our General Assemb
ly is sworn to" encourage, by all
suitable means, the promotion of in,
tellectual, scientific, moral and agri
cultural improvements" Through the
muniicent provision of the Fathers Of
the Republic we have adequate re,
sources for educating all the youths
Of the State, and by our laws the com.
mon schools are open to every child
from five to twcnty-one years of age.
And the Board of Education have
recommended textbooks in Algebra,
Surveying, Natural Philosophy, Chem,
istry, Physiology and History, as
well as in those studies to which tho
President Of the State University of
Iowa would confnc the pupils of the
common school. EXCELSIOR.