Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-03-30
Letter OF Judge Perkins to N school
Teacher.

ISpIASAroLIs. March %. 1864
To Teacher in one Of the Public Schools IN In
dianapOiis:
DrAR SIR: On last Saturday in conversation
between Us touching the common school system
Of Indiana. and the manner in which changes in
is could be affected. informed you. in reply to
some questions. that contemplated publishing,
at an early day. - short article on the subject,
simply for the purpose of disabusing the public
mind of errors with which il had been filled by
the uniairness or ignorance of individuals in the
community who had sought to direct it on this
topic And having been educated myself. SO
far "a l was educated in school during my mi
nority. exclusively in common school. and
having afterwards been for two years common
school teacher it occurred to Inc that had such
relationship to the common school system and its
teachers in which my interest has never abated,
as justified my changing the previously intended
direction of my communication to the form of a
letter to YOU. Hence its address. | offer no fur
Their apology:
rHE OLD CONSTITUTION AND SCHOOLS UNDER IT
Indiana has existed State for orty-eight
wears. During that period she has had two cOnsti-
tution-. the hrst one being in operation from 1916
to 1852. thirty-sx years.
That constitution contained this provision on
the subject of Common schools, viz: after pro-
viding IN Sec l. Art y. for the application of
the permanent school fund IL ordained in Sec 10
OF the same article. that. lit shall be the duty of
the general assembly, as soon AS circumstances
will permit. to provide by law for general sys-
TEN of education. ascending in res ular grada-
ton from township schools tn n State university,
wherein tuition shall toe gratis and equally open
to ali =. ls43. ,. Sc
Under this constitution the Legislature had
power To support by taxation. just : Literally
As IL pleased. general system OF common
schools: and il was not prohibited from permit
ting local system, that -. OF letting cities,
districts. &c. support common schools in their
own localities. by taxation, or not Is they
pleased
Now, what was the practice under that const-
tutioIy During its existence. both parties
alternately. periodically in power. but neither of
them would levy taxes To support general sys-
ten OF continuous common schools, though both
enacted laws permitting such localities Ms saw tit
to do so. to support by local taxation local com
mon schools The consequence WAS, We had no
efficient general system. and the census Of 1880
showed a mortifying disparity between the state
of education in Indiana and some of the other
states.
TIE NEW INSTITUTION AND THE PRACTICE UNDER IT.
In 1850. the Convention assembled 10 form
new constitution The unfavOrabe educational
condition OF the State produced by the practice
under the old constitution was then yivldv De
fore the people OF the State aud the Constitution
al Convention. II was determined 20 provide a
remedy. Il was determined 20 DO away with the
local system and render IL necessary Tor all the
people, "a order TO obtain good and continuous
common schools in any locality. to cause them 20
exist all the State: in short. 10 concentrate
the entire educational interest and energy OF the
people upon oue general system which should
secure. IN its operation, a good common school
education o the entire BODY of the children OF
he State. To carry out this purpose, there Va.
inserted. IN the new constitution. the following
provisions. which were adopted by the people:
viz. Art :. section / Il, shall be the duty Of
the General Assembly 10 provide by law Tor a
general and HRio-m system ct common schools
wherein tuition shall De without charge and
eqcaily open 70 all
This section. departing from the language Of
The olc constitution. enioiuS upon the Legislature
txsstsbl.sna 9shcYqf md HRsfoF1H sgsfem throu ,h
o1t the State: but /. does NOT prohibit ia terms
toe return 10 the local system, also; and, there
fore TO put the 20 that system entirely
beyond possibility. the constitution further pro-
vided. section %. article 8. that the Genera
Assembly shall not pass local or special laws
plofl1ihk iof supporting common scooOis
There are other provisions OF ike bearing II
the constitution
linus, then. the new constitution commanded
general HHyorm, and prohibited a local system
at common schools,
Under this genera system IL va and - il
the Po~er oi the Legislature 10 support. by taxa
ton lust o. iiherai!y a. IL pleAses common srhool
la every district OF the State 20 that there should
be CONTINUOUS schools the wear round So N,
Supreme Court decided. ! lad D sc
Under the constitution. both political par
tee have besn alternately. periodically in power