The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-16
+srrseas-as7 For the Standard
FREE SCHOOLS A PRESENT NECESSITY.

FREE SCHOOLS A PRESENT NECESSlI1'
The freedmen, with the approval OF thell
I Republican friends, demand the early estao
ushment of free schools for them throughout
the State. And by free-schools they do moi
mean q few charity schools to be Kept alVt
by the leavings of the Literary Fund; mol
schools to be supported, as by the provision
al government in Florida IS cong, by Poi
tox on colored citizens but free schools like
those maintained in the leading states of the
Union. to be sustained by uniform proper
tytax The benevolence of the North which
has supported schools here through the times
of greatest restitution, will soon be called to
other fields and liberal as that charity has
| been, the great mass of children have not yet
been taught The demand of the Freedmen,
then, is Just, and equal and wise, notwltli-
standing the objections of some well-mean-
ing persons. -, =,
VIC hear of some objections which would
be valid, if it were proposed to establish sim
plv charity schools. 1t is said that charities
should generally be sustained by the chart
table, very rarely by government-that at
this time especially it is important for all to
learn the lesson of selfsupport and indepen-
dence-that the truly worthy of the freedmen
prefer to pay for their children's schooling,
and that this spirit should be encouraged so
that only the very poor should depend on
the gratuity. All these objections were
brought up years ago against the old COM
mon schools of the State, a noble system
which distinguished North Carolina above
her sister States of the South, and to which
many of her worthiest sons are indebted for
all the learning they ever received. But as
those objections are now revived when free
schools for freedmen are proposed, it is
worth while to show how easily they can be
answered.
A benefit is not charity because it costs
man nothing The use of Market square
costs the farmer nothing, the use Of the road
costs the traveller nothing, for free markets
and free roads are institutions-they are not
charities. In some states of the Union, a
wagon on the principal roads is stopped In
about every ten miles at toll-gate to pay
toll of from five to twenty-five cents. This
is because the road was built and is kept up
by private company. Some people like
the turnpike system, because it secures a
road IN good order at no expense to the
county, while each person who drives on the
road pays according to his use of it. In
North Carolina, on the other hand, the coun-
ty makes the roads, builds the bridges and
keeps them up, and charges the travellers
nothing. This free road system is generally
preferred and considered fair, although
many drive over the road without having
paid cent of the expense. They do not
feel as ifthey were receiving charity nor are
they any more disposed to repudiate their
just debts because they do not pay the six
pence ride as under the other plan.
Just So where the system of free schools
prevails. those who send to them do not lose
their self-respect nor independence, and are
quite as willing to pay their debts as the
peole of less liberal communities. Instead
OF fostering pauperlsm, the system IS found
to encourage public spirit.
But not only is a tree school system good
thing, but we need not prefer starting it for
want of school fund. 1t is right and just
that property should be taxed for free
schools. There are some persons who see no
relation between thousand acres which be-
long to one Man and the education of
another's children. What justice is there
that my land should be taxed to educate my
neighbours children 2" The answer is plain.
The education of the children around you
will develop such an intelligent community
that in twenty years your land will be IN
creased in value twice as much as the school
ing will cost. Although to raise property in
value is not the object of school education,
yet that is the regular effect of free schools,
property may be taxed to pay tor its own
improvement.
Or we may look at the subject from
another point of view. 1t is for the public
benefit, and indeed almost essential to the
safety of our institutions. that all the next
generation should grow up educated. Even
with free schools this will cost the parents
more than to let them grow up illiterate.-
Therefore, certainly the State ought to tax
the property of its citizens to give at least
this little help and encouragement to parents
in their work. When we think of the toll
some life which many a father and mother
lead, and the service they are doing to the
State, in bringing up Alright large family
OF children, we rejoice in any relief that they
can receive.
So valuable has the free school system
been found by experience that every new
state as it is formed in the great West adopts
it as matter of course. Kansas, Oregon
and Colorado are not rich now, but they
hope to become so, and for that very reason
they start their free schools from the first
This draws to them the best laboring popu-
lation to cultivate their country and build
up their cities. The men in those States
whose property is taxed to support the
schools would not give them up any more
than they would the railroads which bring
the immigrants there.
Our colored people make no unfair claim
In calling for free schools, when there are no
free schools for white children. For they
do not ask for free schools for themselves to
the exclusion of others, but only for free
schools where they can go with any one else
who wishes AS the public furnishes public
roads on which any can travel, and public
squares in which any can walk or trade,
whether rebel or loyal, white or black, native
or foreigner, so let it give public schools to
which any can go. If it is best to have
separate schools for any class, let them be
established when the necessity appears, but
there should be no delay in instituting free
schools open to all. F. P. B.
For the Standard.
EAuPTH NV AE lilly I'm eli hTHLM