The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-08-24

cieut as they arc In number, and we shall
have to draw heavily on tho general fund TO
supply tho deficiency. Tho amounts re-
qulred from the two funds will In the aggre.
gate make the total expenditure for school
purposes exceed the limit Of taxation on this
account prescribed by Congress. This mode
Of assessment is In violation Of law and
fraud on the public. Gentlemen who are
satisfied Of the popularity Of the schools
should not hesitate TO make direct assess
menis for their support; they should not re-
sort 10 the article OF conceallng their cost
from public view by assessing only part Of
Il In the name Of the schools and providing
for another part by assessing II In the name
Of different fund. The sooner reform Is
effected In this bad practice, the better will
II be both for the schools and the tax
payers. The present, however, is not the
time 10 discuss this matter.
The question presented most prominently
to my mind, In view Of the bill before us, Is
to what extent the Councils may disregard
the recognized duty, acting within the line
OF their legitimate powers, OF so shaping
their acts as to confer the greatest good on
the greatest number. Our means being In
adequate to provide school accommodations
for all children requiring Instruction, the
policy may we'll be doubted OF limiting the
number Of common schools, or In any way
diminishing their efficiency, In order to es-
tablish q classical and scientific school,
whose benefits can be enjoyed by only IA
vored few. So far as can learn, II will cost
as much to establish this high school, inclu-
ding the purchase Of philosophical appara-
tus, as would be required To establish fifteen
or twenty additional primary and interme
date schools. These being the classes most
needed for the Instruction Of those who are
most dependent upon the aid afforded by the
/ In m that IN Inn
corporation Is able TO increase Its expcudi-
lures on this account, justice demands that
the additional means be applied TO providing
additional schools for the masses now exclu-
ded, rather than for the establishment aud
support Of college for the exaltation Of a
few whose condition In life renders them
independent Of this public bensfaction.
This seems to me TO be the main question,
| aud, SO considering II, cannot consent to
leave ten or twelve thousand children Of tho
most dependent classes without the opportu-
nifty Of receiving even primary instruction,
| in order to afford unusual facilities for the
highest intellectual culture Of avery limited
number who have already enjoyed the full
benefits Of our school system, and the means
of whose parents render them Independent Of
the aid profIered by this college. ! cannot,
In order to crafty the ambition Of this class,
disregard the claims Of those who are most
cuItltu W tuU thuuiShPot oShSheShSo w
slowed for educational purposes.
And there Is yet another question involved
In this measure to which allnsiou may be
made. The utility OF high schools, as part
of a public school system, Is not generally
admitted. The subject is referred to, evi-
IDENTIFY with anxiety, In late paper emanat-
ing from the National Bureau Of Education,
from which, for the Information OF the Board,
I cite the language employed on this highly
Lipar
of tho ondeavors OF some OF the public
schools TO provide classical aud scientific In
struction, says;
"The consequence has been that In many
places the public schools h,ve been over.
burdcned with an excess OF branches OF
study, while the branches essential as the
foundation OF real mental culture have 1een
discarded. This course has diminished hs
real ralue Of u. public schools, rhieh hare t'u'
been made 'uo"rrieM 10 mc rants % dJsr,
'rhus ne essential iHtereas 81 ne many are DIS
regarded. The progress OF popular educa-
tion, so-called, does not consist Gas 1t Is SO
often falsely assumed to consist In intro
ducing high studies, and great many OF
them, into school having only one or two
teachers, and thus make II high. The old
staples OF misunderstanding, writing,
arithmetic and grammar-cannot be dis
penscc with In the popular schools; for
their uses are grounded In the absolutely ne
cessary wants of the youthful mind. Any
System, then, which substitutes other studies
for these, Is one ,close ,chole tendency 10 10
deteriorafe, not 10 eltrdte, the qualify Of ed.cd-
ton"
Here Is strong, aud, l suppose, impartial
testimony. 1t comes from ripe scholar
and experienced preceptor OF Massachusetts,,
and has been given to the public with the
sanction of gentleman well known for his
t.. Al
cause OF education, and who, from the emil
hence Of his services, has been honored with
the position Of head Of the department Of
education, organized several years ago by
act of Congress.
The same writer holds that the proper
work Of the public schools should "not be
lnterfered with, In the vain attempt TO make
them answer for uses and purposes not be.
longing to their proper design, 10 educating
the whole mass Of the popular mind to the
highest possible average OF attainment at
the pubic expense ihese schools, ne
says, VIII nave attained their limit OF per-
iection, not wheh they shail attempt 70 NJ
one out OF thousand boys as ne ought 70 DC
10 enter college, out 70 educate inc nine
hundred ana ninety-nlnc VINO cannot 60 10
coLege IN 'nc pest possible ,hauheri nor Ior
,ne Ieatneu ProIessiohsi pu' Ior tnc not Icss
honorapie eaiings wnivh society demands
snall DC nheu oy "eii educated ana good
eitILcn ,,.,
ING noa .niS 70 oe meii s, aum0ni'0n,
S Shieh srou,u nos oe uIsiosaiaea ~ .nc
l,ieuus Vi popuial euucat'on, hnu sna,i move
~ ,he proper une, as test quesuon that the
olii Ue ihuehhi'eiy PossPoneu, reserying the
PrNlcse,l th's iho',on shai, not oe sus'alheu,
ol Piopos,hs se.siai uh .h 70 'nc piii
oeioIe u Is put upon w. 'hiiu reaaingI
Al, nv .nu soneiusion ~ n's liz rE'narhs, lne iur,
'her eons,uuIa'ioh VI tnc VI, was postponed
uns'l no.' nonuay n'snt ~ ~ eh'
hn ac' 10 pre,ens puoic nuisahses, mere
,o.o,o puoi.s"I p,, was .polou lo" r ,ne
I'M ,'nn.,,sos ~ a. V ,h anu vas pas.Ju
IN, ni, p,o, ''n,Ia ~ o, VI. ,,u ~, Iont
"S W pu onrio ite,n VI " n.y. W tne ahnoy
." an, ,S " Puopo IN n nu "ss noV,hooo'
,ao III han SroS nrbi,c wi uiow '' 'o 10 W p'o'
''S Th .aI Rna IN, ~ ~, p II.aS o,o,ocr o,,or.a
A.. la. ., -, s'oeA auJou'n.u'
o"o u o""""'
The Board met at the usual hour. All the
members present except Mcssrs. Thompson,
Johnson and hatton'
Mr.. Holmes announced that his colleague.
Mr.. Hatton, was still detained at his home
by Illness.
The President laid before the Board mes
sage from Mr.. Crocker, acting Mayor, In
closing n COPY of the contract to grade and