The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-08-05

veuNstioh tuaS suuerS uttto chllQfen 10
become deforned by sitting on seats with
out backs; that has only frowns for the
teacher whose services are worth oil she
receives, while the ones worth nothing re.
ceive the smiles; that, in short, under every
specious pfetext, never once stating the real
reason. seeks to do mischief and that con-
tinually to the public school cause-this
kind Of economy they wish to be excused
from endorsing. Indeed from such economy,
they may well utter the pious prayer, Good
Lord, deliver u.s."
Then, as to sectarianism, which there is
90 painful anxiety in some quarters to keep
out OF the schools, have this to say that
In my long connection with the public
schools OF Ottawa. commencing Dec. 20.
1850, and continuing to within few days, l
have never known Of any effort to introduce
sectarlanism into the schools, or to give, in
any degree, sectarian direction to their man
agement, that did not come from the very
persons who have been loudest IN crying
mo sectarianism." The famous individual
who shouted SO Justify "stop thlefstop thief"
has had more than one diligent imitator in
the Board of Education.
The public are little acquainted, proba-
ply, with the manner in which these dealers
In 'retrenchment' and 'sectarian' twaddle
have found their way into the Board of Ed.
ucation both latterly and in years past.
Regularly each year, commencing weeks,
sometimes even months before the annual
election, little clques of worthless have met
In frequent, secret caucus in the back room
Of some wet grocery, 20 discuss the ap.
proaching school election, and plot how
they might get themselves or their friends
elected to the school board The subse.
quent ward caucus has frequently been, in
certain wards, only the carrying out of the
programme arranged in the grocery eau.
Gus. Thus men utterly unfit mentally
and morally have been time and again foisted
on the city as the public guardians Of our
children
While the enemies of the schools have
been thus watchful and active, their friends
have been otttimes apathetlc and negligent,
not lereseeing danger, or, if forcseeing it,
vaguely trusting that others would do what
II was their own duty alone to attend to.
1t is to be hoped that the future will wit.
ness no more "f this Indifference, but that
every father viii realize, on each election
Gay, that he OWES to the eighteen hundred
school children Of the city duty that he
must not negl' ct-a duty, too, that cannot
be done by deputy that he must not only
vote tor the BEST candidate but work for
him. 1t Is to be hoped that every mother
VIII exert her influence in the same dlrec.
ton. She can make that influence felt
though she be not allowed to vote, Let it
De Insisted that the candidates for the Office
OF school director be friends of public
schools; that their friendship be not merely
q up service but OF kind that shows itself in
actions; that they send their own children
10 these schools; and that, if elected, they
shall exert themselves to make them better
rather than poorer Let It come to pass
that every aspirant for TINS high office shall
regard it IN It's true light, as solely intended
Tor promoting the education of our youth
and not, IN any measure, for investing its
incumbent with ill.titting dignity and i'm.
portance.
This communication is much longer than
intended to make it; still, ON review, find.
Ing nothi' 6 that seems uncalled for, think
will offer no excuse for its length. =
And now, gentlemcs accept for yourselves
my thanks for the kind and complimentary
terms in which you have addressed me, and
for that great number of citizens whom YOU
represent. who have trusted me so long and
SO implicitly, my grateful acknowledge
ments
That your schools may have greater pros
perity in the future than in the past that
In greater measure than hitherto, success
may attend the efforts of their friends, and
failure, the devices of their enemies, is the
earnest wish OF
Yours truly,
Tnos. II. CLARE
Ottawa. July %, 1871.