The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-02-26
State Education.


State Education.
A recent number of the New York Her.
aid has an article on the system of "Cram-
ming" practised in some ofthe Boston pub
lie schools, and says that u strong movement
in opposition to it is being gotten up in that
city. 1t appears that the scholars are pushed
ahead SO vigorously in their efforts after
distinction, they are stuffed with such an
amount of information, and kept on such
q constant stretch of painful exertion that
the plan defeats its own purpose. Their
studies are unremitting except for sleep, no
calculation is made for amusement or ply
steal exercise, and the natural results of
such folly and ignorance have been reali-
zed. The Herald, describes them in the
following language:
Cases of insanity are alleged to have arisen
from this exhausting system of instruction,
while according to the testimony of experien-
ced physicians, who had sons in the institu-
ton, the youths grow up dwaried In body,
variety of diseases, drop into premature grave.
We do not find any such policy encour-
aged, for q moment, in Catholic schools or,
Establishments in the country. In nearly all
such institutions, ample provisions are
made for athletic exercises, and ample
time allowed for rational amusements.
| Young nell are encouraged to the develop
ment of their whole nature, physical and
moral, as well as intellectual. The ques-
ton naturally arises, why lis thisf What
is the cause of SO marked a distinction be-
tween the two systems of education, as to
their policies and resultsf
We remark in the first place, that these
State Schools are not responsible directly
to the parent, nor subjected to their influ-
ence. The teachers are appointed by the
government, paid by the government, and
completely independent of the parents. In
the second place, their interest is simply in
volved in the question of intellectual pro-
gress on the part of the pupil. Whether
he become an adept in vice, or a dwarf in
physical development, is nothing to them,
so long as he passes brilliant examination
and reflects credit for the moment Oh the
school. He may afterwards fall into con.
sumption or insanity or idiocy, or be sent
to the Penitentiary that does not detract
> from the present eclat of the class and rep
it should afterwards be traced back to the
effects of the school, why, it is not 'thei
own school and by that time, they viii
probably he thousands Of miles away.
This business, like any other, is better
carried on when left to private enterprise
Just as we'll, might the government under
u take the building of all the houses, the cul
Il tivation of all the fields, and direction O
: all the factories. Never, in the worl'
u would it accomplish as great results wit
: all its system and power as are effected b.
Q the ceaseless watchfulness and enterprise
of private interest with its thousand fol
IL activity.
= 1t cannot be denied that governmen
% makes a sad botch of anything that is be
IT yond its legitimate sphere. Its vocatio
% is not to replace private effort but to pro
l. tect it. Men combine together in politics
e societies for mutual protection and enforce
is ment of their rights and for nothing else
Q, certainly it is not with the view of sinkin
i'd the character and privileges of parent an
20 vesting them in the State.
'r We find in this country, that governmel
a. working, whether municipal, State or nj
h. tional, is corrupt, inefficient and extrav
il, CANT. 1t is not to be compared with tt
K simplicity and efficiency of private oper
ne tons in any respect, and, therefore, the
he is SO much the more reason why it shou
a be restricted to such subject matters as a
to strictly and necessarily within its PROVING
hrs Instead ofencouraging the insane tendon
ect for controlling and directing Gverythi
n through the government, we ought to
it'll member that the best governed country
IRE the one which is least governed. bet
leave the people to their own devices, 81
,n- ply protecting them from foreign and
eel :2cstic wcoag.