The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-08-05
Z. II. Clark's Reply.

:. II. ClaIk's Reply.
The following IL the reply Of 7. II. Clark
to the address presented him by commit
tee OF citizens and published by US several
weeks ago:
0enaen'sn: Your request, 50 urgently.
even hatteringly, extended 70 ma. - rsmsin
with and assist you in sustaining the nublic
schools Of Ottawa, has received. a Il de-
served 10 receive, nv most thouehtful con.
sideration. In coming to a decision have
endeavored only to learn what vas nv duty
ana to be governed accordingly. Nv best
Judgment has been exercised. Had taken
counsel OF feeling only, the decision would
nave Deen quickly reached to stay with You.
Inc ties that bind nae to Ottawa are many
ana strong: in the school room, pupils no.
ole anu faithful a. teacher ever had the
happiness to guide and instruct; out Of it
parents considerate beyond the common
experience and hosts Of warm personal
irlends, some OF them neither pupils nor
parents, Tor whose unwavering support and
onquestioning confidence during years Of
TOLL and trial have no words to express my
appreciation and gratitude. Duty however,
10 myself and family, which ! must place
above any obligation due to Ottawa, seems
70 call upon me to close my connection
with your schools.
RAISING over other considerations leading
to this decision, two only need be given.
First. The salary fixed by the Board is
less than can afford to remain for, and to
accept additional compensation from indi.
vidual ntrIbutions seems to me Objectiona.
BILE for two reasons 1t would have a ten.
dency to subject my conduct and motives
10 constant criticism and misrepresentation
IN many ways, which you can readily con.
celve, and which need not, therefore, he
enumerated. Still, this might be borne, a.
the teacher necessarily encounters much of
this kind OF experience, were there not q
much more serious objection. This course
also involves violation Of the true prnci.
pie ut the foundation of the Common school
system, namely, that the schools shall be
supported by an equal tax ON property. 1t
Is Migrant injustice that citizens should nav
two taxes for the same object and the sec.
ond Is no less tax for being given volun.
tarily. With citizens ofsuch public spirit the
first tax is equally voluntary. Approaching
fully the good intentions towards the schools
OF those contributing 10 retain my services
IN the High School, as we'll as their gener.
GUS confidence in me, l yet firmly believe
1t will be better for the school, even that it
suffer some slight temporary arrangement,
II that be otherwise unavoidable than that
SO fundamental principle be disregarded.
There should be No precedent, either in the
High School or in any other, that a teachers
salary may be part public tax, part private
contribution
Second The High School work cannot
be done by one teacher. There were thirty.
in he tDh C,h
OF the last school year; thirty five more
have just been admitted, making seventy.
one now in that department or this mum.
Der probably not less than sixty Eve will be
IN attendance at the beg inning Of the next
term, part in each one OF the four wears
OF their course. That one teacher can
properly instruct this number OF High
School pupiis,in four grades, 10 say nothing
Of the additional duty Of supervising i've
grammar and primary roems, Is a physical
inpossibility. II The principal OF the High
School had first class assistant, he would
still be the hardest worked teacher in the
city. Yet the prospect that the present
Board would End 1t in harmony with ITS
rigid notions OF economy to furnish such an
assistant, or indeed any assistant whatever,
is not tatterinE,tO say the least; and | have
not the courage TO undertake work prom.
Using nothing but failure.
SO much by way Of accounting for
the decision have reached. cannot close,
However, without expressing my gratifica.
ton that the friends Of free schools in the
city are at length aroused TO the dangers
threatening then. and determined to meet
these dangers and overcome then
You state but the plainest truth when
declaring that there are enemies to the
public school systen in our midst No one
has had better opportunities of learning
this fact than /. Nor is the number of these
enemies SO small as many suppose. The
destruction Of these schools would be &C.
sspted by many Of them as glad duty.
were it only both possible and polite quietly
to effect 1t. But the schools have become
strong in the popular confidence; have
taken deep root in the popular heart; they
cannot be destroyed. What then must be
done! Why,every crafty device, every Sc.
cret lnsidiOus plot Is resOrted to, under one
prstense or another, to cripple their effi.
cheney and deglad them below superficial
sectarian institutions-cven below that ar.
rant humbug, commercial college. Tho
deep hatred felt by the enemies of free
schools finds little expression in words. but
is Enthusiastically manifested, as occasion Of.
fsrs, in actions which speak louder than
words" So :. -
RetrenchnsAt, economy. sectarlsnism.
and kindred catch words, with which the air
is filed about election times, are for the
most part but the vcricst bugOeals to alarm
the sordid and deceive the ignorant.
Must a man live either in palace or q
hovel in order to appreciate the virtue Of
economy! May not those between the two
extremes believe in it quite as firmly and
sincerely! Yet it is from those two classes
that come nearly all the missionaries to
spread the gospel Of economy IN school ex
penditures to the ,nass Of US between. Iii,
but lust to state that but few NJ tb.so mis-