St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-04-19
The Union School.
IRE

Mr.. EDITOR The union school hav
ing found its way into the CdtedOnidn,
| think it may he well to keep it before
the people of the village until we can
all understand where we are, and where
the school is. and whether it is to Sue
coed or become failure and our vii
lage, which prides itself in being one of
the finest villages in New England, and
in advance of many i'll the interest
which it has always shown in the moral
and intellectual culture of the children,
shall let the union school go down,
and take a step blackboard instead of
moving forward and occupying the po-
sition which it is our duty and privil
eye to occupy III the education of our
children.
That the union school has had many
friends we do not doubt, and scarcely
any one will say but what they are
friendly and trust it will succeed. but
90 no farther and take no interest III its
success Some of those who have been
its warmest friends and still are, have
began to think that it will prove fail
IRE. in view of the influence which is
working against it. 1t is not enough
that the leading citizens of the village
pay their taxes cheerfulll to support
the schools: hut they must 90 farther
than that attend the school meetings.
visit the schools. and send their chill
drcn. The common school is the pride
and boast of America. and with freedom
stone. upon which stands our r,puhli-
can government. 1t is its Safeguard.
and il demands and should have TIA"
hearty and cordial approval and intIu-
clrc of every citizen of the Village in
every form in which them influence can
Ice felt
What are the Influences which alc
operating to-day t" destroy the union
school. and with that the othcrs,.louls !!
1T d'd'ltlllN - Il Sll'tle lhlIi''i'f
against the union school. The friends
of hat have cmdc;iA orcd To- make it Il
iI>t-cl;.>S school. and one that shall At
tact IT, II >,iiulal- and lIv, h,i.t >.,,.-
ccrdcd. and have driven Ihirhrr >"rrc
tvcnt, >rh"lai> wh" >horld m"~ b" t
the union school.
There are some who are rduc"tiuG
THEN children al home" 81 With i,ri>.ic
ten. hes ~:iy H." that lac rriltniru ., ,tsol
is II" place t. educate thcu., they ave
afraid suppose of the moral influence
which may In cNcy'cd upon t'""' in
minglimg Observation-Disclosures 1T the com
mon school. Onr may say il i the
right and privilege of any parent l",d-
ucntc hra children ~ he =hulI judge
best. But not only must we look t."
the education of our own children. htli
also Ia the education of all others We
base onr government upon tn" plinci-
pie of the education f all that a< mem
beers of society all shall hr educated ::
and to compel the attendance of chill
drcn ut school against the will of them
parents when no provision is made h,
the parent for their education. such
being the principle We say that it Is the
moral duty of every person To send THEN
children to the common school. and if
they are not what they should he. make
them such. The Catholic will not trust
his children in the common school ful
fear of the religious influence which
may be eXertcd over them. We claim
that the Catholic is wrong. and that he
should trust his children III he common
school. Let all the children come to-
gether in the school upon an equality
There should he no ariStocracy among
the children.
Every man. woman. and child in st .
JohnShury should feel grateful for the
noble and generous gift to lis of the
Athenaum. and the privilege which
the poorest and hlmble>t individual in
town, alike with the rich and cultured.
have of entering its halls and taking
from its shelves the rich treasures of
knowledge which are there collected.
But before one will desire. to enter these.
rooms and seek for the information
which can there he found he wants the
culture and training of the common
school. and the higher and better thar
culture the greater value will he
placed upon the know ledge to hc given
i'll the Public Library. If we wish and
desire that in the future the youth of
this village shall he found seeking for
knowledge and information which can
he found in the rooms of the Athena
nm instead of spending their time in
the saloons and groceries which may he
found upon the corners of our streets.
let us maintain and support the union
school. \ CITIZEN.
ST. Johnsb"y. april 10.
The National Colored Convention.
FRED DOUGLASS ON POLITICAL ISSUES
Frederick Douglass arrived at New
l,.i. 4