The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-04-27
Board of Education.

L
ton en- the new curriculum Of studies proposed
at previous meeting by DR.. Paul. All the
members were present After some prelmins-
r, business of no importance, the matter of the
proposed course of studies was, on motion of
Director Markle, taken up for consideration. A
| communication from Rev. ]. NJ. Sturtevant, in
reference to the subject under consideration,
was read. and, on motion, placed on file.
Director Nash moved to amend by adding to
the curriculum for the High School the stady
of Latin and Greek, and gave notice that, if this
| amendment was adopted, he should also move TO
add the German language. Mr.. Nash supported
his motion in speech of some thirty minutes,
substantially as follows:
Mr.. PREsIDENr-Two weeks ago this even.
ing you introduced before this Board course of
study for our schools, which was 20 new, and in
many respects so novel, that l, for one. desired
some time for thought and consideration; and
although you moved its prompt adoption, and it
met with a. prompt q second from the Director
from the 6rst ward, yet thought that com.
mon courtesy would be shown those members of
the Board elo had not been coasulted ~ the ssat.
table for one month. This was promptly denied
az, and We were grsciously allowed two weeks
for considering 30 weighty matter, and this to
my mind gave color to the rumor that the pro.
posed ourriculan would be adopted without
amendment under any and all circumstances, and
it possible without debate.
assume, in the 6rst place, that II the people
OF Ottawa desire the prosperity Of the city; If
they hope and expect people OF education, wealth
and culture to come here to live and make homes,
we must offer them good or better advantages
in the way of business, religion and education
than our neighboring towns and cities. As Q
natural business point, Ottawa possesses superi.
or advantages. We have many elegant and cost.
ly churches, and can offer all kinds of religious
privileges, from the most orthodox to the most
liberal 80 that We are not ouly not behind, but
far in advance of our neighbors in business and
religious facilities.
I fear much cannot be said for our public
schools. They are at present, in some respects,
a disgrace to the city, and it 10 the duty of this
Board to improve and make them better aud be
able to say to strangers coming here, that We can
offer educational advantages second to no town
Or city in Illinois
We have, however, one institution of which we
may we'll feel proud, one to which our citizens
may point with gratitude and Thanksgiving. 1t
assumes to furnish the brains and do the ecien.
tifc thinking fox our people 1t has "gone
through Darwin and Huxley, has, it is said, es.
tablished Sunday school up on a scientific basis,
and now seeks and assumes to control the
public schools of Ottawa. l. of course, refer to
the OTTAWA Academy of Natural Sciences 1t
only needs one thing to make it perfect n.t
tuition: 1t should Immediately establish mu.
scum for SMurian fossils. This will be an mex.
pepsive affair, for it can be filed with rare spec.
mems without going out of the corporate limits
of tho city.
II it is considered necessary to adopt q new
course of study, We should ende.vor to do justice
to all classes ut our people. and conform to the
wishes of all as far as possible.
The curriculum proposed is in some respects an
| advance Much can be said in its favor, although
| there are some important omissions. Bnt little
attention is given to the English language and
composition, and it entirely ignores tie classical
languages. This to my mind is fatal omission,
and one, in practice, that cannot be made to work.
The course is in many respects unnece ssariy ar.
bitrary, as in naming tie hrs 6O0ks and compel.
| ing pupils to pursue some branches that are only
taught in the highest European universities in
the finishing course.
Threats have been made that should any mem.
Der of this Board presume to otter an amendment
to the cours. proposed, it would not only be
promptly roted doen, but that the probable effect
will be to exclude tile languages o,"aN time 10 c0aae
desire it to be distinctly understood that no
threats of this kind shall prevent the from per.
forming my duty, and expressing my views u pon
this subject ellen and rhere I please.
The protector Of this "neeo departure" urges az
principle objection to the languages, that it costs
too much, and that it is system Of robbery of
the poor for the benefit of the rich. This is the
argument of the ward politician 1t is not
true.
The whole common or public school system is
based upon the idea of the taxation of property
for their support; and it Is admitted that a sys.
TEN of general education ia necessarv IN the sra.
bility of republics. l refer you to the American
and Swiss republics as the two we'll regulated
republics where the the children are educated at
the public expense, and to the South American
republics where they are not educated at all.
Upon the Organization of our public schools
the languages were made part OF the curricu.
lun, md the general public have acquieseed.
Not more than five per cent. of tho pupils in
the public schools erer aaend the High School.
Would you. on this account. like to do away
with the High School all together2 You can
find people in Ottawa, who claim 10 be respect.
able, who would support you ia this proposition.
If it Is system of robbery of those who necer
attend tue L'gh School to teach Me languages, how
do you propose to defend yourself in iutrod ucinx
Zoology, Geology Mental Philosophy, &c Is it
not as great an oateage in the one ~ in the
other?
Not more than ten or fifteen in the High
School are nov studying the languages, and
most OF these would be compelled to give them
up If they are excluded from the course The
most of them cannot afford the expense of going
to school away from home, and such nd Ivan ,ages
as they ever expect to have must necessarily be
given ut home.
The rich have no particular interest ia this
question, except to escape t,xation,) for they
can educate their childeen whether this board