The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-03-12
For the REpuBLlACN.1

MR.
No one will question the adventa-
ges Of good Public Schools. No
one will deny that our town is favor
ed with one. Still the question will
arise, care there not some disadven-
tases attending the general prevalen-
ce OF The system Of Public Schools.2''
Admitting the competency Of the
directory, to decide Oh the qualiica-
tons of teachers who may apply for
in these schools-admit-
ting also their impartiality in elect
ing teachers, we cannot close our eyes
to thing SO evident as, that the
prevalence OF Public Schools has the
tendency to lower the standard OF
education. When those who are now
receiving instruction shall have finish
ed their studies, it will be found that,
while education is more general than
it would have been in the absence of
the Public School system, we are in
want Of men of promise. We draw
this conclusion from observing that
il is q fixed purpose of parents to
avail themselves Of the opportunity to
have their children taught free of
expence They say, we cannot esca-
pc the taxation for schools; and,
having the ta1 to pay, we cannot
afford to employ teacher, whom we
must pay for advancing our children
somewhat further.
It is to this kind of pleading that
we would address ourselves.
"For advancing our children some
what further" There lies an error.
It assumes the ultimate advantage to
be, only a some>rj,at advanced grade
Of education. But examine it and
we shall find that while this is all ad-
vantage common to all who are edu-
Gated at a good classical school, it
lies at the foundation of complete
education. Take our own commu-
nifty. We could not ask for a teach
err better qualified for the Public
School than the gentleman who now
teaches in it. -' '. ''..,
So that we are far from any thing
invidious when we call attention to
the danger IF orr becoming satisfied
with tue Public School education,
however good it may be as SUCH
We put in a word in favor of the
Classical School now established
among us. The gentleman in charge
of it has had thorough collegiate,
and also professional, education; has
had the advantage OF foreign travel
in England, and on the Continent OF
Europe his improvement CT which
is soon evident On making lis &C
quaintance. His age is just that
which fits him for any duties ; and
his experience in teaching qualities
him for the occupation he has clos-
en-. The scholarship of DR.. johnson
procured for him, in d distant State
the privilege Of filing any vacancy
in any Public School without passing
an examination. But before accept
ing a situation Of that kind, he was
put into one more congenial with his
taste aud choice-a Classical School
Circumstances not connected at al
with that school determined his
choosing Louisiana as the State il
which he would devote himself to the
cause of education. We had The
good fortune of these circumstance!
having determined his settlemen
among us. And to his lamentet
brother, the late Rev. Richard John
son, a.e we indebted. DR.. John A
Johnson, our teacher, is q native O
South Carolina, and brother of Col
3. J. johnson, who, during all til,
years of his manhood, was a promi
neut citizen of that State, as Sena
tor for about twenty years. Lieut.
Colonel in Hampton's Legion, he fel
in the first battle of Manassas.
Our classical teacher is no NOR
an adventyrer. He is gentleman
whom we may know ; and WHOM
knowing, we shall esteem him. w
are not to ask, then, whether it
possible for us to procure a compe
tent classical teacher, and that, TOT
in the person of true gentleman
for we have him already.
. Now the interest that parent