Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-07-04
The Public School System an
America.

America.
TIE following s~uccinct statement re-
eardinc the American Public School Sys
TEN was originally prepared at IL IN
stance of the Japanese Minister at Wash
ington by Prof. d. G. Gilman, Of Yale
College. 1t has since been submitted for
revision to many of the leading educators
of the country, by whom its phraseology
was considerably modified. In its present
form it embodies the substantial doctrines
upon which all Americans generally agree,
however much they may differ regarding
minor details, and ought to be in the
hands of every teacher and school officer
in the land. 1t is expected that it will be
translated into Japanese and circulated
among the officials of that empire. The
following is tie statement
I.-EDUCAToRs UNIVERSAL.
The American people maintain in every
State a system of education which begins
with the infant or primary school,, and
goes on to the grammar and high schools.
These are called sPublic Schools" and
are supported chiefly by voluntary taxa
ton, and partly by the income of funds
|HQeTlVeu lTOh luC odAO u
or from the gifts of individuals.
u.-pUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TRIED
FOR 250 YEARS.
Their estimate of the value Of education
is based upon an experience of nearly two
| centuries and a half, from the earliest set
Element of New England, when public
schools, and colleges were established IN a
region which was almost a wilderness.
The general principles then recognized are
still approved in the older portions of the
country, and are adopted in every new
State and Territory which enters the
Union.
Iu.-THE WELL KNOWN ADVANTAGES
OF EDUCATION.
1t is universally conceded that a good
system of education fosters virtue. truth,
submission to authority, enterprise and
thrift, and thereby promotes national
prosperity and power ; on the other hand,
that ignorance tends l~aziness, poverty,
vice, crime, riot. and consequently to ma
tional weakness.
W.-sTATE ACTION INDISPENSABLE.
Universal education cannot be secured
without aid from the public authority or
in other words the State, for its own pro-
lection and progress, should see that pub
lie schools are established in which at
least the rudiments of an education may be
acquird by every boy and girl.
y.-THE r FREE, ARE OPEN
TO ALL, AND GIVE MORAL NOT SECT
ARIAN LESSONS.
The schools thus carried on by the pub
lie for the public, are (a) free from charges
for tuition (; (b) they are opened to child
rem from all classes in society ; and (c) no
attempt is authorized to teach in them
the peculiar doctrines of any religious
body, though the Bible is generally read
in the schools as the basis of morality
and (d) the universal virtues. truth, ODE
dience, industry, reverence, patriotism and
unselfshness, are constantly inculcated.
vI.-PRIvATE SCHOOLS ALLOWED AND
PROTECTED BY LAW.
While Public Schools are established
everywhere, the government allows the
largest liberty to Private Schools. Ind
viduals, societies, and churches are free
to open schools and receive freely all who
will come to them, and in the exercise o.
this right they are assured of the mos
sarced protection of the laws.
yII.-sPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR SPECIAL
CASES.
Special schools for special cases are of.
ten provided, particularly in large towns
for example,, evening schools, for those
who are at work by day; truant schools
for unruly and irregular children
normal schools. for training the loea
, teachers high schools, for advanced in
: structions /; drawing schools, for mechanics
: and industrial schools for teaching thu
t, elements of useful trades.
vIII.-LoCAL RESPONSIBILITY UNDEl
STATE SUPERVISION.
, In school matters rs in other public bus
mess. the responsibilities are distributes
: and are brought as much as possible t
the people. The Federal Government
being a Union of many States, leaves t
E them the control of public instruction
/. The several States mark out, each for II
self, the general principles to be followed
{ and exercise a general supervision over th
workings of the system; subordinate dis
tricts or towns determine and carry on
the details of the system.
Ix.-UNIyERsITIEs N COLLEGES e
SENTIAL.
> Institutions of the highest class, sue
, as universities, colleges, schools of science
I etc. are in a few Of the States maintaine
at public expense in most they are SUI
: ported by endowments, under the dire'
ton of private corporations which are e,
empted from taxation. Consequent
J where tuition is charged, the rate is alway
= low. They are regarded as essential I
y : the welfare of the land, and are ever.
: where protected ane encouraged by favor
able laws and charters.
The above summary of the America
. System of Public Instruction has bee
: endorsed by many eminent educators :
St. Louis Journal.
g DOCxWOOD COAL hank @