Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-04-22
@tfOrO 9tmotrat.
us. MAINE. APRIL p, 1873.
CONGESTION to free High schools.

Opposition to Free HtOh ochootS'
Certain democrats, like Catholic priests
and the Irish in general, oppose all legis-
lation calculated to bring the advantages
OF our common school system within the
reach OF all claSSeS-but their opposition
is based upon totally different grounds.
The former are stuck in the ruts OF con-
ServatiSm, and are opposed to any
changes They make no progress. Our
fathers GOT along without State and
County Supervision, and we want no IN
nova,ions. We want no new text books,
no Normal Schools. no better teachers,
no Free High Schools. The Catholics
are more conSiStcnt-they oppose our
Common School system because they
cannot control i.
The first opposition we have discover
ed. 10 the Free High School Biii. comes
from a writer in the OItord Register, over
The signature OF Paris 1t remains for
tais r.seeing, gifted, logical writer. 10
discover and point out faults in the Bill,
which no opponent, however much his
interest. has heretofore done. To Paris
be all the honor OF showing Up" the
Free High School Bill.
The frs, complaint L. that it is heavy
burden. No doub, thi, Individual has
always felt his >choo! tax TO be heavy
burden. Il he has no children TO be ed
ucaicd q, the public expense, as he
probably has not. he i opposed TO being
assessed for the benefit OF others. Cities
and some large villages, support tree
high schools, BY their own taxation. We
might look for opposition from them, to
bill calculated TO extend the advantages
of q higher education 10 the towns and
people Of the whole State. The money
needed TO support these schools, says
Paris" comes out of the pockets OF the
people, but the tax is assessed principal
~ on property. and our towns and the
masses OF the people aIc not The ones TO
object 20 such benefits This !, called n
forcing process. by This writer. - Is all
taxation. But sparsclI settled towns
snd remote portions of large towns. can
not derive benefits from THESE schools
while all arc taxed for them. We'll, the
Post Office, OF the church. or district
school is not al every mans doo., and AL
are taxed to support them, but Is that
any reason these institutions should not
exist Our own town j., cited as one in
which the system viii not woyS well, as
the town is twelve miles long, by six
wide. and has four village The writer
asks where we shall locate tae two
schools which we are allowed. SEQ rs 10
accommodate one half the town We
reply, tha, two terms OF ten weeks might
be had az South Paris. two st tAc Hill,
and one at Trap Corner, which would
accommodate North aul Yves, Paris.
Some scholars IN town can not avail
themselves OF either position, but that Is
their misfortune. Because few. COM
paratiyely. are not benefited, are none
Bat the property OF those not benefited
is taxed-very true-bu, thcy are also
taxed Tor the Di>triC, school which NAV
be so lar OF that they cannot send 20 t.,
or they may have no children 10 send.
There is no new principle in tins Free
High School bill and The a,tcmp, OF oar
democratic paper 10 create prejudice
against it, will no, we think, nr apprc-
ciated by the masses OF the people which
it pretends 10 serve.