National Republican., 1873-11-15
STUDIES IN GRADED SCHOOLS =
Tyranny OF School AuthoritIs.

TDths Eiior ~ the NATIONAL Rspgbiic1r:
SIR: A Mrs. Post, OF Rockford, ILL.,, brought
suit against the directors OF the Durand graded
pahllc school for trespass in forcib!y eJectng
her daughter, young lady, from the school be-
cause she refused 10 learn bookkeeping, aud
recovered verdict for siSO damages. The caac
has excited considerable interest, and the ver-
diet establishes the deggee OF control which
tearAeTs and school directors can exercise over
scholars. The principal OF the school assumed,
and In this he was Irheld by the board OF direc-
tors, that ho could compel young lady under
his charge to study bookkeeping against her
own Inclination and the desire OF her parents.
On her refusing 10 comply she was expelled from
the school, and, resisting, she was fOrcibiy put
out OF the building by the principal.
Those Illinois people must he oyer-ntce. why,
In washiDgioa our studies are prescrib ii by u
list OF Textbooks" and we are obliged 10 pro.
duce them or forcgD the nTiylleges OF education
at the I" free schools" When the Board OF Pub
lie Works don't pay or the banks suspend II Is
sometimes mighty hard Ia raise the funds TO pur-
chase three or four dollars worth OF new books
and things for each OF n family OF four or nyc
children. But it must lie done or The seat nf the
child IL forfeited by iule OF the imperous
trustees.
Reader (Slth Franklin In the titlelin the place
OF an old llillaId's flith Reader (wthout Frank
lin In the title,) or Song Garden for an infant
that cannot read 10 three syllables and has nc
ear for music, or drawing paper, pencils aud
rubber for cnlld that has no more idea OF nnt
lines, shndngS foreshOrtenlngs, angles, etc, than
q dog which bays the moon has OF astronomy
the rule Ia Imperative oil the same, and the books
are at the bookstores waiting for your money
and you must collect. beg, borrow or steal the
money aud purchase them or Keep your children
away from school.
"a bird that ran sing anl won't sing must be
made TO sing Ia the Old alige; but that !,
played; obsolete, no longer the rule. Now, thai
Of the Irish waiter at the hotel, who Informed
guest who refused to eat soup, governs: aye
must ate. soup; it's the rules OF the house." oui
children are obliged to pursue the studies pre-
| scribed by the trustees regardless OF "the ftness
OF things" or vamose the educational rancho
We have two teachers of music for 5000 scholars
and all these scholars are Obliged To have Iuit
mental sinsinR.bOJks, costing on the average
atty cents Vhey vary, the three editions In use
| from forty to ninety) each. What proportion o
these S 900 pupils is It possible can In this man
music?
Probably not ten per cent. 1t may well bt
doubted II there II one per cent. OF them wht
| eau, at the close OF the Term, read q single bal
| OF music correctly. Just so with the rest OF tht
| studies. A glltterlng superdclalty pervAies tn,
whole system-a haste 10 advance pupils int
higher grades aud new books as soon as the,
| can he pushed through those now In hand, re-
gardless OF what they know practically OF thei
| contents.
| The prctencc Of teaching French, German
| music, drawing, and stenography without moi,
| teachers, and before the pupils acquire any con
| siderable knowledge Of hngllsh, is supremell
| ridiculous. II our District courts should taxi
the sGIGe view OF the rights Of parents to selec
the studies their children may pursue when tnel
travel outside OF the ordinary course as that pu
forth by the Illinois Judge, It will cause consider
| able change IN the calculations Of the schoo
authorities aud the booksellers. n. u.