The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-05-15
Orr Common schools.


did not say I" Under the present system ring
as formed controlling the wages to be paid. the
number OF DAYS for a month, and the number
of certificates granted" but that superintend-
ents and teachers coulf do so under the law
I am sorry that he goes Oh to say, " In that
connection lid not use the word ring but il |
they do avail themselves OF the privileges given |
them by the law, can see no improperly in !
the use OF the term. II they do not, they are
certa MY more generous than most other per-
Sons engaged III the other pursuits of life, and
deserve the gratitude OF the people Is not
this taldng back the charge in one breath aud
repeating it in the next 7 II he had said in
few words precisely what he meant he would
have said "they do go combine" Perhaps
this liz a "labored conclusion" (: l leave others
to judge IT, however, such possible ring is
Mr.. VIZ objection to the law, did he not know
it when he voted to enact the law as well as he
does now Z Or did he do 20 because his con-
stituency petitioned for il. He should have
cared more fc- right than for popularity with
his supporters.
agree with HIM that it is the right aud the
duty or the Grange to discuss all school ques-
tons. Nor would wish TO prevent or abridse
ats discu ssing any subject whatever. But he
must remember that il is a secret organization,
AID thai those not allowed to join It can know
what IL said IN these discussions only by the
published reports. So, when he is published
az saying petitions are Tiled up with names
and iood the House" l can not know TO what
question ne Is replying, or to what Legislature
he refers. What is the subject under discus
eionr The school system OF Michigan: sys-
tom conSessedy ranking among the best in the
Union. frequently called the best system
whore fame II not Confined TO the State but
has crossed the ocean and caused 1t TO he cited
az q model IA foreign lands. What has been
the character OF the grange discussion u i. has
come before the publict Has 1t been al honest
inquiry into he defects Of this system with de.
sign Ito correct any ertors which may be
found Z las it not been sweeping condemna-
ton OF the whole. the Supt., the teachers, the
schools the system: Take this passed by the
county council ut Bangor: - iiesoved, That
the present system Of managing our common
school, meets our entire disapproval, and we
demand radical change" Take the Grange
DISCUSSIONS from first 70 last as reported by
Patron Aud Mr.. W. thinks that his TO-
caar,s could not 'by any possible rendering be
conserved 70 be local OF personal III their appli.
ca.loo." Il is precisely because they meant
ever ting. everybody and everywhere in gen.
eral, and nothing, nobody and nowhere in par
tcula:, that | entered upon this discussion
and e2deavored TO apply his general statements
TO particular cases. II tue application does
NOT he nuat aitbar yavila hia mr.
apply tnem himself.
he eays nv remarks were personal. They
were 60 All extent aud Intentionally so. some
End It easy TO talk about rings corporations
and moncpoies. and TO deal III general terms
with system general in its character and
genera IN IT'S workings, and will deal u par
ticulara only when forced 10 meet their own
statement. My reason tor referring to him
especially IS that II Sas thought he ought to be
more eensrous than 10 close discussion which
had been uniformly unfair and one sided by
seempg to confirm all that had. been said. We
may fsrly conclude from Mr.. vs. article, that
had II not been for those personal remarks, he
voud have refused 10 let bis light shine on
thar iet OF tones which he ina. promised to
Iumuai-. The discussion opened | hone
thar -oon personalities may te dropped, aud
quest ou- may be considered on their merits
II ,ear asserted that our schools are
rerroTcad ~. he proof Is unfortunately OF
tnai sarie .enctai character. / named some
aatn- ties that viii be H. conclusive as I'M
supported assertions. Mud | ak IN al cam
1or" II authority cannot be found to support
80 cen raj au oppression a. ne says this is. IN
arsuI- ant j. sought IN the fact that some OF the
OLD 0strcts 30 DOT have a. many and as large
pupils " Formerly. Mr.. ". asks. why is il |
Will let Hon. Warren Johnson OF Maine tell
him Why It is Ia 1870 Inc says:
during the asst ten Years there has been "A
decrt zee IN the number OF persons OF school
age ~ the state CT To- while for tue CORE
spoodpg time there has been an increase Of
iau - the total population. four reasons are
Glvsn N explanation OF this TACT First Emil
groIo1 ot young men and women without a
cores pon1iDg Immigration. Second, The tenn
Iorary removal during the wal Of almost half
rba rolae population between twenty and forty
years al age. The third cause il a determine
elcn on the part OF parents not to raise large
fanlhes-for various reasons the principal OF
which is the increased expense of living de-
manded by the despotic Will OF custom aud
rashIo1- and their own savish obedience to II.
The fourth cause Of this diminution in the
numbe- Of school children is the insldnns de-
morai,ing practice Of abortions. Quietly fit
ting Though the community. like the noiseless
vampire on the thickening shades of evening,
this weird embodiment OF SIN and Geath sucks
sway a. the very life blood Of tho State, and
threatens 10 impair, il not to destroy, that finer
aupceC aton OF spiritual existence aud that ex-
ated sense OF parental relations underlying the
pooie structure OF human society,"
II i, almost universally true OF the American
peops, that when the locality is new and the
peoole poor, the families are large it is also
true that when the same community has cleared
ava che forest, developed the resources OF
the country and grown from poverty 70 COM
paraegs wealth. the number OF children in
families rapidly diminlshes. The causes are
the came in Michigan as in Maine. Mr.. W.
thinss It il due to a bad school system. I'oliti-
ca economists and medical men assign other
reasons How mauy people from this county
ara away ct Boarding schools: VIII Mr.. W.
give IN estimate OF the number OF foreign
pups Ia the graded schools OF the county p
Let US see what value lac assigns to his own
cause. An attempt is next made to show
that g~adei schools receive the Superintend-