The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-05-08
our Common schools.

] nNbou. but os "a EdIie. lIiuCipdl OF law
Paw Union School, has made some very severe
criticisms upon some remarks which CORES.
lpondent of your paper has reported as being
made by me, in the discussion of the question
relating to our Common Schools" which
took place before the Paw Paw Grange per-
maps the public interest demands that / should
explain myself more fully. And here let me
say, that the Order OF Patrons of Husbandry
is an organization OF farmers and their wives
and those interested in agricultural pursuits
for their own mutual benefit, improvement
and protection. They claim the right to dis
cuss all questions relating to their own, or the
public interest; and to combat rings aud
monopolles, wherever found, organized and
operating against the interests Of those who
by productive industry earn tue wealth, and
paw the taxes OF the country. The education.
care and training of the young is one OF the
most prominent features enjomed in the Or
der; and as the Common Schools are where a
large ma ority Of the children OF farmers are
educated. they very naturally feel deep in
terest in those schools, and claim, that it ID not
only their right, but their duty, to discuss all
QucbtlOuc Itldiinb W buCLis ahN W WAL oSS ohs
errors which may be found in their manage
ment, or IN the system by which they are gov
erned and controlled.
In discussing this question, have 10 other
motive than to elicit facts and arrive at correct
conclusions. l am friend to education, TO
free schools, and have no controversy with
faithful teachers or school officers, they can
] L. L.
my friend Earle, in mis- communications has
treated me unfairly by drawing differences and
using language which more prudent man
would not, l shall not answer HIM in anger, but
endeavor to treat HIM with the most kindly
feelings, and the subec impartially.
1t is evident that the correspondent who re-
ported that discussion in the Grange, did not
attempt to give the language OF the speakers,
bnt brief synopsis OF some or the ideas ad
vanced; and l must say, that tie ideas re-
ported were 80 nearly correct that had 1t not
been for the labored conclusions, and insinua-
tons with which Nj. Earle's articles abound, /
should not have attempted any correction in
the language. or explanation whatever. In
that discussion L made no charge against the
county, From what little acqul intance have
had with Mr.. Williams, l believe him to be
young man of culture, and integrity, and is do
ing the very best that he can for the interests
Of our schools. II he fails to meet the eIpec-
tation of the people, the fault is not with HIM.
l did not refer, or intend to refer, to any
[ Mon or Graded School, or to the Principal OF
any such school, nor could my remarks by any
possible rendering by disinterested person,
be construed to be local, or personal in their
application. | was dealing with a system, gen.
eral in Its character, and general IN its work
ngs.
did say, that ouI common schools were
the pillars Of our Republican Government and
il the pillars showed signs OF decay or weak
ness, the inevitable consequences were patent
to every rejecting mind and that the impress
sion was abroad that oui common schools were
retrograding." And ask in all candor, If that
is not very general impression? II it is not,
l stand corrected, and confess, that the eX-
pressions we hear on every hand, from school
officers, parents and teachers, are but an hal
lucination of the public mi l,
Let any one seeking for .scts visit our COM
mon schools to-day, and they will find where
few years ago, school rooms were crowded
with scholars OF all ages, young men and wo-
men studying the higher branches. aud pre-
pairing themselves 70 teach capable OF en-.
during the most rigid examination in all the
primary. and many OF the higher branches,
few mere chidren studying the primary branches
only l admit that there are honorable excep-
tons to this, but as far as my observation ex-
tends, ,hey ere the exceptions only. II this Is
50. we may well inquire, why is 1t 2
There seems 10 be two primary causes hich
combine TO produce this state OF things. name
ly the County superintendent law. and the
very general idea winch is beng dffused
among the people, by the operations OF our
whole school system that the common schools
are but mere - Primary Schools, or primary
branches of the Graded Schools In this
county there are nearly two hundred schools
and departments. The common schools have
two, and many Of them three terms in each
year, requiring in most instances change Of
teacher with each term. II the Superintendent
should commence visiting the schools at the
commencement OF each term, and visit two
schools day, there will be thirty or forty
which he Will not be able to reach during the
term.
1t viii also be conceded, that visit from
school superintendent during the last half of
the term. can be OF but little practical value to
the school. Hence. / infer, that no one man
lives, who can do justice to the schools of the
whole county under the present system. Con-
sequently the Graded Schools are visited and
cared for, while the Common Schools are
necessarily, almost entirely neglected. The
impression is thus formed in the minds of the
people, that the Common School is suited only
for mere children, and all who are able to do
so, send their advanced scholars away to the
Graded or Boarding School, and the children of
those who are not able to send them away.
leave the school before their education is fairly
commenced. The Common Schools should be
elevated to such standard, az to afford an op-
portunity for every child In the community. to
obtain good practical English education in
them. [ ntil that point IL reached, our Free
School system must fail to accomplish what IL