The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-06-05
Or Con,m,on SCHOOLS.

Our Common schools.
Mn. EDITOR You will pardon me Tor occu-
pying space in this article on subject not the
most important, but which the course OF this
discussion compels. Mr.. Woodnan thinks my
statement that i32 certificates were more than
enough TO supply 166 schools very unreason-
able. I introduced those figures to meet what
I supposed to be an unjust charge. Mr.. ".
says no such charge was made. OF course
then my figures were entirely pointless and no
two column article was needed to refute them.
II no charge or limiting the certificates for
the purpose OF raising or keeping up wages
has been made, | freely say that my figures on
that point we're uselessly gwen. II such charge
was made l shall be very willing to stand by
them. | wish also il they are attacked, that
what was given at the same time as Il better
argument" shall be considered 1t is to be re-
GREETED that Mr.. w. in bis effort to treat me
fairly and the subject impartially has succeeded
so poorly. 1t is too bad that language reported
30 correctly as he says that original discussion
was, sbonld suffer such complete and rad-
cal change" whenever he alludes TO IT. He
says and quotes, as though using the exact
words Of the speaker. the idea was advanced
that there was not sufficient number Of
qualified teachers to supply all the schools, and
teachers could demaud almost any price they
might tx upon, and the districts were obliged
to pay it, n Patrons" report ! find this
No teacher can get certincate who does not
pass an examination in the branches as taught
III the graded schools, and only as many certiti-
Gates are granted as we have schools IN the
county, so that we are obliged to pay the price
TO get teacher at all" I know nothing and
care less OF what may have been SAID and not
reported. l took the language as given by the
reporter, and IN my first article signited my
willingness to learn that the speakers were in
correctly reported. Mr.. W. said the ideas were
correctly reported, but that my differences we're
inslnuations" and I" labored conclusions" |
submit that the public are as fit judges OF that
as he is; and that he should quote the language
correctly. II Will not look so much like an at
empt to avoid the real point.
Mr. ". goes on to say that, " 1t does not
necessarily follow that the fault Is with the
County Supts." OF course this is true. But
how about that Z" Discussion" Turn back to
that and see where the speakers themselves
LAID The blame. d. Woodman in speaking OF
the superintendency said 1--WE pay too high
for our teachers our taxes are exorbtant to
support the system" Mr.. Jones said Of it:
ave must arise in our might and crush it out.
other things Of like character were said: Mrs
II. said nearly all the discussion had been
about graded schools and the Superintendent.
I. howl lie do 10 tha a
until it means entirely another thing, and then
say the Supt. is not to blame for that thing
Stand by the :" Discussion" or else say that no
such language was used
! shall not follow Mr.. W. in his rambl over
the State Tor figures. supposed the - Discus
sion had reference to the schools OF Van Blu.
rem Co. Ny figures were from our county.
do not propose to give them for each county
in the State. The school Reports are furnished
to every district, and any one caring to 10 ok in
them can easily 10 SO he will find that Mr.. "
has made the best case he could. lie has gver
Us few culed figures for single year, with
? out any contrasting OF the year preceding Of
following TO show whether there has been any
change: nor has he always fairly presented
4 what was said in the reports. Yet if any one
Will take the trouble to look up these reference;
u I Will agree to be satisfied with the result
Several OF the counties are new and thlnly set
tied. one Supt says eve have no graded Of
t union schools in the county In nearly if no
|. quite every county we find the Supt saying
that the teachers are making earnest efforts tc
improve. Did Mr. W. read the reports for y
e with the idea Of getting at the whole truth, o.
with the set purpose OF hunting out isolated
fragments to serve his particular object Hi
3 understanding OF these passages is frequentl.
L erroneous. The Sup't of Clinton Co. did no
say that &" forty per cent Of all applicants mus
Il be rejected by tie requirements Of the law TO
10 bad spelling alone" On the contrary, "Abou
l. ten per cent OF all candidates we're refused
licenses" Dir. W. need not have gone t.
Washtenaw, Calhoun and Eaton to fine sup
y giving the number OF teachers actually EN-
o ployed. He could have found it in Van Burel
'e for the very year when 1872 certificates wer
granted. l spoke OF it in my article. HOY
did he happen to overlook it? But we must b.
III charitable with Mr.. W. He has just begun Il
p inform himself on facts and figures, and cal
"a not be expected to understand even his owl
re selected sentences yet in all cases, much less t
contrast one years report with another ant
l. see what Improvements have been made.
Ill y. A. EARLE.