New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-18


six-tenths per cent.
While, on the other hand, in the twen-
ty-one of our States having the American
| system Of non-sectarian free public
schools there is native population Of
2O,0O0,O00. This native population has
been educated in this system of schools,
and, in like manner, may be justly taken,
Intellectually and morally, as the fair
| average product Of this method OF educa.
| rion.
OF these the illitefates above the age OF
ten are only three and one-half per cent
CT the whole number; the paupers only
enc and seyen.tenths per cent, and the
criminals only three-fourths Of one pei
cent.
In other words, from every 10000 in.
| habitants the parochial or church system
of education turns out 400 illiterates, 41O
| paupers, and 100 criminals: while the non.
sectarian free public school system turns
out only $50 illiterates. 40 paupers, and
rs criminals. Or if we take aIassachu-
sets by itself, which has the type or model
of our free public school system. with its
1,104, 032 native inhabitants, the number
is still less, viz: seventy-one illiterates,
torty-nine paupers, and eleven criminals.
The following is the proportion TO every
| 10000 inhabitants:
Hitter. Pau. Grim.
ates. pers. inals.
Parochial school eysten,. ..........lioO SO JOG
Public school system in twenty. 90. ..
Public school sy stem in Massachu.
sets .......................... II - II
That is. we are asked by these friends
who have come here and joined us, and
x1rboco uaa1 oy1 :f ~. 1iraotaI
| will be OF great service beth to themselves
and the country, to abolish our own well
tried system Of education and adopt the
one to which they. in their formet homes,
became accustomed, though that one, on
the average, produces four times as many
illiterate, two and a half times as many
paupers and more than twice as many
criminals as ours. Or, it We take
Massachusetts as a fair sample Of our sys-
tenn. we are asked so adopt one that will
give society twenty times as many litter
ates, eight times as many paupe.s and
fourteen times as many criminals.
We can not do this, and when they
come TO understand thoroughly the facts
they will not wish us 10 do it, for the vel.
fare Of their children is Just as dear TO
them as that OF ours is to us. and they.
equally with us. desire 20 diminish igno.
rance. pauperism and crime. and to make
the co.ntry Of their adoption. and the
home Of their descendants, intelligent.
prosperous, powerful and happy.
The whole future OF our country, and
the very existence Of our free government.
is wrapped up in The common school.
Promote and develop that. and every de-.
partment OF industry and intelligence will
flourish ike q tree will watered and nour-
ished at its roots. Destroy the common
school, and Ignorance. despotism and big.
utry will soon pervade Che whole land.
Cancellations drawn like the above
from the official statistics OF $4,000, 600 Of
people ere unerring guides. They settle
the question as 10 the comparative excel.
lence OF the two systems Of education.
They are intellectual. industrial and
moral Jeacons. that direct with certainty
thropist. They poin: out Enthusiastically
to the legislator the duty Of enacting
law requiring attendance upon schools.
during the school age and the school
terms, Of all the children IN the State. TN.
less legally. and for good and sufficient
reasons. temporarily excused.
Inc preserNatlCU o. sfee government
requires this. Protection Of society against
pauperism and crime demand il. The
material development Of our country calls
for il. The success and happiness in life
Of the children OF the poor. the ignoran.
and the vicious. can be secured only by
such q statue.
Your committee recommend the passage
Of the followin. resolution:
!sso'ref. That the Legislature should
enact a law authorizing and empowering
the school boards in each city. town and
incorporated village to require the at
tendance at some school, public or pri.
vate. during the school terms and the
school hours O: each day. Of all children
between the ages o; eight and fifteen
years. unless for good and sufficient reason
excused.
DEXTER \. HAWKINS,
Chairman If Committee on Education of
the New Ior!. City Council 0: Political
Reform.
New York. December 80, 1873.