Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-11-20
our CITY SCHOOLS.

G0I0lal
points of our contemporary position.
We stand ready, however, to yleid 'ne
nublic schools hearty support. That
some exceptions might be found with the
system or its management is not surprls'
ing, since nothing human is perfect.
Bnt the main features OF the law are sim.
liar TO thoso of older States and cities
where the system has been perfected by
the best minds OF the country after
many years experience and immense
outlay and labor. Our schools are just
beginning TO be appreciated by the
masses and to compare favorably with
the schools of Louisville, Cincinnati and
other large cities. For long time Mem.
mis- could not boast of creditable look
ing public building, except a jail which
cost nearly half million dollars.
The public schools were Of low grade
and a positive discredit to the city.
Then came change in the public mind.
II was naturally inferred that without
more schools there would De use for
more jails and less money to build them
With. So the present system came into
existence, and should be the pride Of
the city. Memphis is becoming noted
already Tor public schools equal almost
to any in the Union. Men OF mod
crate means hat of abundant energy
the very class we need most to bnlld up
the city. are attracted here to educate
their families and invest their money.
They know that such schools create re-
fined society, and soon make any city a
desirable place Of permanent residence.
The time has passed when a common
school education. as understood forty
wears ago. answers the practical pur'
noses of life. In the days OF our plo-
neer fathers rudimentary education had
10 answer, but with the march of science
and the opening Of new fields for skilled
labor aud intellectual effort, as commu'
mites become more dense and com
retitiou in all the pursuits Of life grows
sharper, higher order of education be-
comes as essential % a careful training
for any mechanical profession ordepsrt'
ment in business. This is so era ofdsily
newspapers, telegraphs and railroads
electricity and steam, of quick thought
and wonderful enterprise, and It educa-
ton does not keep pace with the mate
rial progress of the times, We will de-
generate as people and erect false
standard, based upon money power ana
external display. We must either improve
or 20 backwards; become intelligent IN
proportion TO increased wealth and lux
ury. or retrogade and become enerVaied.
Yet we regret to confess that there IS a
large class Of people in this State with
ont reference to sect, religious faith or
party, VINO oppose all schools sustained
by general system of taxation. We
do not refer to religious zealots, Ii such
there be, for they have conscientious
reasons to offer, bat 10 tax payers who
would enjoy all the benefits of govern
ment without bearing their pro rata OF
its burdeus. They object, they say, to
educating the poor mau's child, white or
black. vet would RIM the risk Of contrib
utine TO build jails and defrsy the ex
pense Of criminal prosecutions. Such
men are utterly selfish and indifferent
TO toe general good of society. Under
a kinely =. ,srnment, where favored
class does all the thinking and ruling, 1t
is we'll 20 keep the masses in ignorance,
because ,hey can be more easily con.
trolled under the yoke. which from one
generation to another grooves their
necks. In this country it will not do.
The people themselves are the soVereigns
and select their public servants from
time to time. Popular education is the
palladium OF tree government, even as
Ignorance and superstition are hedge
about the rotten dyHssties Of despotism
A free people to remain such must have
free schools, and every center Vi CON-
merce and wealth should likewise be an
Athens of intelligence and higher edu-
cation. The aggregation Of wealth
should he attended by increased facilities
for popular improvement and mine
keen pace with matter 1t realll
seems strange, If not incredible
that it should become necessary II
this enlightened age TO argue tn
necessity of public schools. Jhos
who would break down our city school
BY taking advantage Of legal techni
cality, perhaps deny that they oppos
the general system Of the State. Blu
this is the entering wedge. If the higl
schools can be abolished there will sool
be q pretext for an attack on all publ,
schools. Once for all we desire it IN
ds-stood that the LEDGER is the sdvo
cate Of popular education, and as thol
ough =, practicable. We would have a
~ rising generation, white and blsel
educated. belisviug that this is the va
20 make good and useful citizens to 81
cure tie psrnansuey and purity Of r
publican institutions, end to dispsn'
the creates, benefits to tas human rae'