The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-15
LET THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALONE

In the name of more than twelve millions
of boys and girls in America, Tor to be more
precise. in the United States of North
America, to please friend who insists that
our Republic does not comprehend the entire
landed property of the Western Hemisphere,
we quietly and respectfully request the poll
ticians to let the public schools alone. All
nations whose people wear woven fabrics
have public schools, whose support comes
primarily from taxes on property, but finally
from labor and its results. Each State in this
Republic of forty millions has its public school
system, and has had such system for more
than half century, or since the State was
organized. The independence Of the colonies
was won by men educated in public schools.
Ninety-nine in every hundred Of all who have
filled seats in Congress, of all members of
State Legislatures, of all public officers,
from justices of the peace to the Chief JUS
tice Of the Supreme Court, of all members of
the bar, of all members OF the faculty, of all
clergymen and of all journalists, had the
rudiments of their education in the common
or public schools. Ninety-nine in every hun
dred of all citizens who know howto write
their names and to read the Ten Command
ments have acquired that ability in public
schools, and at the general expense of the
State in which they were raised. Twenty-Five
millions of the grown citizens of this Repub-
lie cherish the memory of their school days
as among the pleasantest of the experiences
of their early lives. Not one American in a
hundred has any other book education except
what he had from public school or gained
for himself after his school days were ended.
There are now living in these States more
than q million men and women who are
or who have been at some period of their lives
teachers of public schools. Of the eminent
men of the Republic very considerable
number, like Webster, Marcy, Cass, and Sew
ard, were school teachers Of all the mem
bers Of Congress, all the legislators and all
the office-holders of the Federal or State gov
eminent, large fraction, at least one in six,
have been teachers The people of this coun-
try love their public schools. They look
upon them with gratitude as the means by
which they were educated. They look upon
them with hope, as the means of raising their
children to responsibility. They look upon
them with pride, as an element of the
strength of their country. The pious
love the schools where children acquire the
ability to read books of religious instruction.
The patriotic love the schools where the
youths of the land are made capable of read
ing the laws of their country. The learned
love the schools where the people are made
able to appreciate scholarship.
Thus is the school system blended, inter-
twined and woven in with our American in
situations until it has become necessary and
inseparable component part of our govern
mental and social machinery. Public schools
can no more be removed from the great polit-
ical and social body than the nerves and
nervous system can be taken from the human
body, without in each case destroying life.
Let politicians here and elsewhere make
note of this and beware how they NEEDLE and
tamper with that which is very near to the
hearts of the American people. They may
cut up as many didos as they please with
legislatures, laws and courts; they may play
as many pranks as they choose with constitu-
tions, platforms and party principles; they
may perform their thousand tricks upon the
bars and cords of the gymnasium of public
opinion; but let them take heed how they
NEEDLE with the public schools 1t is posi-
BILE that such change may come over the
country as to make it possible to attack the
religious establishments of various sects and
yet preserve the supremacy Of the law-pos
sible but not probable. A government may
come which will have the power to confiscate
private property under pretense Of public use.
A time may be when men may be forced into
the service of the government as soldiers,
seamen and laborers But while the sun of
civilization shines no republican or monarch
ical or imperial government can destroy the
public school system and survive its fall.
Public education is not one of those
things that are to be challenged as to their
utility and to stand or fall by the response of
their friends. It is past debate and beyond
the pale of augmentation. 1t can not be
brought into the court Of public opinion and
there be forced to maintain its right to exist
1t is an inseparatle part of the social and po-
litical body, and its absence is not even sup
possible. The village church is venerated for
it's associations, and the graveyard in its rear
is hallowed by sad memories; but the humble
school-house that stands near them is as dear
as either to the hearts of old and young. Be
wise, ye politicians, and let them all alone!
There is something grand and beautiful in
the thought Of two young hearts taking upon
themselves in the very summer and heyday of