New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-28
QUEER NOTIONS ABOUT SCHOOLS.
PLEA FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF THE COMMON
SCHOOL SYSTEM

A PLEA FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF THE COMMON
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Except that there is so much in the
force Of habit and training and tradition, it Is
that men glance the bearing Of this
ct about education and the inevitable results II is one
OF the questions that will not lie STILL II Will assert
itself We may pass votes and settle point, but
the thing will rise in another place and IN another
aspect.
Educating at the public expense ls in one sense educa
ting by charity and that is contrary TO the very genius Of
the people The observation OF lifetime shows that II
works badly as a whole, though there may be individual
exceptions, there TO all rules sorry 10 see
such plan that Of man in the West who proposes
to found institution educate poor students There Is
danger that many of them Will be poor students and
serious question whether for instance much help
theological students does not impair their sefrespect
and lessen their pluck for life But this IS not the main
point In my view ii is unjust TO tax me 70 educate my
neighbours child to carry him her through the Ian
eages and 'ocges say nothing of the higher mate
mates, music and drawing The thing is wrong IN prn
cpe Give children the elements and then let the people
carry forward the education II wants education
for his child will usually manage 20 get IT, or the boy
or girl for it, and best and nobest men are
VINO have fought it out and not those who have
been carried along at every step by taxed public.
The public schools in cities may be very fine per Sc
but they are the less mistake. and when the peo
pe are wise they will refuse 10 tax themselves 10 educate
children and train teachers any more than 10 educate
LAWYERS or give mechanics their trades The question
mas been agitated. have 10 thank the
Roman Church for It. The subject Will never he
allowed We may trust them for that while we
thank them and they will leave the alternative OF
endless wrangng. or return 70 nrst principles Go
back To elementary education. and let the people take
care OF themselves. IL will not rest We'll says Mr.
Gladstone There Is one thing the Church OF Rome
can do-she wait"
have tried to make the own. ~ were jew,
think would my children TO read or hear por-
tons OF the New Testament. II Romanist
would like the Protestant version OF the Bible II
there were any things which did not believe, would
not them taught To my chidren-of course
we know that they and are right but then
they feel OF their ground as we NOW unless we
HE bias which 10 be found in nearly all school
books. l. e. histories, Biographies. and reading books
OF course il would be just bad If we adopted their
books and principles OF equality and justice leave
rs ONLY Go back. that We may 20 forward
Give Mn our admirable common school SYSTEM. with
its complications and abuses have simple schools for
reading writing, and arithmetic put the tools INTO the
chidrens hands and let them cut their own way Those
parens will 10 secure such teaching as
thew want and especially they VIII escape burden
OF taxation And fewer children will be taught ul they
are pd ND and despise their harwOrking fathers ana
mothers who have not so well learned 70 appreciate
dime novels close observer has marked tAis eject
nron MANY Their standard being low. they are niucn
eand and get up what they have learned instead OF
learning the humility OF the truly wise, who md that
they nothing in comparison 10 the ocean Oh KNOW"
edge before them. EAPEklESCE
Yort Nav