The Portland daily press., 1875-11-05
from the Boston Globe.]
Our Common School System-..A COrrec-

Our Common School System-..A COrrec-
tiOn.
SIR: In your issue, Saturday morning, Oc-
tober 23d, under editorial heading, the follow
ing expression appears:
The most noteworthy feature of the pro
ceedingS was the advocacy by Mr. Warren
johnson of a national System, IN place of that
resting Oh the authority and action of different
State Governments. He believed that the Ma
tional Governments should assume the control
and order the plan of education in every State,
the local authorities acting as agents in its exc
cutiOn.
TIE italics are mine They indicate points
which do not advocate as expressed in the
foregoing. What do advocate is simply this,
that the voice of. the National Government
should be heard; first, in ordering every State
to establish and maintain free school system
of such quality and grade as shall meet the ne
cessities of common citizenship; of this quality
and grade the nation, whese existence depends
on intelligent citizens, shall be the judge. The
National Government, therefore, should fix
the minimum standard for such school sys-
tenn. By this ordering no State would be with
out school system, as some have been, or
could abolish for any length of time, as some
~~'S NSnS3
tenn orSmere FORM as some now do.
Secondly aiding with special appropria
tions, or permanent school funds. For instance
the National Government might aid by fund
ing proceeds from sales of lands, holding the
funds in trust for the States, paving interest to
such as have established the required system,
and withholding from recusant States.
Thirdly maintaining department of edu-
cation to ascertain by authorized means wheth-
er the educational will of the nation has been
properly carried out, the national moneys faith
fully expended, and to serve as common me-
dunn of school information between the rev.
eral states.
You will, therefore, see chat do not propose to
displace the present state machinery or control
of schools, but to add thereto national request
and aid; preventing any local or state cessation
in school work, and thus securing the education
of our youth in every state, town and district.
The same freedom to do and to care for public
schools would remain to the states then as
now; but all would have to do something
l beg you to present to your readers the fol
lowing synopsis of my remarks before the
Association, that they may judge for them
selves:
ELEMENTS ESSENTIAL TO OUR FREE SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
1. Authority.-Naton supreme, ordering
free public school system in every state, and
fixing the minimum grade OF same. State
chief agent OF nation, establishing, maintain
ing and controlling schools Town-nferior,
CO operative with the state, and charging
| school facilities.
2.-Revenue. ational and state school
funds. Equitable tax on entire valuation of
State. Auxiliary tax on property in several
towns. These two taxes for teachers wages
Tax on property of towns to build school
hou:es, and in general to furnish all school
| facilities necessary. Cooperative aid from
| school funds and special taxation.
3. Instr uctIon.-Prescribed studies Quail
| fca,ions of Teachers. Graded Schools Free
| High Schools. Normal Schools Institutes.
| Associated Free education to both sexes from
| the primary school hrough the several school
| grades to State University and College
| Experimentation department of educa-
| ton. State Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tiou. County or District Inspection. Town
| supervision
| 5. Obligatory Eduuaton.-Compulsory at
tendance of all youth between ages of eight
aud sixteen at school, (publc or private), at
least twelve weeks in the year.
| Yours very respectfully,
| WARREN JOHNSON.
y