Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-29
A False issue.

Thu f~,Ilowiag article from Sclibutr's Month
", u popular magazine, devoted TO the cause
Of education, will command attention. Il con,
tains many good ideas:
Popular education is do outgrowth OF Our cn-
lightcnmcnt.
Our Tree schools open az endless highway
for the progress Of intelligence. Whatever CON
hicts with the advancem ut of this intelligence
is destructive TO the best lnicrcs , u tie poo
pie, and should DE overcome.
Politicians tel us hat our free schools are in
danger that an element Is developing among
some of our people which shall abolish our
school system, and bring the instruction Of the
youth uoder the surveillance Of religious aud
s~ectariau bodies.
JUDGED, the President thought it best to no
tice this subj ct in MS last message. The Sits
politicians speak e!Cqueully OF this question,
embo iy the fundamental ideas of free schools
10 LII platforms, and pat the people on the
shoulder, telling them that the free scho Is
shall not 20 down. But it would seem tn is
all for making capital whereby power can be
| gained aud votes controlled. 1t is all for Bun
comhe.
Our free schools are not in danger, but are
gaining strength and popularity evec with
those that were formerly enemies to public in
slructlOu.
This great cry OF politicians that our schools
must be preserved Is 4 false Issue sprung upon
the couatry TO make political capital, and mus
be col srdcred as a coup d etut ofdemagogucS.
More sensible would 1t be for them to sprlug
the issue That The Mississippi river shall flow
into the Cult vi Mexico.
Ii there be dissatisfaction with our school
system, 1t originates from TOO much cnthu,l
assn. Zoo much is bruurht iuto the sch ois to
be taught to the Mass of pupils. Natural
science is usurplng tie place of clmm"n Eng-
liSh branches 10 the grades below the high
sch Jol. 1t wall have It's time, 10 ue followed
by something else: peril .ps the teaching of
agriculture and kindred subjects.
The sch ,ol lie of the average pupil is too
short to learo what is marked out III the
course Of study" 1t is to be regretted, yet ii
is, nevertheless, trua, that the great ml,s OF
OF twelve years.
introduction oil studies fitted for the Lighcr
grades may have brought our schools into dis
repule with some; but. ii is no foundation upon
which to start al issue. Because Bismarck
has seen fit 10 separate church and school, W.
Oceu uUl UC ulal uSN " III SuCCCaS vi Out puU-
lie schools. Because Gladstone may deem il
advisable to deuouuce Cath )licism, We need cot
tremhIe lest the Catholics destroy our system
of free schools. The Catholics have as much
right 10 educate their chiliren as the Meiho
dis S, or any other denomination, and DO mort.
No religious body has the power 10 Interrupt
he on f,wiGg stream Of popular education.
Taxation, to support a system OF free schools.
is an outgrowth of our republicanism. So long
as our free institutions are successful, SO long
will the schools flourish. Let politicians see
that our Republic is kept intact. The govern
meat is the fountain head the schools the
out going stream. Protecting the stream will
not cause the fountain INCREASINGLY to flow !;
but if the fountain be pure and exhau.:IeSs,
he stream will make its OVID course, aud will
Deed no protection.
If politicians will sustain oar Republic. free
schools will need none of their soIicltude.