Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-11-19
REruRn M rHE PUBLIC scHOOLs.

KkEUhA In 1hG EooLAS
The report Of the committee Of the
Louisville high schools to the board Of
trustees, for the year ending June SOth,
1876, contains the following statement:
Our high schools, both for boys aud
girls, are now on q basis that can justly
claim the condolences Of our people. Their
courses OF study are such SIS experience
has proved 70 be best adapted for the end
n view. We have the classics for evolv-
ing the analytic powers Of the mind, ex-
ercising the memory aud Judgment,
strengthening and eleVating the magma.
gination; mathematics, for accuracy Of
statement and reasoning; the natural
science, in It's beautiful methods for OBJ
~serFation and generalization; psychology
and physiology, for self-knowledge.
We learn from the Louisville Evening
News that to the foregoing outline Of
studies music has been added, and that
drawing, also, has been proposed. thus
making the course of study as thorough
and comprehensive as that embraced in
the curriculum Of any Of the best col
leges. The News. in discussing this
question, says:
This fact is, quite properly, attracting
the attention Of many thoughtful and
intelligent citizens who agree with US in
the opinion that the public schools Of the
city have undertaken to do too much,
and recognize the fact that there must be
q limit to the course Of study in the COM
mon schools Of the State. These schools,
being supported by general taxation,
we're designed for the masses, and it is
vitality important that the benefits of
them shall, if possible, be enjoyed by oil
the children Of the commonwealth. The
revenue collected for educational pur-
poses should, therefore, be so expended
IS to multiply to the farthest extent the
facilities for the acquisition Of a prscti-
cal education. Il Was never intended,
and wisely so, hat the common schools
Of Kentucky should take the place
Of the regular colleges, 10 which the tut
ton is paid by the students. On the
contrary, they we're designed to give to
the children Of the community simply a
common school education, the system
having its origin in the idea that the
children Ct the poor should be educated
at the expense Of the State. There is in
fact no need for Latin and Greek in our
public schools, and the money expended
for the teaching Of these dead languages
is simply thrown away. The course OF
study should be restricted 10 the living
languages that are OF daily practical use,
and the ancient classics and the fine arts
should be dispensed with. The masses
OF the people should not be taxed to pay
for instruction in such branches Of learn
ing There is q need now for increased
school facilities 10 Louisville. The pres.
ent school buildings are over-croWded
with children. Would it net, therefore,
be a wise policy 10 use the money that is
expended on the fancy features Of the
existing course of study 10 increasing
the number Of school buildings, and
thereby afording ample room for the
accommodation Of the children whose
souls are hungry for the bread Of q com.
mon school education2 Latin, Greek,
metaphysics and the higher branches Of
science should be abandoned, and the
public school revenue devoted exclu.
sively to the original and true purposes
of the common school system in Ken.
lucky.
The above very aptly and forcibly ex.
presses the views Of the LEDGER. and
we commend the article to our board Of
education, which meets tonight with an
almost empty treasury and a big out
standing and growing deficit. 1t was
never the intention in Tennessee any
more than in Kentucky to give q few
fortunate young ladies and gentlemen
thorough collegiate education at the ex
pense of the many taxpayers and to thl
detriment of the many less favoret
children, who are thus crowded out an,
deprived Of a common school education