Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-11-20
zee H1aH SCHOOL QuRsfIoN.

TIE HIGH SCHOOL QUESTION.
The board of education BY 3 vote o
nine to five, at the meeting last night
tabled q resolution offered by AAjo
Rsmbaut 10 suspend the high school
We hope the question will be made
square Issue in the next election fol
school visitors that the people may de
eide whether they wish to be taxed Il
maintain an ornRmentAl-not say use
lsss-sppendsge 10 the city school sys
TEN. II was never the idea or intention
to tax the masses that 3 few might pas
through 8 college curriculum. Those
who expect to be preachers, lawyers o.
doctors should not expect to b
educated al public expense. l
8 few are to be thus favored, tbs
thousands Of school children throughout
the city and the State should be entitled
70 the sane privilege. This question il
receiving attention at the various 0du
csiionsl centers Of the country. EveI
Boston, which boasts 3 costly and thor
ough public school system. is sgitateC
with the discussion Of this very question
Many people there Of the highest intelli
gence have come TO the conclusion tina.
il is not the duty Of the State to provide
schooling in Latin and other Of thG
higher branches Of education to eithel
boys or girls. Public schools are no.
provided for the personal benefit Of thl
pupils, bui the welfare Of society 8
large. Therefore persons having nj
children are taxed the same as the mai
who has 8 dozen to educate upon th,
ground that public education is for thu
benefit Of the State. The question nov
arises, How far shall this education b.
carried at the expense Of the tax
psyers2 Evidently no further than
good common school education which 6t
the pupils for the ordinary avocations o.
life, such as the great body of them arr
likely to pursue. The State should Civ,
the rndimeDts Of education, such as vii
fl the rising generation for the duties o
citizenship and practical life. Latin
Greer, music and painting are fine &C
compliEhmeuts for those who can sfort
them, and essential in some special pro
fessions. A young MAI preparing foI
the ministry should take 8 thorough
course in Latin and Greek, &nd have I
knowledge also Of Hebrew and otbe,
languages, but the State is not bound 1,
give any one such al education. Tbr
youth who receives 8 good common schoo
education, and develops an aptitude 70
study, and the capacity 10 take q col
legiate course esn always &c
through. Where there is . wi
there is 3 way. Many Of th.
leading men Of the day in the profe,
sious as well as in the world Of fnsDe
and politics, educated themselves thor
oughly after they were grewn. Il is
costly investment, indeed, to give Cd
hundred young men 6 classical educs
ton, on the superstition that one or tz
in the lot will turn out 10 be someihing
Where one such is found half q doze
selt.made men can be pointed out o.
high school education is defective, supei
fetal and deceptive. 1t deceiyes Ii
pupils, parents and the public, and
oftener an injury than a benefit to h
so-called graduate. That we are NJ
alone in our position we could prove
extracts from various leading journa
OF the country, published where the big
school system has been thoroughly trie
which it has not been here. For Il
present we make only a single extra
from an editorial which appeared in ii
st. Louis Times Of the 10Th inst.
The higher education Of the few m,
indirectly be beneficial to the comm
nifty, but not in the sense in which ii
common school education Of all ia a
v%antageous to all. The latter is need
10 all stations and employments; the {,
mer is required only Tor special positio
aud professions II is the duty of /
State to educate its future citize
as 3 body, but not to train
lawyers, physicians, clergymen, mt
cans aud engineers. There is no dol
that a thorough common school edu
tion is necessary to the making Of
good citizen; but no amount Of Lat
Greek, music and the higher mathemat
will make him a bit more honest, ind
trious, enterprising or l~aW-abiding. I
conclusion is that there is a general e
cation for the benefit OF the puplic, /
there are special edcuations for the
vantage Of a few. The general edu
lions should be made free, by the puI
and for the public, and the Opecial q
cations should stand alone. supported
those who are mainly benefited by thl
Beyond this il is impossible to adva
with any certainty Of being right. :
principle that public education m
bentit the whole public 'necessai
strikes from the free list Latin schC
god all classes Of high schools. !