Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-15
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Objection to "tArt.culattns' With the Uni
versity.
To the Editor of The G1onx
Governor Robinson of New York, in his
annual message holds the following language
in regard to the common school system, and
the sentiments expressed by him are worthy
of the serious attention of the people of
every State. He says:
In my Judgment very great wrong has
already grown up in connection with our 9th
wise excellent system. 1t lies in the principle
of applying large amounts of the moneys
raised by taxation to the support of high
schools and instruction in all the sciences and
higher branches of study required in the
| learned professions. l can find no excuse for
raising money by general taxation for such
| purposcs. The only good reason which can be
urged for taxing one class of citizens for the
education of the children of another clnss is
the necessity Of giving to the children of all
| classes sufficient common school education to
enable them to understand their duties and ex-
/ tirvir right. citizens of frsa country
| governed by the popular voice. When we go
! beyond this and take from one man the money
necessary to educate the children of another
| man in the arts and sciences. we perpetrate an
act of injustice under the forms of law.
In direct opposition to the above is the
following extract from the message of our
own Executive, which was delivered to the
two Houses on the 18th. Speaking of our
University, he says:
1T may perhaps be said that those who have
most laborcd to laudable end are most sensi-
| BILE of the room that still remains for improve
| ment and among the jealous and thoughtful
friends of the institution, there is a profound
conviction that the time has come for taking a
radical step in advance. They believe that it
cannot be an economical or advantageous policy
| to employ the superior and costly machinery
of the University in the mere labor of prepare
ton for the legitimate collegiate purposes of
the institution, and that pursuant to the true
theory of our educational system, oil under
agencies should be officially aided and shaped
in such manner as to point inevitably by an
ascending scale of continuous preparation to
the GROWING summit of the University.
Accordingly at recent meeting of the board
of regents, after an elaborate discussion of the
subject, n resolution was adopted requesting
me to cmbody in this message to you an EN-
phatic recommendation that provision be made
by law to encourage the formation of high
schools in the counties where they are not yet
established, to articu]ate with the curriculum
of the University, by adequate appropriation
of money in aid of that object, to be distribute
ed under prescribed conditions. Also to recon,
mend the passage of law requiring all the
high schools in the State to adopt a uniform
course of study which will qualify their schol
, airs for admission to the freshman class of the
University In compliance both with this
request, and with my personal convictions,
cordially make such recommendation, with full
confidence that it will prove u measure in the
interest both of comprehensive policy and
eventual economy in furtherance of the grea,
educational interests which we all have al
heart
We believe in free school system, but
there should be limit to the studies taught
If the common schools are to sarticulatt
with the curriculum of the university, VIII,
not articulate with the law and medical col
leges? The fact is that Gov. Robinson il
! correct, and we trust that no more High
Schools will be organized in our State t.
|, impose heavy burdens upon our people il
e the way of taxes wrenched from one class O
our citizens to educate the children of anothe
t class. Reading, writing, and arithmetic
e should be taught in our schools, and thes
three are sufficient to educate the rising gen
i Grafton and fit it for intelligent citizenship
s The university has ceased to have prepare
Q tory department. This is wrong. It shoult
continue these preparatory classes and hav
: them "articulate with athe curriculum o
the common schools. We trust that this sub
ject will be well considered by the Legislature
before final action is taken.