Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-05
The Other Vje,c.

Is not the silence of the newspapers on
the High school bonds ominous? The
friends of the measure are cunning in their
way. They have made efforts that nothing
should be said on the matter, in the hope
that the voters, taken as it were by surprise
next Tuesday, will the more easily be led to
favor, or at least not to oppose the bonds.
The question of these High school bonds
cannot for moment endure the light of dis
cussion. AHigh school built and maintained
by public taxation is public robbery. Our
system of public schools never contemplated
such an institution. It was intended, and
wisely, that all children should receive that
fundamental, elementary education which
was accessible to all, and which
all needed for the proper fulfillment of
the duties of citizenship. Taxation
for this general elementary education is
right and proper. But there are men who
wish for their children the Injuries of in
struction-Greek and Latin, French and
German, zoology ana botany, and the Lord
knows what, and they deem it a smart thing
if they can force their neighbors to pay the
costs. BY these the dlamor is raised that
public High school should be built and
maintained through public taxation.
Who will benefit by High school? Mostly
the children of the rich, who can afford to
remain at school until the age of sixteen or
eighteen. Who will foot the bills? The poor
laborer and mechanic must do their share.
| What's the public boon secured? None. It
is Of scant use to the people that my lady
graduates of high school can on COM
mencement day in flowing muslin and
silks read essays in what they
call Latin and French-but which no
scholar for his life could recognize as Latin
and French. High schools are the great
temptation to this shallow, pretentious, over
education, which is one of the great evils of
the day.
Why cannot the parents of these children
pay for this luxury of education? It is a
shame for them to be feeding their children
at the public crib. Th y might with as
much reason ask us to hand over our green
backs to teach their children TO dance, or to
assist them to voyages of instruction through
Europe, or develop them into bankers,
spectators and railroad managers.
A High school is an injustice practised on
the many for the benefit of the few-the
many being usually the poor, and the few
the rich.
But it is said, other cities have their High
schools, and St. Paul should have one; c. High
school would draw population to st. Paul.
Yes, other cities have their High schools,
and they are sorry for it. The question
with many of them is how to rid themselves
of their High schools. The thinking men
of the country, for instance Governor Rob
inson, of New York, are advising the aboli-
ton of all High schools. Who would re-
main away from St. Paul because there
would be no High schools? The men pre-
csely whom we do not want-stingy, close.
listed, illiberal fellows, who wish to be sup
ported in their high toned notions by the
public; who would force the humble cottager
if they could, to buy carpets for their par
: lors and exotics for their gardens. Let St
Paul give to the country an example o.
good sense, of wise legislation, of justice t.
all classes, poor and rich, and this will be
the most powerful inducement it can offe
for the right sort of people to make thei
; homes with us. There are thousand i'm
provements which would benefit all ant
which will draw large accessions to ou
populations: let $4,000 be voted for sucl
improvements. If few men want Higl
school let themselves pay for it, and we viii
: all agree. JUsT1T1A.