Connecticut western news., 1879-12-17
Tine schooI 0uestion Again.

To THE EDITOR or THE NEWS Your readers will perhaps call to mind the discussion this your columns. I had hoped that this question was settled but as the State has generously and wisely provided for the education of her children, and as this district is wrongfully taking from our children their State endow- ments, ask to be heard once more through your columns. From the commencement of this school question, the one thing upon which insisted is, that our public free high school should be kept free to all scholars in this dis trict, for st least thirty weeks in each year; that it belongs to the people, is paid for by the people, is the peoples by right, not favor, for the very wise purpose that all should be edu4 cated. I contended that this provision of the State should not be used in the interests oi that this, district could not lord it over the State authority and impose rules and condi- tions which violated the peoples rights. A district has no right 10 abolish, or in any way cripple free school my daughter hasattend- ed this free high school. On the evening Of Dec. g, 1879, the principal, MT. H: M. Adams, called at my house, saying, '"The district com mittee sent me here with this paper, request ing me to read,it to you" Here is the paper as read to me u,-,.,-, ~ ,,. ,-'.' ! 'To H. M. Adams, Esq, principal. You are hereby authorized and commanded not to give instructions in the higher branches not re- quired by law to be taught, in the public Schools of this state, to an scholars in yous de-
 
 Canaan, Conn.,, Dec. 8th, 1879. r> --FT;rit. 1i a. 2; s. H1anD. 1Hn1.n.. Dist. Com. Now the principal did not say that l was in l arrears! for tuition, he merely read the paper left Q copy, and then left. 7 showed the paper to my daughter and said to her, EThis doe; | not amount to anything, pay no attention te it." So the next day, Dec. 10th, my daughter | took her place in school and in her classes. l oa1 o6 hor &n AopL a ko1S | her that he could not hear her lessons or give her any instruction in Philosophy or Latin, be- cause he was under instructions not to de it | Now here is the law, speaking of pnbli' taught, by teachers found duly qualified b, the school visitors, reading, spelling. writing arithmetic. English grammar, geography, and such Other studies az may be prescribed by thu board of school visitors; and said school shall be open to all children over four year of age in the respective districts and no per son shall be denied admittance to, and instruc l ton in said schools on account of race or col or" This is the law, and this covers and in cludes all studies. There is no such . thins studies prescribed by the board of school wis litors must be taught. Tire district committe, 1 has no authority for issuing any such an or der, and it is not binding on the teacher tn, l tea cher is bound by law to teach all studie prescribed by the school visitors, and tn, school visitors are by law directed to prescrib, rules for the management. studies. ciassifica tion, and discipline of tire public schools, ant subject only, to the State Board of Education I have written the Educational department ol this matter, and will give here quotation from their reply: "The plain intent of tn, law is that every child living in the distric shall have opportunity to attend the school o the district at least thirty weeks each yea free." Now, have no authority to comman, the teacher to restore to my daughter he rights, but will ask him to do that at once then if not complied with,s | shall try tn authority of the State of Connecticut.
 F. e. CUMMINGS.