Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1879-05-10
A Response to LOCKER On"

back down from his first position, aud now
would con6ne himself to the abuses Of the
present systsn aud the imperlectious Of the
laws which govern it. So FIR SO gocd-we DO
not deny that imperlections and ABUSES exist.
livery earthly institution is more or less abused
more Or less imperfect Would LOCKER
Ga abolish the whole system aud let the
masses live on 10 ignorance aud degradation
because Of these defects? The Institution Of
marriage, for instance, is often abused. Be
cause a man takes advantage Of his authority
over his wife TO beat her. shall We move the
entire abolition Of the institution Of matrimO-
ny? The administration Of the laws of this
mighty Republic Of ours-this best Govern
meut the sun ever shoue upon us capable
Of improyemeut-has been greatly abused, as
has been recently demonstrated beyond the
shadow Of a Doubt Shall We, therefore, move
that the whole Republic be sbolished-be de-
molished? There is not more absurdity in
these propositions than 10 the ilea of " LOCKER
On that, because the free school system-in
itself q good aud beue6cen, institutions sub
ject 10 similar occasional abuSeS-it must be
pitched into even to the extent Of " blooded
noses"
There is 10 compulsi0u about attendance on
free schools. Parents who are afraid Of COL
tamiuatiou 10 their children need not send
them; bat with proper care on the teachers
part. aud careful instruction at home, We be-
heye that even such instances as are cited ty
" LOCKER On can be productive Of no evil
consequences. The manners and morals Of
children are in most cases dependent much
more on the example that is set them at home
than on the chance associate Of a. half hours
play-time at school in the presence Of a score
or two Of scholars aud often under tho super
vision ofthe teacher Besides, as is well knowu'
such instances are rare. Public opinion is ar
raycd against characters Of the kind spoken Of
TO such an extent that they seldom venture to
preseut themselves as pupils at free schools,
and if they 90 the patrons Of the schools have
The privilege Of expressing their opinions roy
torciJly on the subject.
ftbe pegs are set - for abuses to come as
he prophecies. land in bis drst article be speaks
Of the disgraceful scenes that are enacted, ."
sc, aud Of the school fund being regarded
as a legitimate provision FOR poor relations aud
broken-dowu relics Of antiQuatei sentility p
If ",be school officers will be elected in the
Fall with a view to having certain parties APP
pointed 'rketir right or lrrong," then it be-
comes the patrons Of public schools-those
who are most deeply interested and concerned
to rise 10 their mig and forbid these abuses
BY voice at the polls, and if that fails, by re-
fusing % patronize schools wrongly oficered
The argument Of Locker On that muir
ders, r5bberies. house-bnrniugs, &c, are cata-
logued In fearful array and are attributed to
the great aversion 20 manly toll superiuduced
by the education OF the misses -or at least not
kin9erei thereby.-is a aimsy one 10 the ex-
IRENE II the churches in the land, aud the
Gospel preached in them, and the pure life
and coasrless efforts IF good men all over christ
endom DO not " hinder these things, can pub
lie schools be expected to put stop to them {?
We believe that they are a power for good
not. however, TO the extent Of hndering all
evil. but le, LOCKER On tell, if he can, how
much less would be this fearful array Of
crime D" If the masses were left in their native
ignorance and all Efforts 20 educate and en-
tighten them celsel History aud biography
tell us Of many eminent men risen from hum
DE life by the all Of free schools aud as they
are We, comparatively Of recent date we may
confidently Look forward to having the list of
such names greatly heightened.
The personalities in which we INDUCED were
simply thrown out in the dark, deemed ap-
propria,e to ,bc author OF a very mischcvous
article His 10 return, are intended directly
for as. who consider it our duty to uphold the
cause that we conscientiously believe TO be
right, and 20 come ont boldly in behalf Of
truth Knowing as We now 10 who " LOCKER
90 is, we feel it Incumbent upon US, while
DOT disposed to be lenieut upon his opinions,
to treat him personally with respect but at
the same time we DO not consider the harsh
terms used 10 his second communication by
any means consistent with his private letters to
os on ihe subject As he dill't like the tenor
Of our article. but rather condemned it as base
Injustice To himself, We presume be viii not
object 90 our taking middle ground Barry
tone, for instance-in Difference to his greater
experience ia The things whereof be afirms.
Oar advocacy Of Free Schools is no, based
on a mere seutuent-thoush we would do
violence TO The memory Of the Founder Of this
paper if we jjl 90, have a word in their de-
fence, 10 season and out Of season. lie was
the pioneer Of free schools in this couuty-the
FRS, county in Virginia TIA, made such ample
provision fer the education Of the masses-and
10 bis capacity Of editor and legislator did
more than any one man for the Introduction
here of the free school system. BY experience
be kucw the needs Of tie poor 10 the matter Of
education. Olly common school privileges
unit. bis twelfth year were his heritage. but
be improved them, built upon the foundation
then aii, and at the ace Of sixteen was an ed
itlr and for more than siv.v vo,-s ,r;o1l,l O