Connecticut western news., 1879-06-25
That School Heeting Again.

 martyr spy. Nathan Hale
 Tint school Meeting Again.
 MR. EDITOR II see by last weeks NEWS that my friend Dr. Cummings is suffering from another attack of 8 chronic ailment peculiar to himself, 8 diagnosis of which am unable to form. Now have neither the will nor the of ability to carry on 8 contro- versy with the Dr., but with his permission I will venture to review his letter of last week, and then withdraw, leaving him the field, which he deserves.
 contradicted the truth in regard to your re- port of the vote at the school meeting. If such be the case, can do no better than em- ulate the worthy example set by your reporter reporters pardon. Let good feelings prevail and suffice it to know that the vote passed, and is now a virtual law. The question now before the house, Dr., is, Are you law-abiding citizen, or do you not recognize the authority voice in that meeting, you virtually acknoecl- edged it's prerogative. The verdict Of an arbi- trator is generally deemed conclusive, and from which there is no appeal. This meeting shau or shdu not such things be-. The "shalp prevailed. Now do you go on this principle? CT will abide by the law if my side wins; if not, will dispute it." That is the ground of narrow minds and bigoted conceptions. You
  tilated your ideas. You lost-but ''Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all, ,' and you have the comforting consciousness that you performed your mission and did it well.
 Let us look at the policy and legality of the doings of this meeting which you question-or try to question-on the ground that the school has been made private one by the introduc- tion of the tuition fee plan. wrong impress sion, Dr. The school is as ''free to all as it ever was, only it costs more to run it, don't you see? and the district has adopted this method of raising the necessary amount. Let statutes which you select and pervert to argue your side of the question. You represent that the law requires the district to lay tax to cover the extra expense. Don't you see Dr. that that would breed intense dissatisfaction and impose an unjust obligation upon those who would reap none of its benefits that it is impracticable in 8 school divided up as this school is; that the primary department would be compelled to contribute to the support Of the graded departments contribution in no way mutual? Is that fair? Doyou want your neighbours children to pay for your daughters Latin, or Rhetoric, or Algebra tuition? That plan might work well enough in a school of one room where the appropriation is insuffi- this case, to tax the entire district for the sup port of only one of three separate rooms would be a gross injustice-taxation without repre- sentation-to very large majority of the tax payers. AS you say, "A eCQOlar W1LuOub Oue cent to pay with has as much right there as the scholar who is flush with money" That is incompatible with your idea of the proper method of running the school, as in the tax plan the heaviest part of the burden falls on just that class; and few, if any of that class at. tend in the graded department and even if more attended the upper room, the abatement principle will work as well in connection with tuition fees as with taxes. Can you point out an instance where "the scholar without one %r~, hoo doho 10 ileges of this school? The man without one cent to pay with" has as much right to the free air of heaven, and the privilege of en- toying the life which God has given him, as the man who is ''flush with money" and if he lives in this town. you and are responsible for his comfort, and must see that he is pro- vided for, but would we tolerate his insisting upon broadcloths, patent leather boots, gold watches. champagne suppers, etc.f otmuch. for his extravagant luxury and riotous living. So the State makes herself responsible, and provides for her poor a common school educa- tion, but she does not as rule, provide for them classical course of studies, languages, that your daughter has pursued studies s'of higher order than is required by law" at this school, and say you hold yourself in readiness to pay when convinced that you are Illegally or morally obligated to pay" Let us see resting upon you. You sent your daughter to that school, knowing that certain higher branches, entalling increased expense. were being taught there. As I understand it, your of eee,y one of those higher branches. Now admitting for your sake that so far as the town appropriation of $400. goes, the school is 8 free one, you hdue ove'1edched yoa1 share of its benetits. If you had avoided mourning your share of the extra expense necessary to sus- tain the ertra branches, you might perhaps Satisfactorily to your own conscience) have been afforded 8 small loop hole out of which you might crawl, but it seems that besides reaping your share of the benefits Of the ap- propriation, you have legally incurred 8 aoorat obligation of 25 cts. week by taking the ad- vantages you have. Now don't assume, Dr., that am determined to s'convince" you that you are illegally and morally obligated" for plainly you don't want to be convinced, and you know Ca man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still" I simply want to see this question looked at from all stand points-not in the one narrow light of selfish sentiment should be 1.-The greatest good to the You or to me. This dis trict is largely in favor of this method, as has been demonstrated at the meetings. Will you stand in the way either by your practice or theory-of the dis trict enjoying it's self allotted privileges CT pay ing it's self-imposed obligations? Now don't say "let those pay who want to-" On this anarchial principle, what would become of law ana ROOQ OrQeC! Livery ldW OA Iuo SVhbuIe book when in embryo, has met with opposition, but that spirit of opposition subsidies upon the measure becoming law-after that argument is unavailing The die is cast, and naught re- mains but conformity" or compulsion: can not believe, Dr., that you fail to realize that the public benefits derived from this arrange ment infinitely more than over-balance the imaginary inconveniences that can possibly result. Do not permit the popularity or un- popularity of the teacher to bias your convic- tions of the legality or illegality of the dis trict's measures Do not permit stubborn spirit of resistance to gain the mastery over your best and honest judgment. Do not per- init selfishness to interfere with the working of the nowadays popular principle of ''the greatest good to the greatest number" Do polite eyesight, lest you lead your host of trusting and faithful followers from light into and finally do not so far depart from the Christian spirit of charity as to grudge me the benefit of at least 8 probability that other motives than coacardice prompt me to with hold my name, and sign myself
 CoNFoRMIsT.