The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-03-01
| Our Public SchOels.-Do they Edu-
OafQ9


Mr.. Whitelaw Reid, editor ofthe New
York Tribune, delivered an address at
Xenia, this State, on Wednesday eve.
nlng OF last week, on the occasion OF
the dedication OF the new town hall OF
that town. which was printed in the
Cincinnati Commercial OF Thursday
Mr.. Reid Is an old.lllne Green county
boy, and in the course OF his very read.
able address he gave many Interesting
"reminiscences OF Xenia-of the bench
and bar and pupils and pioneers Of that
goodly town. Passing from THESE. and
an eulogium OF the great State OF Ohio,
and of its statesmen, orators, and SOL
diers, b. discussed in = forcible man.
ner twos questions Of transcendent iru
portance 70 all considerable towns OF
Ohio. viz: Municipal Indebtedness and
our common school system. The latter
was SO admirably treated. and it seems
to us, the faults Of the system SO fully
and forcibly presented, that we transfer
to our columns these quotations from
Mr.. Reds address:
'"No thoughtful observer
has failed to notice the growing discon.
tent. especially in heavily taxed commit.
mites, with some features of the existing
system 7ttries to teach too much. II
teaches little thoroughly. In giving q
smat :ering Of multitude of subjects, il
neglects the essentials 1t units boys
for mechanics and manufactures, with.
out fitting them for the professions. Its
tendency Is to make them discontentcd
toith the country. where they are wanted
and to lure them to the cities where they
strive in vain to fnd . place in rank,
already overcro sded. 1t reduces sfht
producers, It owe, -educates great mum,
hers for the only work they can do, q
the expense OF taxpayers, who are onl,
damaged by the result OF the expendi
ture.
These are among the current objeo
| tions. Doubtless they overstate th,
case. but they do point to dangerou
discontent. and they do center ahcu
, one undeniable weakness. II is true tka
the system Is top heauy that the basis j
too fimsy for the ever-spreading super
structure As . result we torn out to-
many who will 60 through life ignoran
of arithmetic because they have spen
their time on chemistry, deficient in En-
eiish grammsr because they were labo.
ing with Latin or French Add it j
true that their fashy shell OF au ednca
ton dissatisdes many with the real worl
OF their lives.
"Meantime what is the chief defect 4
be found throughout the whole work
ing Of our industrial svstem7 IL it no
just what such On education has sbso
lutely organized-a chrome inbred lac
Of thoroughness Who learns . trad
now, as the apprentice did City year
agoi What master workman is able /,
get apprentices ? In what trade do th
; men of niddle-age find the averag
workmen as thoroughly nsster Of all it
: details as be was when they frst bega
10 be employers? In what ono is ther
. supply Of boys coming up under sue
training as surely to make them the fu
. . equals Of the old hands9
IA growing discomfort on the part o
the heavier taxpayers With an educs
D ,ional system that somehow doesn'
seem to them to produce what is JUS
suited either to the trades or to bushes
and the professions.
"Does not the mere grouping Of th
, facts suggest the remedy7 Strengthe
> the basis OF the school system hefor
!, YOU increase the superstructure Teac
tescr things, but teach them 20 they Di
be absolstely kno,On Make, the cnurs
, OF study more compact and manageable
postpone the accomplishments, bapis
/ even science and drawing. and irst Civ
. the child what will Be essential for II
|, practical business Of lite. and basis 70
self. lf.tDlproveuent.