Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-01-20

opportunity for the exertion of skill and
capacity.
5. Such law seems to me to be of
the nature Of an L.der-erpurydtoriu
and in conflict with the fundamental
principles of intellectual and moral frec4
dom 1t is not analogous to the right
of a teacher, or even of ], cal schoci au-t
thorities to prescribe text books. In
these cases the parent is not under COM
pulsion. other schools are open, the in
terc>ts and emulation of teachers will
lead them to the best selections thev
ran mike, she l.c,l officers are G ected
or should be if they are to have. any
thing to do in the management of
schools, expressly for educational pur-
poses, pubic opinion excrts its legIti-
mate influence, IT is impossible for one
combination or ring to brlbe so many,
and then the patt onage in each case viii
not justify great efforts to corrupt. The
more we cons der 1t, the more wide
reaching will the above objection ap-,
pear Many good and able minds re
gard State system of common schools
as us1rpation of parental rights, and a
political machinery to control the intel
lect and conscience; and beyond a
doubt there Is a clear line of delnarca-
ton, beyond which it is extremely dan
gerous to 20, and within which we, who
are devo. ed to popu AZ education, should
strive to keep our public systems, both
to secure their usefulness and to pre-
vent their overthrow by revolt of the
popular mind. Allow the State to force
my children to be educated in its
schools, and to learn only frcm books
of its dictatIon, and l am robbed Of
some of my dearest and God-given
rights and duties, and the powers that
be are usurpers indeed. If the State
can force her political and religious
opinions on my otfsprings SIZE Will, ia
time, do it. and then her schools, from
great benevolence, became wicked
and intolerable oppression. The fact
thar other States NAV be handling tins
two-edged sword is no answer to argu-
ment Gom principle, and in this con-
neotlon | a,n reminded Of the remark
to ne of the head of one of the most
honorable publishing houses in Aneri-
ca, one greatly respected here. who told
me that he quit publishing English text
books because in mmy places they
could not be run on thclr mcIlts, and
because, to use his own language, "Su-
perintcnd tnts who can prescribe boo,-s
a'e ought 10y the long st purses, and .
am not N that line OF business" And
the allegation that such a power may
enable, say a southern State, to keep
out of its schools, books rejecting on
this section points directly to dangers
referred to. So one party may labor to
sustain mere par Y power, and the weap-
on is ready for all parties and all bigots.
Rev. S. 5. Ash!y. when Superintendent
In North Cerolina, did me the honor to
ask my opinion of the School BIll which
he prepared, and it contained "a clause
similar to the one herein discussed, and
to make it effective, required the Su-
perintendent or State Board TO purchase
all lhe books. maps, stationary, states
and pencils To be used: | earnestly OBJ
jected to this provision, but he adhered
to it and the Legislature, though Of his
party, by a large majority, had the
manliness to refuse to pass t. The
tendency was seen and declared, and
the bill now under consideration is a
long step 10 Mr.. Ash!y's measure, the
legislature can enforce what it prescribes,
and it is as easy and natural to glide
from tn, dctation to the purchasers of
books by the State Board, and then it
would be far better for us to have n
common schools AS their lifelong
riend, and the frendof ray dear native
! State, l feel bound to contend earnestly
against measure which will inhancs
the public abuses and lead to the mental
bondage against which popular cduca-
ton is Designed as safe guard.
i C.. Ii. WILEY.
/ WINSTON, n. &. March 1st, 1880.