The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-01-11
p77HT.rC EDUcATror

-. c,.RYoE: In the way Ct e.
-. 49, Mississippi is not niggarals =
- caus. II education. But tue Dsl'e. 81.
,,snerally entertained that practIcai -
- 49, commensurate with the outlay.
~. e.,,It of her system is that i attempts
-. ! = , ,aaeb--overlooking the fact that inc
great need Of her population Is eienne -.
:..s..,.t;on Indeed, under no circumseanoss
should public education be sustained =
..,;aa bsvond that which Is rudlmeh.
.S-. lat the pupil be thoroughly taugus
:. Ia public expense in reading, Mlleihs
= a. az, sr;sbmetic. and beyond this let MIN D rs,
anu a. - resources and then they VIII
- .a,,,ht salfreliance and independents
oIong With the development Of their meh'Ai
The want of thoroughness is the grea.
1.e..t i, our public school sytem. but ieM
~ onr vouth. wholly dependent upon tiiis
e,-stara are good spoilers, readers, OF eau =.
rr;ta n lepibIe hand, or solve Win Ieau i
49, the usual business arithmetlcal Pfou-
isn,s Whilst neglecting these lulPoItaI1'
attalnments they are pretending !" ss
mathematics, astronomy, geoiog!, n.sSbl =, ~
anatomy and many other higher Drdhc ,I. : :
The youth who is thoroughly Srouuu ~,
in the rudiments of an education can y!
his efforts qualify himself to Nil any !;
ment of business OF pubic seEFio0 "Nie'' =
likely ever to be open TO him.
Asa matter of strict justice to the tax,
,ayer the law should carefully limit ana
rr.t,ri..t the branches, or what is to be taugh1
- aur nubIic schools. 1t is enough lot
.,,,srnmant 10 qualify its citizens properly
p discharge the common duties OF LIE ana
,I,an 10 nrotect him in all OF his rights q
person and property. .a H.,
Oar State Universities are supported oy
tpnds donated by the general government
for that purpose, and to their elemosyIaIy
character. therefore, we take no eXeeptioli'
In the city of New York, public sentl-
wont il running wild on this subject, as VIII
he seen from the subjoined article from the
Nv York Observer. The views suggested
are as applicable to Mississippi as to the To-
/ ,alitv for which they were written
eve have repeatedly invited the advo,
.atas nj higher education TO make use OF
our columns, in showing on what GROUND
the State can be justified in educating the
naonle except to qualify them for good cltl-
| zensbip Our invitation has never been
| been accepted. Therefore, 1t remains an
upchallenged principle, that the right ana
| dutv of the State to educate are derived
/ from the necessity OF certain amount OF
education to qualify the man p become
good citizen. 1t is difficult u define the
| limit. But no reasonable persoh can DENY
that the line between too li4le ana TOO
much has been long since pass4i, ana the
state already teaches at great cost, many
things noe essential, not even Important Tor
citizens to know in order to do heir duties
| Nf 10 Welitl.
elementary branches are alone absolutely
necessary. But the State now gees far be-
yond those, and gives to yalng men
and Young women what would be
called Justly a complete educttlon, eX-
cent for professional life. Is itinot then
| something to be considered seriously when
our wisest and best men, who lave gwen
years to the subject, and to whom the
city owes debt of gratitude tot their la
bors in this cause, propose to gIP at the
public expense, college educltion to
every young person in the city desiring 1t
By what principle of right is citizen to be
taxed for the purpose of giving hs neigh
boris son a college education? cannot
be defended on any of the recognized prin-
cipies by which free governmentps to be
maintained.
1t is a longs step toward communism. BY
the same reasoning, or want OF reasoning,
by which the luxuries of education are
furnished by public taxation, we might vote
to give clothes and food to every One who
wants them. This is communism complete.
Where universal suffrage prevails, the
majority vote the taxes, and the hinority
pay them. We have heard city ottical
publicly advocating the duty of The city to
provide board and lodging for Gery one
who asks for food and shelter, and to give
him clean shave in the morning and to
i black his boots! This is the pndency Of
the times, and it is not healthy tendency.
Our system of education is capable of vast
Improvement but we are bond to give
better, not higher education. The elements
may be morel thoroughly taught, but we do
not need to teach Latin and Greek or Comic
Sections or Metaphysics-at the public
| eXnenSe.