The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-22
eIo PUBLIC SCHOOLS VERSUS
SMALL PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
opposinR Views on the Subject.

Opposing Views on the Subject.
Az remarked last week. the Editor OF
| the Farmer and Mechanic believes In
allowing the public to say It's say on all
questions of public interest or lmpor,,
lance, whether the views expressed
coincide with his own. or not. Hence
we print the following rejolnder to Mrs;
NJ B. G., by a young lady teacher OF
thi, city; aItho' well aware that IN SO
doing we shall get our ears boxed
(metaphorically, by at least ninety nine
out of one hundred of her pretty col
leagues Of the desk and ferule who keep
''crochets and embroidery handy. for
amusement in school hours, while the
children are working out sums, &c.
IN. B.-Likewise drawing pictures
penuing flies, and putting bent pins
| where they will inculcate habits OF agll-
ity.) In so doing, however, We are not
to be understood as fully endorsing
either of the views taken. In some re
speets both are correct. 1t may be
proper to add that We do MT construe
IN. B. C's" article as claiming exclu
slve advantages for Mrs. Chapman
school, or making any reflections on
other boarding schools.
For the Farmer and Mechanic.
I have read, with much surprise, the
request of Mrs. Nj. B. c., that the ed
tor would turn his guns on the pubic
graded schools Of North Carolina. Our
public schools speak for themselves; IN
the work they have done, and are still
doing. lies their right to exist. Mrs.
NJ. B. G.. charges them with breaking
down the good oil fdshiOned home
schools" and would lead the readers to
infer thai Mrs. C.'s school at GOldsboro
is the only place in North Carolina
where young ladies may obtain the cul
ture of ante-JeHum days. She ignores
such time-honored institutions as
Salem Female Academy, Greensboro
College, Hilisboro Seminary, st. Mary's,
Peace Institute, and others too numer-
Gus to mention. The latter two were
never more fourishing, notwithstand
ing their proximity to a pubic graded
school with upwards of four hundred
enrolled. True, it sometimes happens,
that a good public school absorbs a
Der of small private ones, In which
young teachers of moderate attain
ments, and little fitness for teaching,
hear lessons to the children of their
obliging friends, doing at the same
time no incOnsiderabie amount OF
crocheting and embroidery, especially
while the children are reading and
worstiag sums. That much used,
much abused expression, ''the survival
of the attest," certainly holds good 10
regard to schools. The public will
literally support every school that 1T
needs, provided it is worthy of support.
IF not needed, if unworthy, let it die,
without regret.
Mrs. NJ. B. C. denounces mammoth
schools. Whether or not ambition
should be a stimulus to study, teachers
know, in spite of what morallsts say,
that it is the most powerful incentive
that can be brought to bear upon them;
it is impossible to crush it without des
polling the q Of their human nature,
nvery child feels that it is more credit
able and difficult to shine as best among
City or sixty class mates, than to be
at the head of the class where there i:
only "me and another little girl
Likewise the little boy who is next tt
head in this class is reused from hi
apathy of dullneas and indo'ence wher
he finds that forty nine Others have
IN astered the lesson that at first seemed
too hard for him.
Again, Mrs. NJ. B. G, makes a whole
sale charge OF incompeteucy agains
public school teachers, lgnorlug the fast
that tley ale required 10 pass d riga,
examination, before taking q class al,
are afterwards subjected 10 the surve.l
ance of the superintendent and boar,
Of inspectors. 1t is a depiorable fac
there are many incompetent teachers Ii
our schools, and this will be the case a:
long as teaching is the one way by which
ayoung lady can earn her living in Nsrtt
Carolina. If those who so deeply de
plore the deficiencies of teachers woulC
turn their energies In opening new
avenues of employment, they would dc
more to purge the profession of incom-
petents than by writing volumes Of com
plants. Young ladies cannot dig, most
of them are ashamed to beg, ergo, they
must teach. Although many teachers
are poverty paid, they DO thorough,
conscientious work. from pure love
thereof. The true teacher will do as
good work for $25 per month as she
will for $50. 1t is hardly fair to charge
them with inability because their pay is
small.
She advises the rich to send their
daughters away to boarding schools, but
says nothing to those without the means
of doing SO. If education is good for the
rich mans daughter, is it not equally
good for the poor! Our scientific men
tell US much of the great natural re-
sources of our State. Is it possible to
develop these resources without develop
ing the powers of her sons and daugb
tiers? Let the demand for skilled labor.
De met by skilled North Carolinians, and
where are the working classes to be train
ed, but In the nurseries of the State, the
public graied schools.
A PRIVATE SCHOOL TEACHER.