Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-02-01
The Adaptation of the Public
School system of Missouri
to the People.

10 thc TcOptCs
"a Paper by Prof II. c. Davis, and read by
him before the last meeting of the Arcadia
Valley Teachers Association.l
Mr.. Calahan introduces this subject
by comparing the two political parties
and showing what relation they have
to each other, and how education is af-
fected by party politics. This, per-
haps, is necessary to some extent; but
in treating this phase Of the subject, l
do not intend to go so far back as did
my worthy colleague. Besides, he has
pretty thoroughly covered the ground,
and it is not necessary to retrace his
steps. He enumerated great many
depressing influences that were brought
to bear upon educational progress in
this State. especially in regard to the
adaptation of the present free school
system. Without stopping to investi-
gate these causes, or to give credit to
this or that political party for the sue
cess of the organization. we will pro-
ceed to the discussion of the subject
proper.
The institution is remarkable for the
suddenness of its birth, and mar vellous
for it's unparalleled growth and expan-
sion. When this new Star of A merican
freedom burst forth in our political
armament in all its brilliancy to guide
our destiny, multitudes of ignoramous-
es labored to obscure or quench it; but,
thank God, it laughed at their fruitless
attempts, and moved onward to its
day of glory.
Having no notion to be dispatched
so unceremoniously it has grown to a
giant, and its power for good is felt
and acknowledged all over this broad
and happy land. 1t carries within it's
bosom the elements of it's own per-
manency. These elements are endued
with the requisite power to correct any
irregular tendencies to which the body
polite may be liable, whether that
body be Democratic or Republican.
Every system which aims at stabili-
ty, and hopes to be crowned with per-
petuity, must have incorporated this
corrective means. With us. not the
one nor the few, but the many are the
individuals in whom the governing
power resides. The people are the ele-
ments of permanency in our political
system; so they are in the public school
system. and in all other systems of per-
manent good, for that matter.
Now, if each individual i'll nation
is sovereign, how necessary it is that
each one should be a wise and good
one, in order to guide the interests OF
the nation.
Are the sovereigns of the great Com
monwealth of Missouri of this class?
Are they qualified to correct any and
all irregularities or departures from
right, made by those whom they have
delegated the governing power? We
trust so. Then if they are, how shall
we keep them So? 1 answer, By MAIN
tanning the public school system of the
State. Eyes," says one; "but the peo-
pie do not want the public schools, be-
cause the Bible is not taught in them."
Another says the people do not want
the public schools because they are
controlled by Protestants. Such ex-
cuses to oppose the public schools are
not valid.
There are always few people in ev-
cry community that are not willing to
have anything at all, however good to
the majority, unless they can have
it their own way. They are chronic
grumblers-they are SO by nature. 1t
is as natural for them to grumble as il
is for bird to sing.
The present school system has some
defects, admit; but it is no worse
than any other institution that man
has anything to do with. The denom-
national schools are imperfect; the
Church itself, both Catholic and Pro- |
testant, is full of errors and lncom-
pleteness; then why raise such "hue !,
and cry" about the defects of the pub
lie schools?
1t is urged that the Catholic element |
of our State oppose the public schools
because the doctrine of that church is I
excluded from the course taught in