Tolland County press., 1883-01-18

-Thr5Ons WIFI nave tlc Ouliuoy ASOPuoiASoA on and after Sunday, Jan. Fist. Hand in your sub scriptions gentlemen?
 -J. E. Pasce is l. A. Buck & Co.'S. agent for the sale of Devoe's Brilliant Oil.
 STAFFORD.
 -E. H. Hyde has been elected nem- Der of the state board of control of the ag- ricultural experiment station, also one of the state commissioners on diseases of cattle.
 Rockville Leader E. Benton of Staf- ford Springs, or good old '.Father" Benton, as the people are pleased to speak of him, sends out his 1883 catalogue of flower seeds. "Father" Benton is an aged min ister, who formerly preached here, and who is accredited with starting the great est religious revival which Rockville has ever known. He was an earnest worker in the cause. Retiring on account of age, he now does little gardening as par tial support. If you want any flower seeds, you will be patronizing honest industry by buying of him.
 pr. H. B. Gould has removed to New Boston, N. H. Our village loses in him 8 valued citizen, and his patrons will re- gret that better prospects elsewhere have allured him away. Dr. Gould's removal will slightly relieve the excess of M. D's. that the borough has for some time sus- tainsd.
 Beginning next Sunday, Parsons will have the Sunday Republican on sale every Sunday afternoon, driving to Palm or, and having the agency of Monson and Stafford. His route will be through Staf- ford Hollow, and he expects to reach the horouoh as ear1v as l .30 a m
 [coMMUNIcATED.]
 During past two years much has been written concerning public schools, and public attention has been sharply directed toward many of the abuses, sins of omls- sion and commission, costs, and net re- suits of the system. A few words in Gov. Buffers inaugural address hits a :hard blow at much that is unjust, unreasona- ble, and uncalled for in the school sys- tenn, not only in Massachusetts, but of like character in our own state. In view of contemplated changes here in our midst, would it not be well to make haste slowly, and endeavor to build on foundation, not alone stable and secure, but likewise just to all ;-the child and parent, the cit izen taxpayer, and the poor man blessed only with many little students. Every man owes something to the general fund which goes to sustain civil society and as society must not only be sustained but constantly renewed, continual contribu- tion towards the sustaining and renewing becomes absolutely necessary. Every man owes to the society fund sum pro- portional to the interests he has at stake, which demand protection in the communi- ty. It becomes him to see to 1t that the sum which he contributes-in the form of taxes-is judiciously expended in building and sustaining social structure that shall protect and promote his interests It be- comes him to likewise watch and prevent the waste of that which he has contribut- ed, and see to it that fanciful and unwise expenditures are prevented or stopped. In the matter of public education every man, however small his interest, owes for the protection of that interest, certain portion of his property, to be used in pro- viding for every child Gin the community where he resides or has property located) an education which will give that child mental weapons of offense and defense, so that 1t may be a portion of assistance to society rather than dependent upon or burden to it. The question arises How much does the taxpayer owe that child, how much of his substance can it claim, and how long and how far in the highway up the hill of knowledge can it justly claim his assistance It is not the aim of the writer to run into any long drawn out argument or fine spun theory, neither does he desire to run into the sentimental ity of the matter farther than cold justice and equity demand. A certain knowledge of reading, writing, spelling, mathemat- ics, geography and grammatical construc- tion of language is necessary in every child, in order to lay the mental and mor- al foundation which shall elevate the child from the child from the level of the brute and make it safe and profitable member of the community. Having contributed toward this end, by giving in the form oi taxes, sum sufficient to lay this founda. tion, has society the moral or equitable right to go farther and forcibly deprive one of their property in part by compell. ing them to contribute of their substance toward higher cultivation of few of the children in the community. I say few, for my own experience, which think is of piece with those of more years and wider range, is that in proportion to the whole number of children placed in our public schools directly benefited by the higher, elaborate, cultured and ornament. A1 DI64Cu0S Ibu&AG, 1b aDOuG seven pei cent. oJ the whole; that is, of one hun. dred children entering our public schools at the age of five years, not more thar seven of that number will continue there in long enough to obtain direct benefit from the higher branches taught, while the other ninety three will have been com pelled to drop and enter the field of active duties in life and but partially equipped with the mental tools. In view of these facts-and I believe they are we'll nigh un1versal-does it not become us to revise our mode of procedure, and cutting of useless expenditures, bring every effort tc bear to fully furnish every child with the foundation principles, and beyond this leave the way and the work open for indi vidual effort, private generosity or private enterprise. Having only hinted at som' things which can be elaborated mucI farther, leave the subject, hoping som' one will show mo the error of my reason ing, or open up better line of proceed ure, and submit it for public considera tion and criticism. OBSERVER.
 Stafford Springs, Jan. 18th, 1893.
 Our correspondent is right, in many re spects. The business of popular educa ton at the public expense may be carries too for. It is aaot the business of mu nicipality to do more than give facilitie for getting good business education, bu liberal construction may be put upol