Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-11-29
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Hon. Zach Montgomery has been trav-
cling through the State of California as
sailing public schools on the ground that
"there are girls and boys at the public
schools whom you would not allow to 60
to your own house" Mr. Montgomery
is not solely alone, even at this day and
age, in the utterance of this sentiment,
sentiment that is at variance with all re-
publican institutions and a sentiment that
many secretly entertain who are very eau
tious about giving it current expression.
1t has been the sentiment that the friends
of the public schools have had to battle
with ever since the attempt has been to
rear the children Of the poor and the rich
under one system and educate them to-
gether Mr.. Montgomery seems disposed
to stigmatise public schools as institutions
which impart goddess education" He
says: 'There are girls and boys at the
public schools whom you would not allow
to 90 to your own house. What is the
difference between allowing that at your
own house and letting your children 90
to the school house and associate with
them?" The Walla Walla Union aptly
puts the..following question in reply: "We
would like to enquire if this style of ar
gument would not apply with equal force
to the parochial school or even to the
church itself, of which the speaker is such
jealous Champion" If the parochial
and sectarian schools are to absorb all the
virtuous, decent and well behaved schol-
ars in State, what are you going to do
with the balance Of the children of the
State? Must they be left without an ed
ucation or must they be herded together
by themselves TO have only the example
of each other, which Montgomery terms
goddess to initiate and pattren from in
their progress in education. If his theory
be right, to educate this class would be
only educating a class for the purpose Of
making them greater adopts in ungodli-
ness. If there be a religious system
taught in the parochial or sectarian schools
anywhere that inculcatcs the sentiment
that none but the children of the rich
and the popular and honorable Of the
State should be associated and educated
together, and that line Of distinction should
be maintained through after years of life,
such schools would find better field of
operation for success to step outside
Of the boundaries of the Government of
the United States and there seek to build
up a religious aristocracy that can be fos-
stored and maintained without any inter
ference of the common people and far
removed from their goddess" example
and education. The genious of the Gov
ernment of the United States fosters no
such aristocratic institution They are not
restricted, however, from giving instruc-
tons in their own way and to whom they
please. But only in few cases are they
the recipients of the funds of the govern
ment Of States raised by taxation from
the people at large. While in nearly all
the States and Territories of the United
States liberal provisions arc made for the
education alike of all classes at the public
expense and if these schools, maintained
by this fund, are not as they should be-
the fault lies in the agents of the Gov
eminent who handle these funds, and the
same is true, if they are not made the
most prosperous and successful schools of
the country, in progressing the pupils
taught in morality, and common and scien-
tito education. II sometimes happens
that few persons in every community,
entertaining similar prejudiccs against
any public system that this crank, Mont
gomery, does may do much harm to the
operations of public school, by their in
situations and slurs and sometimes where
they dare do, by open attacks upon the
public schools. But the people generally
SO soon as they comprehend the true po-
sition of these schools in relation to the
great body polite and the stability of a
republican form of government, will rally
and do rally in support of the public
schools and demand that if not the best
then they should be made inferior to none
others that may be established in the
community around them. We may touch
upon this subject in future number
when We see fitting occasion.