The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-09

enjoy the hest opportunities hut the
one class no State can aft I'd IL neglect
Is that for which the majority care
little, and which. so often, has no vie
regard for itself. To cast upon the
ignorant mass IF either race the respon
sIbility of educating itself is simply To
declare that State can get Oh safely 4
with such an element perpetually in
creaslug at the bottom of society. II is /,
like the foolish householder who should |
turn In disgust from the foul ce<spool
under his chamber window, waiting till
1t should purify itself, while he lavished
his thousands on the adjournment of his
drawing room ana the luxaries of his
table,
Now we respectfully submit that Iis
sissippl l. PLAYING the part of the foolish
householder"
There Is still another error into which
THE CLARION has inadvertently fallen.
1t says, am NOW claiming that the State
system OF education is wrong because it
does not exclude persons who are able
to paw" Ny complaint is not that this
class is not excluded, but that it is n adr
bv the State a privileged class for
whom too much is being done, far more
| ttisfi u tipiic lot the really DetQN.
The evil complained of not only exists in
The case ut pupils who AT our colleges and
universities, are acquiring high literary,
cienfifie and artistic educations 1T the
cost of the taxpayer; but also in the
Ease of many IF our privata deuomua-
| tlonai schools. claiming to he Colleges,
Ind eonferring literary. scientific, arts
tie and honorary degrees Boarding
pupil- who would lie well educated
without public aid, and who are pur-
| suing studies not included in our COM
m school curriculum, have part Of
Gtir tuition paid out of the common
Scsool fund ct the county from which
they go. luis il Is true, Is not the fault
4 the law, but of its adniuist ration, for
this proceeding is in plain violation oi
the constitution aud laws Of the STAT.
A private UNCONVENTIONAL school in
y ich the higher branches of learning
are taught, cannot legally, at the same
ime, he public chool TIE constita
ion aud laws require all public schools
10 he conducted on one aud the same
Ian, they declaring that there shall bt
established a uHyo.m system of free
choos," and between these high privat.
Institutions and our public school,
proper. there is no approach to uuifor
lily. These PR ate schools, too. are
generally conducted amder the ausnice,
re.pecTively, of one of our Protestant
ch riches, and the constitution empbat
icaiIy declares:
No religious sect or sects shall eve
:ontrol any p TT of the school fund %
tn State"
The very intelligent correspondent "a
Tie CLARIo.. who signs himself Tax
iaver," Is in error in attributing to ME ;
,npoSe, or wish, to have our College
md Universities 'brnnght down 10 RI,
-vel of elementary education ONLY" %
hat they should he abandoned bv tb,
STATE. For this error | am probably
'artIy responsible, in net having es
press, myself with all requisite clear
ness on the subject. This preris
question: has not been distinctly undel
consideration, and my attention ha
been mainly directed to other feature,
# our public school system. | woul,
not destroy these higher institutions o
earning, but would make those VIII,
ENJOY the advantages they afford, do :,
at their own cost. Tuition fees shout,
be paid for the luxuries of learning A. fo
other luxuries. nor wonlc this charp
OF tuition fee close their doors in al
asses against the poor. The youth O
talent, promise and m5ition. who's
usefulness would lie increased bv "hiob.
learning" would get through College b,
his own perseyeribg efforts. workin,
his way, As. it were, or by the aid {,
phlanthropic and charitable persons @
means, anxious to see merit rewarded
aud talent developed. If we will onl,
do DER whole duty according to on
ability in the way of common schoo
education our Colleges and Universitie,
would not languish, because reasonable
tuition fees We're exacted
Nor can | admit as nv courteou,
opponent "rax-payer, alleges. that il
was unfortunate for my argument thai
| quo ed Mr.. Jefferson. now have
,eiore me an authentic sketch of the
University of Virginia, prepared and
published by the officials of that grand
institution, and there find the statement
that Mr. Jeffer>"ns plan was to have '.eIe
Elentary schools maintained ut the pubLj,
ritaige and TO be free TO all" He never
coniempla ed free University tuition
Vt the inauguration of that institution
bv Mr.. Jefferson, tuition fees were
charged, and they have ever since beer
there chaIged. As to the higher studics
or institutions of higher grade, it is ex.
'ressly stated, that Mr. JrfferSon's plan
vas that ther were to he supported
hictfy by the fees Of the pupils
utterly disclaim any special attach
Upon the Columbus High ShooI for
girls. | attack system Of which that
a'hool Is Il part. ju4r!CG.