National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-07-14
Public Schools and Agricultural Col
lenes,


Whatever may be the caus?s Of the pre-
vailing difficulty in opening the District
public schools at the usual time in Septem-
Der, the fact remains that the appropriation
for those schools has not been large enough
This is the more remarkable as, for long
time, Washington has pridei itself-and
with iustice-upon the excellence OF its
school system. No statement, to our
knowledge, has been made that the public
schools, under Superintendent Powell,
have deteriorated in any respect. On the
contrary, we hear on every hand that Mr..
Powell has increased the efficiency OF the
schools. We may take it for granted that
the standard of Washington schools is
rather higher, upon the whole, than that OF
similar institutions in any state of the
Union. This being so, the question arises.
why the appropriation Is SO small that 1t
places the commissioners on the horns Of
very undignined dilemma? Last year the
teachers salaries-which are as paltry as
they might be at present-had to be scaled;
that is, proportionate deduction made
from each, so that the deficient appropria-
tion might be made to Ego all round!"
1t is probable that the same thing shall
have to be done this year, and the dilemma
is that either the teachers are compelled to
work the whole school year at reduced
salaries or thatchildren shall be deprived
Of two months schooling In order that
teachers shall have their scheduled salary.
What pretty picture this is In the para
disc Of lobbyists and appropriations
We have recently had occasion to say
something about agricultural colleges. 1t
is almost universally acknowledged that,
with few exceptions, they are conspicuous
failures, both as farming schools and as
institutions of higher learning. They at
tract boys merely because largely-buttoned
uniforms are compulsory. But this great
privilege is not a monopoly, and now that
the Washington high school boys wear q
uniform, and very becoming one, there is
DO reason why any "bold soldier boyn
should ever again 90 to an agricultural col
lege. 1t is an utter delusion to think that
such placeH as agricultural colleges afford
though t-ey may print it in their catalogues
"A higher education than the public schools
Of Washington or any other city in America.
1t would be merely an act Of justice to the
public schools II Congress would appoint a
comm isslon Of educated and impartial men
TO examine the classes Of any high school
in any state, and then examine the classes
OF the agricultural college in that state and
compare results.
Yet those farming schools-which teach
no farming, the only alleged reason for
their existence made by their pious founders
and sustainers-enjoy great privileges and
rich emoluments.
We would suggest, then, to that govern
ment which is so chary about pensions to
old soldiers Of the republic and their rela-
tives that II would be well to consider the
little children and growing boys and girls
who must be kept idling about the streets
for months because money is not on hand
TO open our public schools.
1t would be well, also, to consider that
appropriations should not be made for
Conspicuous failuresn while "consplcuous
educational successesn want more money,
more teachers, more school houses.
And Congress has a special interest in
this matter. The taxpayers of this city pay
for the education Of children OF senators
and representatives and an army OF ofIlelalf
who pay no taxes.
Take away then all endowments, that
can be taken away, from every institution
whose one talent has been buried In q
napkin, and bestow that talent upon those
great public temples Of knowledge which
are always open to public scrutiny, which
wage such a persistent and well-ordered
war against ignorance and infamy, and
which train ninety per cent. OF the citizens
who are to maintain the permanence as
well al the dignity of the republic.