The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-20
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The Public School System.
Edffoy of fhe IudiananoIis Ion rpaI.


The Public School System.
70 the Editor of the indianapolis Jou rnal:
There has been much talk In the papers about
the actions Of the Board of School Commission
ers. never have taken a prominent part in
their work, and therefore do no claim any honor
for their achievements. However, think it
proper to publish my views on the school system
of this city.
The social conditions of the world are tending
to increase the wealth of few, and to make the
remainder poorer and poorer. There are some
institutions that belong to the whole people; the
wealthy as we'll as the poor We have public
roads by land and by water; we have the army
and the corps of policemen, to protect all those
who own anything, and to protect life and wei
fare generally we have public Statehouses, in
which laws are made for the protection of the
wealthy principally; we have court-houses; we
have city halls, and other institutions that are
erected in most luxuriant style; we also have
pnblic-sehool buildings, which are put up in
very modest style compared with other public
buildings. But here seems to be the point
where every body demands the greatest economy.
The complaint is raised chat too much money was
expended on building lots and on houses; special
complaint is raised against the selection of
school Site In the center or the city REFER 10
No. 3, on Meridian street.
Now, while everybody is willing to admit that
school education is the most important institu-
ton of q free people. 1t looks ridiculous to de-
mand that the school buildings should be placed
just where lots can be procured at the lowest
price. and in such style as to snit the most
stringent economy. 1t is further demanded that
the instruction should be confined to the most
elementary branches, while progress is going
all over the world in all directions. It is claimed
49, F.<.k-r LII
the legal school education; that the German Ian
guage does not belong to it either; and great
cry is raised that the school taxes are high and
must not be raised, because tits claimed that they
are oppressive to the small property holder.
Now, if we consider the matter calmly and
with the intention Of truth, we must see that the
school taxes comprise only a small part of the
general taxes; that its part for the small prop
erty holders is only small, but for the wealthy
people it is larger. and they would be more jus
titled in raising the complaint However, as
stated in the start, the social conditions have
auch an unfortunate tendency for the great mass
of the population, that those who are lifted by
1t to the top, should cheerfully hear the largest
part Of the expenses. that necessary for the
education of the whole AS for the poorer
classes, the taxes are certainly heavy burden,
and it should be the earnest endeavor of our law
makers to give them relief. There great
many evils that everybody comedies and still are
aot remedied
The property-holder who is indebted must still
ray the taxes on the full value of his property,
Though in fact he owns only small part of it,
- the other part is covered by a debt on which
he has to pay interest There are offices that
would be we'll paid by a salary of 1000, So, 900
or $4,000 per annum that now bring to the in
cumbents sums from $40, 600 to $50 900. Every
body knows it. but no effort is made to remedy
the exactions The members of the School
Board do not get any salary at all,
and they are blamed for the great ex-
penditures they make for the conducting
of the schools There ia no doubt they could
have reduced the expenses by cheaper lots, by
cheaper buildings, by concentrating more pupils
in the classes. but all of this was against the
public wishes, and would have naturally caused
great dissatisfaction. 1t must be remembered
that all expenditures were for institutions that
are still existing, either in creditable buildings
or In the education of the masses; and it would
be great dilemma to limit these requirements
for the sake of saving some money in the hands
OF those who are eminently we'll situated.
The High-schooi is great benefit to the whole
population; statistics have shown that mostly
tbs poorer classes send their children there and
besides, the higher education, that is procured
seemingly for few only, naturally permeates
the whole community. This higher education is
needed In every community of q free people, and
the community should be glad that some of its
members are willing to devote their talent their
time and their energies to the requirement of
such education. As for the German language,
At could be made so to cause no extra
expense at all, If the opposition to it would
cease altogether, and every child should
De made TO study it. But even the present ex-
'pense of about $4,000 for 5000 pupils is very
small compared with the gain. It is not only of
benefit to the Germans but to all who study it
Statistics have shown that all those who study
foreign besides their mother language have &C.
CURED a greater intellect 1t is, besides ma
tterisl benefit iI commercial relations 1t has
tendency to cause more friendly feelings between
the native born and the immigrated population,
and helps the latter in getting protection against
injustice and fraud It IT, further, an
advantage for German parents to give their chill
dren better education. to conserve the parental
connections and friendly feelings between pa
rents and children; and. secondly, to make better
citizens of the latter. The peculiarly cosmopol-
ltsn character of the United States makes it
trticularly desirable that it's citizens should be
Z. 9le to converse in different languages The OBJ
.ton is sometimes raised that other languages
suld have the same claim, but We cannot carry
ything to excess One foreign language must
deemed sufficient for the public schools, and
is natural TO select that which offers the most
..dvantages, compared with the others.
INDIANAPOLIS, June H. Z. FoNNEGuT