Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-03-17
OUR FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.


For the Charlotte Messenger.
This is a topic which indeed re-
quires very careful consideration
from several points of view. There
is a good deal yet to be done in the
way of our public schools in order
that they may prove to US a blessing
rather than curse. do not attempt
to say by any means that they are of
no real worth or value to us; but |
do say that if there is not radical
change ere long in the condition Of
things relative to the public school
system which is now in existence in
our land and country, there will and
can not be that great and lasting good
accomplished; that knowledge both
moral and intellect, obtained for which
we so ardently seek and strive to re-
tain even amidst the surrounding dis
advantages under which we labor
What steps must now be taken-what
course pursued to thus better our free
public school system? Or, can it be
bcttered? If so, then upon whom
rest the incumbent duty and respon-
sibility in lettering it? As a general
rule our free public schools do not
average a term of more than two
months in a whole school year. How
absurd, and yet how inevitably true !
One might ask the cause of this short
coming of the free public school
finance in the several school districts
and counties of our land. This seems
indeed very stupendous question to
answer correctly, and quite an I'M
yielding problem to solve. But how
ever, it is perhaps partly due is
great lack of sincere and heartfelt in
tcrest being manifested by those who
have control of these affairs, which
should be indiscriminately utilized
regardless of race or color throughout
our land Another cause, too; of
these shortcoming is lack of duty
performed on our part as free and Ameri-
can citizens to whom the rights of
government are due. Again, one of
the greatest improvements to our prog
ress as people is an overplus of So
called teachers in our communities
There are more teachers nowadays
than there is actual work for them
to do. If there were less of such
teachers, and more comfortable school
houses in our respective district, then
much more good would be accomp-
lished in the school-room. And in
deed | truly believe that, until such
be the case, we shall never be able
to attain unto higher excellency in
the arts, sciences, and literature of
the time. Another barrier to the
progress of our free public schools is
the interference by parents or guard
ians of our several school districts
with the teachers simply for correcting
their children in the school-room.
This pernicious character of parents in
the very midst of their children, but
lays the foundation upon which they
are ere long to repudiately shape their
characters, which will lead down,
down the dark sacreligious avenues of
shame and disgrace curse to hui
manity This is too often the occur
ence amongst our race. Then let us,
my fellow teachers, strive more ar
IDENTIFY to suppress such absurdity and
vituperation as now exist in our land
and country relative to our free pub
lie schools, by showing ourselves
teachers indeed by precept and ex-
ample, the influences Of which shall
emaute and survive throughout sue
ceeding ages. | am respectfully in
behalf of suffering humanity.
JAS. A. Johnson.
Davidson College, y. G.. March It'll, 1888.