San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-05-09
THE SCHOOL HOUSE QUESTION.
v.
Pebble School Progress In Texas.

week before last OF what the State
has done toward public education WA
incomplete in not Including its I'M
mense donations OF land, etc, for the
establishment Of a State university,
that being really intended to DO the
GROWING work OF tho public school
system. Tho permanent university
fund amounts TO SG30,32l.G3. This
was provided for by tho early fathers
and founders of our State, and fur.
thor illustrates their breadth Of philan-
thropic Thought We, however, do
not lay 70 much stress on this as on
the public common school system. II
properly organized and graded tho lat
ter will be sufficient for the liberal edu-
cation OF the great mass OF our people,
independent Of the university. Tho
common school OF Texas can be made
what it WAS happily defined to be by
great elucator-wo believe Horace
Mann: TIM PEoPLE's COLLEGE
From Thrall's History of Texas we
learn that the first free school estab-
lished in the state was ut San Anton
10 in 1854. Our impression Is that
the German communities, New
Brauufols, Fredericksburg, etc, were
perhaps the first to follow suit in
this direction. We know that the
first named place has long cherish
ed a just pride in its public schools,
The first frequent efforts to inau-
gurale free schools in our cities and
foremost towns, occurred, as we re-
collect, during the administration OF
1.-The Old Alcalde," Gov Roberts, and
rs might have been expected OF that
ancient political fossil, met with his
strenuous opposition. TWAS during
his term that the struggle for the es-
tablishment of public schools at Aus
tin took place, to which we have had
occasion heretofore to refer. In
spite of the Old Alcalde's influence,
however, and that of the Statesman,
edited by John Cardwell, in the
basest appeals from day to day to
old prejudices, the public school
cause trlumphod in the establishment
of the present system, to the bless
ings of which MIR. Woodbridge, Judge
Fullmore and others, so eloquently
testified last summer from our own
Chautauqua Hill, urging San Mar
cos to Ego and do likewise. Surely
this appeal will not pass unheeded.
In the FREE PREEs of March II we
referred to some of the towns which
have fallen in line with Austin and
San Antonio in the establishment Of
system of public schools, and the
erection of modern school buildings
adequate to the wants of their scho-
lastic population; as for instance,
Brennan, Bolton, Bryan, Rockdale,
Huntsville, Luling, Blanco City,
Llano, ctc.,-all the larger cities
of the State and scores Of towns and
villages, too numerous to mention.
We would here especially call the
attention of our readers to the later
example of Palestine. We trust not
one of them failed to read the full
proceedings of the dedication of the
new public school building ut that
place, as published in our last week s
issue. The facts set forth in the
speeches made on that occasion were
of the most interesting and impress
sive character Not only SO, but they
meet our case precisely, save that
their school building cost $4,000.
San Marcos should have one of at least
half that value. In other respects
their experience was similar to ours.
They encountered their share of
doubters and croakers, but went
ahead all the same The leaders in
| the movement We're surprised to
learn that q majority of the taX-pay-
ers favored the enterprise. So, we
predict it will be found here. We do
not find that their illegal lights dc
voted themselves TO proving that
there could be no lawful notice OF an
clection-in the face OF countless eX-
amples to the contrary all over the
State, or that their men Of wealth
were the first to raise the cry ofruin-
Gus taxation. Bat all, rich and poor
united enthusiastically in the good
work. We quote from the speech Of
ex Mayor Lacey:
He hoped the new mayor
would push forward this wOTk-it
will be a lasting monument to the
city. Hereafter when the question
j. asked. What kind Of schools are
there in your c.;y'' The people may
be proud 20 answer, ard &c; 10 rla.-
ize that they 10 not feel tAe position