The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-06-19
SPEAKS IN BEHALF OF TIE FACULTY
ON A MOST IMPORTANT
SUBJECT.
TEXAS AND EDUCATION.
"rbe Relation of Public Education to the
Government of the State
of Texas"

uals, families, communities, instltu-
tons, departments and to the govern
ment itself. This rule of action in
republic stands in direct opposition to
absolutism-absolutis or unbridled
independence, in any OF the operations
of the government. The State OF
Texas, having assumed control OF the
education of its people, the schools,
instituted by it for that purpose, must
be regulated by the rule mentioned
the same as any other part OF the adj
on Illustration OF the government.
-. The constitution of 1876 makes 1t
= he duty of the government to pro-
shemote education in the modes and by
t ,he means therein specified. 1t
aames the schools of different kinds
and grades and makes provision for
their support. They are therefore in
Guided within the ordinary operations
Of the government.
Although the public schools have
teen given fixed position as part OF
the government, they are not vested
with the same independent control In
their management as if the school
system had been made department
If the government.
The constitution divides the power
I Of the government between three dis
Iinct departments, each OF which SHALL
be confiped to separate body OF mag
,stry, to-wit: Those that are leglsla-
tive to one, those which are executive
to another and those which are Judi
cial to another. One department. can
not exercise the power OF onother, and
thereby the independence OF each one
is secured in its allotted sphere OF
action and prescribed by the constl-
tuition.
The qualification OF the persons
who are to fill those three depart
ments are specified and certain
powers and duties applicable 10 each
of them are defined. The legislative
denartment Is the controlling power
in the goyernment. First, because by
impes r4nt it may remove the Off.
GERS, ..ne executive and judicial de-
mar Ints, and second, under its gen
err Legislative powers as well as under
u f,e expressly conferred on it it may
IS laws prescribing other duties and
lowers for other departments not
Inconsistent with those given them in
4 ME constitution.
There are other subjects of govern
ment referred to in the constitution
which are connected with Or are in
cidental to the departments for which
the legislature prescribes rules of &C
ton, as the adjutant generals Office
and the militia in connection with
the governors Office, the county sur
veyor's Office, in connection with the
office OF the commissioner of the gen.
eral land Office, the tax assessors and
collectors offices in connection with
the comptroller's office, the county
commissioners courts and municipal
corporations, as legislative agencies
for local government, and the COM
mission Of appeals, and the peniten-
tiaries, in connection with the judicial
department.
There are other subjects OF govern
fnent referred to in the constitution
that are not given a place in either
department as an active factor therein
but which are made subject in their
operations to such laws of the legis-
lative department as are not in contra
vention to the terms of the constitu
ton relating thereto. OF this class
may be mentioned railroad corpora
tions, the Office OF insurance, statistics
and history, the quarantine, the asy-
lums and the public schools.
Though the funds designed for the
support of the different schools are
designated and secured from diversion
to other objects, their management
and disposition are contided to the
legislature. And, though the general
objects of the different schools are in
Dictated, their organization and mode
OF operation is left to thu direction of
the legislature. The school system
does not constitute department of
the government, is not a corporation
with corporate controlling powers and
is merely an agency to accomplish
an object under the direction of
the legislature. That object is the
education of the rising generation OF
the people of Texas. The important
responsibility rests upon the legisla-
ture to determine what subjects they
shall be taught and how they shall be
taught, in the different schools. This
leads tu consideration of the uses of
a general public education in this
country. For it should be directed
and controlled according to its use
FITNESS in maintaining and improving
the civilization of the people. The
idea here expressed, however correct
is too general to be practical. Society
as it now exists and will continue to
exist, is divided into different classes
OF pursuits. AS the State has under
taken the business of education it
should furnish that sort which is
adapted to fit each class of usefulness
in its appropriate sphere. The great
body of the people must work for Il
livelihood as common laborers, farmers,
stockmen, herdsmen. mechanics, and
employe in works of different kinds.
For this large class is demanded a
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