San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-08-07
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
How Much Shall We Teachi

This Ia question Of no small import
Public officials aud State laws say one
thing, trustees OF schools say another.
The question does not no much involve the
idea of dollars and cents, or the amount Of
Of work man should do for given SUM
or tho amount Of ground to DO ooveredi but
II involves the very serious idea Of general
distribution Of educational advantages
among all the children; and the States abil-
lily to eIpend her money and time to do
work not contemplated by the law as neces-
sary TO citizenship.
Il would; however, not DO out OF place
here to speak Of teachers getting pay. some
what in proportion to the services rendred'
Three fourths Of tho teachers In this SEQ
ton teach studies IN public schools far be-
youd what the law requires, and only q
verv small per cent get any extra pay. The
state clearly defines the studies to be taught
In our common schools. She also clearly
defines the limits Of the teachers pay. She
offers him certain salary TO do certain
amount of work; but local boards Of trus.
tees say he ought to do twice the amount
Of work for the same money, and in some
oases for less money than tho maximum Of
fered by the State. As business matter. II
don't look right to US, but We venture no
opinion.
The amount Of ground to be covered In
acquiring q practical education is largely
q matter of taste and ability Of the parent
and child; but we wish to say here, that In
our old days, We are becoming strongly
inclined to the more practical In educating.
Thousands of our boys and girls have their
eyes covered in tho study Of the musty lit
erature of the ancient or mathematical prob.
lens they would never use II they should fol-
low thousand different forms Of business
while the great practical points Of life are
rushing by them unnoticed. But the ques-
ton is: Can the State afford to allow this
extra work to be done3 Ia It not on carried
in our schools for the fortunate ones to the
neglect of the manyi
Public education in this country, In Its
fullest sense is designed to teach men the
proper use of the ballot bow, and to prepare
them for the most practical and consistent
view of self government. II Is no use to
say that the limits required to do this
would be hard to define, fer the law clearly
defines such limits. Going beyond is all
right and proper il private individuals wish
to do so. Going beyond this is even right
and proper for tie State when she brings
her masses up to the present standard,
and has means on hand to prosecute the
extra work. At this time she hasn't got
tho means, She is not able to offer these
superior advantages. It might be fur bet
Ter il she could, but it is not practical. The
results have not justified the expenditures
o say nothing of those who have been neg
ected, The craze to run over these higher
studies has thrown thousands OF incompe-
ent young men and wemen out among us
Who are specifically educated, and who
,ave to waste time to acquire the practical
PARTS of an elementary education after they
AVE left school.
The state il not able to teach one son
till all her sons of the same
.ge, who will, can read and write. The
tate ia not able to teach one Of her daugh-
or Virgil till all her daughters OF the same
.ge understand the elementary principles
Il arithmetic. That the plan is morally
light we sincerely doubt. That 1t is legally
wrong every one may see.
We would like to hear what the teachers
hink on this subject, for they may look for
special ruling on this point from our next
State Superintendent. j. A. L.