The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-01
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Scope of the System-Its AdVan-
tages and Disadvantages.

To THE EDIToR-Sir: In late number
of the arena find the Rev. Minot ]. Saw
age giving utterance to what seems to be
kind and timely warning in the matter of
our present public school system.
He SAYS:
"Our public school system Is between two
fires. On the one hand-shall / not say 1t
plainly ?-are its fool-friends on the other its
no-fool enemies. / mean nothing personal by
these epithets l only wish strongly to set
forth the situation. For friends sometimes
the worst enemies. A well-meaning stupidity
may do more harm than an outright attack.
These are strong lines, and some no
doubt will contend and honestly believe
they are uni just Let US see. If under
stand the purpose of tine public school
Alright it is TO make good citizens. Now
what constitutes a good citizen? Is il
not to be able intelligently to use the
privilege of the franchise, to gain an
honest competence for himself and
family by studiOus application to some
pursuit; IN fact, TO lead a life OF industry,
guided by moderation and good CON-
mon sense, thus preserving the dignity of
his manhood independent of all false
props and chimercal, fantastic schemes
Tor the Advancement as class into the
pretentiously higher walks of life?
Max O'Rell uttered more OF a truth than
some think, when he said: Every one on
this side the water was either colonel or
judge"
Is it not absurd to assume that it adds
any to the worth and dignity of an up
right, honest, plain American citizen to
parade him about under false colors dub
bing him judge, colonel, and even in some
cases within the writer's knowledge, gen.
eral, though the person thus designated
never smelt powder. Yes, a good Ameri-
can citizen is what we want our public
schools to bring forth-men an women fit
to cope with the trials and duties of life in
the sphere wherein the greater number by
lar must undoubtedly pass their davs.
And if they would learn anything
from history, in the happiest sphere open
to the human races, being neither rich
and thus tempted in a thousand ways to
Gin, nor either poor, which condition holds
only little more such inducemenk
Is this what our present system of pub
lie schools is doing? Alas no.
We find sensible parents murmuring
that their children are being taught that
that will prove an utter waste of time and
tend rather to spoil what may have been
benefit by absorbing the time and atten-
ton OF their children's application to
study, with instruction in knowledge of
things no possible chance in their coming
years will render of any service to them
The accomplishments can never be of
great value but to very few, and many a
good mechanic has been spoiled by irving
to make an impresaro; many a good
hOusekeeper by attempting to produce a
cantatrice or elocutionist; many heart
must ache, many a poor soul suffer deep
nrff Aoaf r.
our present process of leading mediocre
boys and girls 10 look to life as a path,
when they shall be finished and shine
their little shine on an opera-house stage.
through which they are to walk with ease,
receiving the plaudits of the multitude for
their excellence in some higher branch OF
learning.
What | want to know is whence shall
come the applauding, plodding multitude
If every body's child is to be taught music,
painting and the languages?
Another very common complaint by
those for whom the public school is more
especially instituted is that their children
are made to attempt to learn so much
more than they can grasp that they lose
all In the oYer-brain work necessary This
examining process never benefited anv
scholar Any student of mature years
knows too well the value of knowing how
to stow away knowledge and utilize it
when most needed, and this hurrying and
skurrying over a vast field of varied sub
jects, many of which the child has no
natural aptitude or taste for, is in my
mind one form of cruelty undreamed OF
by the parents and teachers of many a
burdened child.
What We want from our public schools
is any education in the common branches
of learning that a boy may, when he
leaves school, enter any of the ordinary
walks of life and maintain himself de-
Gently. and if needs be, his sister likewise.
If either of them are endowed with
special talents, in our country, nothing
can keep them from rising; if they have
none, they. will be much happier, and,
consequently, much better citizens, with
the palmer, more practical education.
EVELYN Mccormick.
Lafayette, Ind, May %.