The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-02-10
The School Question Again.
Mr.. EDITOR /;
by ANOTHER GOLD FoGY'.

Mr.. EDITOR;
Now that paper has been found
having the courage to publish the
contributions not in harmony with the
prevailing ideas upon education,
hope for hearing i like the ring of
the articles upon Educational Despo
tism, and that one in your last mum.
Der upon "l'he School Question. 1
too, am friend of education. OF
course there is no one now who is not.
Education has done much for many Of
us. But we were told long ago that
even "A little learning is a dangerous
thing" Forgers and defaulting cash
iers and many other smart rogues were
not so abundant until the school-mas
ter went abroad throughout the land
] agree with the "Old Foey' that edu
cation may be carried to such an ex-
tent as to be injurious to the indlvidu
al. One cannot think of this without
alarm as we SEE the vast sums of mon.
ey used to multiply Normal Schools
Colleges anu Universities which allure
great numbers of young men too lazy
to work, and thus deprive society of
the fruit of their honest toll. But
even "Old Fogy" hasn't the courage
of his convictions. Though he opposes
a school term Of eight months he does
not carry his idea far enough. Six
months make the term too long.
When was boy we used to have
only four, and the people groaned
then under the educational despotism
that exacted the school tax from their
scanty earnings. Who shall deny that
able men came from these schools
and yet we are now compelled to keep
our schools open six months and to
pay double the tax, for school teach.
ers now are too big to accept the wages
that used to be paid, and they can,
even think Of boarding around. They
forget that the old teachers made the
smart men of to day. The shorter
term with healthy and useful employ
ment on the farm between terms was
better. not only as "Old Fogy" say:
for the young men that went to col
lege, for they were few and hardly
worth considering, but the short term
was better for those who never could
get any more schooling. When they
knew the term would only last foul
months they went right to work, but
now, when they know they have half a
year to it, they idle away good dea
Of time, and if they were to have eigh1
months as is wildly suggested, halt the
term would be wasted. Then | an
glad that some one has spoken Out
about the cost of feeding and clothing
our children through the term. Il
cost enough when we were fed anc
clothed BY our parents, and the books
were bought that we used. through
four months. Now that this educa
tional despotism has been saddled OF
us we have to feed them and cloth'
them for six months of school, anC
have to buy all the books they use W
in that time. 1t does seem, wheI
folks talk of doubling the old cost b,
having term of eight months, as
the parents were to live for the SAX
Of their children, instead Of the chil
dren to work as they used to.
Before such people will rest salts
fed they will expect us to feed ou
children and clothe them all the yea
round, at least if they improve by be
ing in school all that time. Besides
as my friend puts it, "Those of u
who have incomes of only two or thre
hundred dollars year. will be sol'
out for taxes when that good tim
comes. l am not much of hnancier
but l like sold Fogy's" idea abou
the taxes. When the appropriation
was only few thousands it made lii
tie difference, but now that it is fiv
millions it is serious matter. AS h
suggests, while it looks like gift, real
ly we ourselves have paid it. Som
say that if we haven't money at inter
est we farmers don't pay much of tn
five millions, that it comes off the col
porations. But any one with common
sense can see that it comes at last ou
of the people, and we must be payin
our share. Let us pay our share d
rectly without having to pay our shar
of the stealings by the handlers of
beside. Down with the Despotisn
Let us have shorter terms and no az
preparation. 1 believe in educatio
but it must be the right kind anl W
must know how much Of our ow
money our children are costing us.