Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-06-04

they should be supported by the State.
1t is calmly assumed that, without
having the run of the State treasury,
such thing as Normal school could
not exist. That if the State had not
opened its pocket to the Normal
schools. from sixty to seventy per
cent. OF those who are now engaged in
the business of teaching would not
have been so well prepared for it.. It
is also assumed that If the State Nor
mails had not been created the educa-
tional qualifications for teachers in
Southeast Missouri would not have
been raised. and that the increase in
the attendance upon the higher schools
of that section would not have taken
place.
The argument that Normal schools
are necessary institutions, and that
therefore the State must provide them,
is a non sequitur. Are there no Nor
NAL schools in the State of Ohio? Is
the State of Indiana devoid of we'll
equipped teachers? Are the states
east of the Mississippi river relapsing
into barbarism because they do not
permit their trea5uries to be looted by
the Professor seeking job? The at
tempt to place US in the position of de-
claring Normal schools to be useless is
puerile.
We recognize the fact that the teach
er must have special training for his
calling, just as the carpenter or print
err must learn his trade. But there is
no shadow of reason why the public
should bear the expense in the one
case and not in the other. If Normal
schools enjoy no unfair advantage,
and are benefit and blessing to the
private school, why do private schools
complain SO bitterly of them and their
methods? Why should not the grad
uate of the private Normal have the
same advantages as the graduate of
the State Normal? Why was any
recognition by the State of the private
Normals so bitterly opposed by the Nor
NAL school lobby last winter, if these
schools enjoy no unfair advantagesP
The whole scheme of State aid to
Normal schools is wrong. 1t uses the
taxing power to compel the owner of
the private school to contribute of his
means to aid rival institution, and
then confers on the institution so aided
privileges tending to wipe his own en-
terprise out of existence. 1t will not
do to say that, because a thing is neces-
sary, therefore, the State ought to aid
it. One o. the most necessary aids to
civilization is the art of collecting and
accurately giving forth news; but who
would advocate the education of the
reporter at the expense of the State?
We object to the State making good
the business losses of any man or in
stitution. Turn the Normal schools
over to the communities in which they
are located. If they have merit, are
well managed, and there is demand
for them, they will stand; if they have
not these elements of success, they
will fall and ought to fall. The State
Normals are a source of corruption
having the State back of them to make
good their losses, they do not depend
upon merit for success. The only
people who derive benefit from them
are the residents of the communities
in which they are located. The par
ents of many of the bright young peo-
pile from Iron county who have at
tended the Cape school would have
preferred to have placed their chill
dren at different institution, but the
fact that when once through that
school they would not be annoyed fur
Their with institutes or examinations,
caused them to patronize the State
school.
In discussing the question Brother
Flynn shows that he is an artist at
begging the question. We repeat that
we think Normal schools are necessary,
but we 90 not think the State shO uld
support them. In other words, we do
not want them to continue as barnacles
upon the body polite, with blood
sucking lobby attachment.
The Devil and the Rifle Pit.
Ed. Reg,ster-The people of Arcadia