The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-25
ON THE OTHER SIDE.
JadEe burke Says the Plan Would
Weaken Personal Character.

Precisely opposed 10 Mr. Meredlth's po-
sision stands Hon, Thomas Burke who
has passed through che public schools as a
pupil and served IL them as a teacher.
. " hen asked as % his views on the ques-
ton at issue he said
= am strongly opposed 70 the propo-
sition OF furnishing free text books 20 the
pupils Of cur public schools. / believe f.
70 be radically wrong in principle I am
strongly Inclined 20 the view that It's ten
deaey would be to undermine. weaken and
degrade the whole system
Under the present public school system
every hey and girl in the state has an 0p-
portunlty 10 acquire a good education. In
some cases personal sacrifices NAV have
70 be made, both by parents and children
In order 70 keep the boys and girls at
school Parents may sometimes find IL
difficult 70 feed and ciothe the children
during the school age and the temptation
70 keep the little ones from school Ia order
% put them 10 work or send them out TO
service may IN some Instances be very
strong. But in most eases the sacrifice is
cheerTuily made. and wherever seif~den al
has 10 be practiced. wherever sacrifices
have 20 be- made Ia order to keep the chill
dren az school. there you viii find both
among parents and children. a truer ap-
probation Of The advantages OF educa ton
industrious and self-Tespectlng boys and
girls and as they grow up, better men
and women.
"Aii this time they are engaged In the
inestimable work Of building up charac-
! ter. which never has been done. and never
VIII be done as long As human nature con
tinues az II IS. without labor self-deniaI
and personal sacrifices. The public schools
Of the country cannot BE- turned into char
ity schools without ultimately destroying
their usefulness. and what IS more with
out undermining the character and self
- s.F Ftsa4 An 40 as-.
urged that the same reason which leads
the state to provide a system Of free
schools would justify the policy Of free
text hooks. But this Is not 80. By estah-
fishing a system OF free schools the state
furnishes an opportunity 20 all % acquire
an education Beyond that the state can
not SO without injury 70 the character OF
the people. Education II very important
hut a self respecting. seif-rellant charac-
ser Is infinitely more important than any
losf education can be.
Every argument adduced in favor o.
free text hooks may De urged with greater
force In favor Of free clothes. free SCUM.
and free bread and butter. 4 self respect
lng people never ask charity. They seek
opportunity. They are not asking others
20 help ;hem. They want only a chance
% help themselves Any policy or scheme
Of education that tends 10 weaken or un-
dermine fhe selfsreEpect Of people &C.
fNkNoAss I ne peril OF CUR INlt ana country
is that We are 70 apt - forget that sod
helps him Rho helps himself We run 20
the government fer everything \ sense
~ dependence Is growing up amongst as
watch 81 not checked must prove fatal
70 our national chars -ter. I am and 81
WAYS have been a friend ~ The public
schools have known Them as pupil ami
as teacher And 1 am conviacet th7t 'hIa
movement for free text books f7r the pub
Nc schools is a grave menace 20 one of thc
most useful and most beneficial lnetltu-
uons % The county.