New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-09
ARISE OF TIE SCHOOLS.

In obicctinC to the warship enterprise in the
public schools Superintendent Skinner mas per-
formed double service The lesser part OF II Is
that he has discouraged and. we trust defeated
a scheme OF fantastic Improperly. There can
BIZ no justification for resortng TO such mems
for increa sing the Navy. and were the scheme
carried out and sum sufficient for the bulldlhs
of n warship thus raised II would he the duty
of the Government. in selfrespect, to decline IT,
The equipment of n body of troops or the GIT OF
a vessel In time Of war, as voluntary oHerlHG
Of an individual or an association for me WEI
fare of the Republic. may he gratefully accepted
Hut such an offering in time of peace, secureu
through canvassing and begging and all put eA
torting Is a very different thing. 1t may be
that the projectors of the scheme meant we'll
They certainly were sadly misguided.
But the greater part of Mr.. SINNERS service
Is that he has thus called attention to roo com
mon abuse of our public school system Inc
scheme TO which he objects is only ono OF many
such, not few of which have been carried
through Teachers and children are recognized
TO form an effective and ready made canvasslhS
agency SO they are often set AZ work on ms
that and the other enterprise. 1t may be the
building OF q warship or of a monument or the
getting up Of testimonial OF some KIND. or YET
the soliciting OF votes for some prize advertising
scheme or course they do II effectively. Chill
dren can and will solicit subscriptions or votes
With less hesitation than adults. and they are
often harder 10 refuse. The rivalry between
schools and classes and individuals is strong
Incentive to zeal And so such work Is often
highly successful.
The evil of II cannot however. easily he cxag-
gerated For one thing. II Introduces into school
life an element that docs not belong there. The
school children are not properly 10 be engaged
In business They are students. not canvassers
nor collectors For another thing, the natural
seoucnce Of the foregoing, II interferes with the
legitimate work OF the schools. The teacher
has enough to do II he or she teaches the pupils
their lessons honestly and effectively. The chill.
dren have enough to do II they learn their les
sous. As rule, faithful teachers are over
worked and tho common complaint is that the
children are compelled TO study too hard TO the
detrimcnt Of their health. In such clrcuin-
stances 1t ia monstrOus 10 ask them ana practi-
cally 10 compel tDem to engage In canvasSing'
begging and all sorts OF extrnneous work But,
above all The practice has demoralizng effect
upon the chIldrcns manners and morals We
have laws against setting children 10 begin:
upon the streets Il II any less drtcstab'c to set
children 10 begging from door 10 door: DO par
cuts like the notion OF their children being sent
around to thcir neighbors and 10 strangers ask
ing for money: There could be 10 more certain
wny of making them bold and forward ana
even impudent IN manner. md few more likely
TO tempt them 10 dishonest practices.
MOI such schemes should he strictly fOrD'dden
!r the public schools. People pay taxes Tor
schools for the education Of children, not Tor The
promotion of subscription schemes and gift ei'
terpriscs. They have right to expect that their
money will bc devoted to educational purposes
and not diverted 10 any other. Teachers FOR
teaching and students for studying, and inc
school for the scene Of such activty--that is the
true rule, which should be invariably enforced