The times., 1899-05-21

tics. and a decree went forth that the
constitution should be laid aside and the
officers retire to private life The demand
for this action was re-enforced by pub
lie meeting. which was attended b. many
OF the parents of the ward. At that meet
ing the school city was severely criticised.
One of the charges made at the meeting
was that the school children we're receiving
Instructions in politics that were injurious
to the minds and morals of the young. 1t
was stated that in the election recently
held, one candidate for Office found that
some voters were willing to cast their
ballot for the highest bidder This young
politician had saved his pennies sor a
week before the election and invested the
entire sum in slate pencils. chewing gum,
candy and other things children are sup
posed TO like, and peddled them out in ex-
change for votes. This young officeseeker
was elected by an overwhelming majority.
The manner in which he conducted his
campaign became known and the corrup-
tion in politics that marked the last cleo
tion threatened to become general, as every
boy and girl in the school with political
ambitions began to save UP his or her
pennies to use in the next campaign. IL
was also alleged at this meeting that the
judges were not above rendering decisions
that we're not strictly in conformity to the
law in the case, and that the boy who could
play the strongest game at half back or
pitch an outcurye was not dealt with SO
severely as the boy who knew no football
or baseball.
with the close of school Friday the
school city went out of existence. Mr..
0'Hanlon believes the system did not have
a fair trial and that If he had been per-
mitted to continue it few months longer
its merits would have become evident to
parents, pupils, and school officials. He
thinks the system has been killed in his
school because of prejudice and the en-
nifty of persons who have not thoroughly
examined into the system.
1T is new" said Mr. O'Hanlon in dis
cussing the action of the superintendent OF
schools in suppressing the experiment,
'.and has met with the opposition that ali
new movements, no matter how merito-
rious will experience from the ignorant
| There is no doubt that patriotism, like
charity, should begin at home. the man
! who performs his duties as good neigh
bor viii be a good member of the mu-
nicipality and hence must be patriotic
citizen | believe the text book instruc-
tion in civics can at best only supplement
the lessons which must be learned by
performing faithfully the duties which de-
voive upon children in their relation TO
their fellows al school and upon the street.
BY making pupils conscious that they are
part of the civic body, and that they
must prepare while at school to take upon
themselves the burdens which citizenship
carries. a more intelligent attitude toward
the body polite may be established, which
Will last forever. and better prepare these
young people for real life and better citi
zenship.
The primary aim and end OF the Amer
lean public school system is the training
OF the youth of the land for higher ideals
of citizenship. The public school system
is supported by the Government, and edu-
cation made compulsory for the express
purpose of improving the general civiliza-
tion of the masses of citizens. Millions
of dollars are spent annually for educa-
ton and many more millions for the pre-
vention. suppression, and punishment of
crime. which the proper education of our
youth should tend TO eradicate or lessen.
We boast of living under the banner of the
best Government ever devised and estab-
lished by mana Government whose fun
damental principles is liberty and equity.
But how do we govern our schools? Di-
reetly opposite in theory and practice 10
the fundamental principles found in the
American Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence II is the height of alb
surdity to make the school an autocracy,
ana TO substitute an external conscience
for the right Of sslf-control. The method
tried in my school was working in man
ner wholly satisfactory to teachers and
pupils, and to all parents who had careful
ly examined into its plan as applied to our
school city. But even in this age of pro-
gress bitter criticism, not professionally
honest. but decidedly prejudiced, and un-
fair. is sure to attack any attempt of a
teacher who tries to leave the beaten paths
of routine teaching"