The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-10
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10. 1909.
Public Schools and Democracy

Public Schools and Democracy.
We print elsewhere to-day an interest
inc communication from Mr.. Charles ..
Eana, Of New York In reply to some re-
marks Of ours In recent Issue on 'he
subject Of popular education. First OF all
o,,r correspondent expresses surprise thal
+ this paper should have attacked the
American public school system. l3at
there is no occasion for surprise, LOT
The Times Dispatch has not done 80.
4 on the contrary, we have given that
system our cordial support, and We thinK
our readers will bear evidence to the fact
that our record On this subject is good
We have simply called attention TO what
NO believe 10 be dangers III tho system
OF educating the children at the public
expense and warned the public against
them.
our correspondent cannot understand
Why we should hold, on the one hand,
that the public school system is public
necessity, and, on Tho other. that 1t Is
un-American and undemocratic. We re-
ply that it is a public necessity because,
Il, a popular government where practl-
8 cally all tho males over twcnty-one
wears of age are permitted to vote, there
must be an educated suffrage. rms,
apart from tho fact that education Is
/. necessary TO the Industrial, intellectual
and moral development OF nation. In
A our opinion, 1t would be better If the
children of the United States could be
educated in private schools, but az there
arc many poor Children in the ind whose
na rents are unable to pay tuition these
children would grow up in ignorance II
( tho government did not, at its own ex-
n rcnse. supply the means of instruction.
4 Therefore, as education Is necessity
o! civilization, and especially of demo-
Il cratic civilization, and as many children
IN the United states would not receive
an education except it were provided by
tho government, the public school sys-
tenn becomes public necessity, and is,
! In one sense. an aid to democracy.
Nevertheless, in principle, the public
school system Is undemocratic, because
1t takes one man to educate another
! mans child Tho system Is socalistc
and the principles Of socialism are as
i FAR removed from the principles Of
f democracy as tho East Is from the West
Ever in q democracy there must be
scciaNstc; some institutions that must
be held by the public in common, and all
tho people taxed to support them. But
Nj there should be as little as possible of
SOCIALISM and as much as possible OF
pure democracy,
The public school system, We repeat,
Is socialstic, and it will not do to push
too far the principle upon which it rests.
VI ADMIT that il is right TO tax the whole
people to educate the children Of the poor,
and it is but 4 step further to say that
1t Is right for the government to supply
the children with books and cLothrg and
even with food, in order that they may
be educated.
Again, admit that 1t is right for the
State to assume the education of the
children intellectually, and it is but d
step farther TO the proposition, which has
It's advocates, thar 1t is right and proper
81, and In accordance with public policy
for the State to assume the moral unt
religious instruction.. and even the poitl
cal instruction of the children.
Now. II we are 20 have such a system
In this land; If the government should
take complete control OF tho children
and undertake TO stand to them in loco
PARENTS" educating them, clothing ant
feeding them, insti!ling into their hearts
and minds MORALS religion and ideas o
government. 1t would not be many gen
CITATIONS before We shou.l have a gov
ernment utterly different from democ
,acy; we should have either an absolut
monarchy on complete socialism,
II Is against these tendencies that III
TimcsrDspatclt has given warning, W
wish 10 preserve all that is good In IN
pub!ic school system; to conduct III
n schools on conservative lines, and /
avoid extreme measures Which the oyel
jealous friends oi public education az
forever demanding. 1t Is not necessar
u go to the extremes which we hay
E. pointed out, but there is dangerous ter
dency in that direction. ana 1t is agains
ali such tendencies that we give warnini
ard shall continue 10 do So notwitl
standing that Ths Times Dispatch is II
friend and champion and earnest sui
gsS Iorter Of the public school system
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