New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-22
ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.
No Limits Should Be Put on Possibilities of
ANY One, Says Mrs. Spencer

Although the American public school is now taken
as a matter of course and looked upon OBJ
vious consequence of republican institutions. It
was not born simultaneously with the republic
and gained its place in the national life only in
the face of violent and bitter opposition.
''New-England started very we'll" said Mrs
Anna Garlin Spencer in a lecture before the League
for Political Education yesterday morning "and
whereas I'm the South attempt was made to
provide public education. and the youth OF the
Weather classes abroad to finish their
studies. Noah Webster able TO write OF New
England in the latter part Of the eighteenth CEN
tury that knowledge more widely diffused
there than anywhere else in the world
This was followed by educational decline.
The academies which were in way the glory
OF New-EDgland. were paid schools. and. in ad-
dition to these there was a vast number of pri-
vate schools. Thus IL happened that only the very
poorest people sent their children the free
schools and when you have schools exclusively for
the poor you always have poor schools.
This state OF affairs became such a gIaring evil
that it rise, from 1920 1850 10 an educational
revival. James G.. Carter was of the pioneers
in this movement, and may be regarded as the
father Of the normal school. He perceived that
If public education was to become effective
thing there must be q great many more teachers;
that If there were to be more teachers there must
be lot Of women teachers, and, finally that II
there were to be more women teachers greater
educational opportunities must be given to girls
The movement eliminated in the appearance Of
Horace Mann. the first secretary Of the first State
Board OF Education-that OF Massachusetts. The
salary attached to the place 81 500 year and
from this munifcent sum the secretary had 10 pay
his office rent and travelling expenses, pay his
postage and defray all the expenses incident to
his work. Yet Horace Mann gave up a lucrative
legal practice to accept the place. He hired an
once, put a couch in il, slept there and got his
own breakfast going out to dinner when he had
any money He even paid for extra copies of his
cence OF a friend. who gave him $500 a wear for
his personal expenses that he was able TO continue
the work grit OF $4,000 from the same source
also enabled him TO eXtort enough additional
money from the legislature to establish three
normal schools. He died after twelve years of
TINS work, a martyr to the cause public educa-
ton.
And he was not the only martyr The Rev
Charles Brooks, cultured and refined Unitarian
minister, who went ali the State lecturing i'm
the cause of free education. actually mobbed
by people Of the so-called better classes and an
eff1gy OF him was exhibited with a ounces cap ana
the following legend:
"A fool going TO the legislature to ask for money
for a normal school to teach girls "
In conclusion, Mrs Spencer said that IL Horace
Mann alive to-day he would find many DeoDle
whom he would consider traitors to American
ideas.
He believed" said Mrs. Spencer 'in the limit
less improvability of the human race but we hear
people to-day putting limits to the Improve bilitv
of people Of a particular color, and kind II
Horace Mann alive his voice would ring from
Maine TO California in protest against the pre-
sumption of those who would set limits to the
possibilities Of any human being"