Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-12-18


in connection with the matter of tax
alton. Since presumably people OF
means send their children to schools
of their own selection and naturally
settle their bills they may, perhaps,
he inclined to say, II educate my
own child, why should be taxed
for other children? Let every man
take care of his own
II is not probable that many viii
raise any such question. One fea-
ture of the American school system
is the readiness with which II Is
sustained by all classes. The poor
ray their small tax, and the wealthy
their large tax for school purposes
with equal cheerfulness. II there
is any single cause which goes d.
rectly home to the heart of the Ame-
rican public 1t is the education or
the young. II would he n slur upon
any community to suppose that Il
considerable number would raise
such a question as above intimated
Nevertheless. since probably even
the most generous community en-
braces within itself one or two mar
row minded people it may be well
to consider the question which we
have raised. A little observation Of
facts and reflection upon them Will
convince even the most thoughtless,
as we believe, that no man in Anne
rica rich or poor pays for the edu
cation of his own child.
In the first place many children.
even of the most wealthy parents
attend the public school In some
part of their course of study. To
see the son of the President of the
United States, a daughter of a SEN
ator of the United States, a child OF
Judge of the Supreme Court, or
any other scion of the highest posi-
ton attending public school Is no
uncommon thing. In fact wise par
ents Of the amplest means recognize
the important truth that the public
school is the most effective maker of
strong character within their reach.
Sundry Academies or Seminaries may
have many advantages, but to make
men and women of vigor and pow
er. IL Is widely recognized that the
public school is unequalled. II fol-
lows evidently that so far as the
children OF wealth avail themselves
OF the instruction OF these schools
their parents are not paying for
their education excepting as In com
mon with other parents they dis
charge their duties to the State SO
far as that Is expressed In the school
tax.
But let us consider the case of
those young people who are sent
away to some great institution, such
AS State or widely known Univer-
sity. Undoubtedly the parents OF
such students do pay their term and
board bill and incidentals. But even
so they have not paid their way.
Every great University is in a sense
benevolent institution. In the case
OF the State Universities large APP
preparations are made annually for
their support. In the case of great
schools like those of Yale. or Har-
ward. although term bills may be
somewhat heavy, yet there is very
large share Of annual expense paid
from endowments. So far as con-
Germs the tuition there would be a
deficit of tens or hundreds of thous-
snds of dollars every year were II
not for the income from endowment
funds or other gifts. And the great
err the university. the more widely
known, the more numerously attend
ed, the heavier the annual expense
which tuition does not meet. Often,
] think we may practically say al
ways. a part of such endowments
have come from small gifts of lib
eral givers with little means. And
In these days every one knows that
public spirited men and women OF
wealth are constantly bestowing
rrincely benefactions upon these
great institutions.
+ But perhaps a man sends his child
TO proprietary Academy which has
M endowment and depends wholly
'Ton tuition, what Is the case with
him then? 1t still Is true that he IL
beneficiary of the public schoO
system Such a private school of any
magnitude must employ such teach
ers as are available. And 1t will bt
found that these teachers almost uni,
,ersally have gotten their impulse
their training and ideals In connec
tion with the public school system Of
endowed institutions. SO intimate
is the INTERPOLATION OF our educa
tional enterprises of every kind thai
. wholly private school, raised up t.
the American standard is practical
ly impossible without the energetic
support and vivification of the pub
JIG school. True on mission ground
where all the people are UNFRAMED
and where the very idea Of educa
tlion h wanting earnest educators