The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-23

lowed by Mr.. Wooster for ornamental
tation and the cost of the new struc-
ture would be 100000 or practically
the same expenditure as would be
required If Mr.. Wooster's plan is to
be adopted. The new additional ex-
pense under the plan for an entirely
new building would be the cost Of a
new site and who will say that the
difference in final results will not
justify the expenditure required for
new site?
One feature of the discussion Of this
high school proposition. which parti-
cularly attracted my attention, was
an editorial in the Bridgeport Tele-
gram on Wednesday last and I am.
sorry to disagree with an editor whose
views are generally sound and whose
editorials read daily with great plea
sure and profit I quote the foilowing
from the editorial: ut is also possi-
BILE that the next ten years will wit
ness a great increase In the number
Of private schools which undertake
college preparatory work and advance
school education generally. Changes
In the nature OF population. the ten
parental control and the unsavory
revelations which are everywhere be-
ing made under medical inspection az
combine to render il improbable that
persons In comfortable circumstances
Will in any city send their children to
the comnfen schools in future to the
same extent that they have done In
the past"
This was unpleasant reading COM
ing from a writer whose views have
almost always been able to accept. 1t
reads like an argument addressed to
those who disapprove Of the common
school, for the reason that 1t Is
views tend in this direction the advo-
cate of the cheapest method Of deliv-
erance from the common school bur-
den holds an imrregnable position.
Common schools should never be
permitted to be considered common
in the sense that they are ordinary or
cheap. but common because they are
the schools OF all rich. we'll to do and
impecunious. They are not eleemosy-
nary institutions and If by their man
agement they should be suffered to
become such in fact or by reputation.
they will have failed In one Of the
chief purposes of their existence.
If such condition impends as the
editor apprehends and II the children
of the well to do are likely to be
withdrawn from the public schools
ana sent to private schools the stu
alton is a lamentable one from the
view point of the best public inter-
eStS anu uIIeTS tue SlTOuBSSt pOSSlDlo1
argument for an opportune and gem
erous provision for the common
schools. If they now fail or are likely
to fail in the future to attract pu-
pills from refined and intellectual sur
rounding. they should at once be
strengthened and provided for to
such an extent that they will do 50.
It Is true that our schools cost
large amount Of money annually.
pretty nearly one quarter OF the
money raised by taxation is expend-
ed by the educational department cf
our municipal government. Hni this
esps lnsa .. Is not a public SIT to
society expends on itself. All the
States OF our Federal Nation have as
sumed as q function of government
the general education Of their citizens.
It was deemed by the founders and In
considered today necessary to the pre-
tions and to be the very key stone
of our political structure.
There 10 a duty to support the
schools which II incident to the right
claimed by the states to compel and
direct the education of its citizens, a
be surrendered and this duty IL nee
essarily an expensive one and should
not be grudgingly performed. The
duty Is more imperative today than
it will be when our population attains
more homogeneous character. for
the common schools are today welding
our composite population into the
In Connecticut we have no State
university and public expenditure
for educational purposes does not go
beyond the high school and the high
school in therefor in our several COM
munities the ultimate expression of
az At 40,
tional ideal and as such deserves the
affectionate consideration of the tax
payer. It should be an institution of
which our city can be proud not for
absurd reason of pleasing strangers
who might come within our city, but
in its administration and as an edi-
nee II should be inspiring to those
who attend and the pride of those
who look back to It as their alma
mater.
The alternative of adopting Mr.,
Wooster's plan Ia not an extravaganza |
expenditure, Of public money. but |
such expenditure as IL REQUIRED to
and should be willingly borne by the |
taxpayers.
The alumni Of the high school to-
day include very large part of our |
best and most prosperous citizens and |
this class should always be found |
among the alumni Of the high school. |
TOT fsne to ,bs sons
and daughters Of the well to do. 1t |
is the duty of the public to equip |
them so that they will do so. The |
public schools need the sons and |
of the well to do and they |
on the other hand need the public
,hild to. miss the broadening inf1u-
Z ~