198 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



there were 175. This would make an annual of 93 each year. This multi- 

 plied by the twelve years would give a total of 1116 graduates. Now sup- 

 pose that three-fourths cf these graduates go into the town schools, this 

 would give a total of 840, and since the term fee is $5.00 each term and 

 three terms in a year, the year fee would be $15.00, which multiplied by S40 

 give $12,600.00 which the farmers have paid directly into the treasury of 

 the town school, to say nothing of subordinate expenses. 



But suppose all the graduates of last year entered the two schools. It 

 would show that the farmers of that county are paying this year a direct- 

 tax of $2625.00 into the town schools. This means a lowering of the stand- 

 ard, and a reduction of wages in the ungraded schools. And I ask, are net 

 these teachers working against their own interests by helping to kill the 

 goose that is laying their golden f-ggs? , 



They are led to suppose that they are the most successful teachers 

 who graduate the most pupils. But are they not virtually cutting off the 

 very limb they are standing on? 



But there is another class of boys who are deeply affected by this sys- 

 tem, and these are the boys whose fathers cannot spare them from the 

 farm. They have to leave school in the early spring, and when they return 

 the coming winter, if they can be induced to return at all, they find their 

 classmates gone, and with them their interest in their school. 



These are the coming men, just the same as the others. They are 

 mentally, morally and physically the equals of their fellows, and is it 

 right, is it just, is it American, that they should not have equal rights and 

 equal advantages with their more opulent neighbors? Is it right that their 

 necessity should be made the opportunity for placing this damper upon 

 their aspirations and ambitions? Shall our public schools be made the 

 means of establishing costs and inequalities among free born American 

 citizens? 



Are we doing right, or are we doing wrong? Who can answer this 

 question? If right, then all is right, for that is well which ends well; but 

 if wrong, then what is the remedy? But whether right or wrong, this 

 surely is safe, build up your own district school. Baise its standard sa 



