The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1820-09-27

EDUcATION.

l
education given at our public schools is
extremely imperfect, it is, nevertheless,
essential to that general intelligence & IN
dependence oi opinion and feeling, which
are the /" fountains OF lifc'' to republican
government. Hence legislative controul
of these schools is of vital interest to the
prosperity Of the State. While we en-
Joy the privilege Of universal suiirage,
and every man, even the fooman and the
beggar, has an influence no less than
that Of powdered heads" in the elec-
tion of our civil rulers, the majority of
those who make our laws, and exercise
"a'guardian care over our institutions"
will belong to the middle classes-they
will be farmers, merchants and manufac-
turers--men who may in general carry
10 the discharge of their high official du-
ties only natural good sense, at best but
.inadequately developed by common
school education. 10 secure to our
selves, therefore, an enlightened and vir-
,tuous government, let us watch with
,solicitous concern the state OF popular
cducation---let us make men in our pub
lick schools, whoifthey must be our civ
il fathers, (and many OF them should be, J
will possess the integrity and good sense,
ifthey have not the learning and reach OF
policy Of orr titled scholars. associ.
ate virtue with intellectual Improvement,
net.bccause there is any essential connec-
ton between the developcment of talents
and purity Of moral character--.but be-
cause there is something in the new and
more elevated turn. which even partial
cultivation, generally gives to the thoughts
and feelings, fitted to raise our standard
of moral excellence, and inconsistent
with at least the more open and !oathsome
habits ofvice.
There arc two defects in the present
mode cfconducting our schools. A ma
iority Of the instructors arc wholly un.
qualified ed--and if they were ever so abun.
dainty qualified, they could not teach
what is most important to be learned.
IF we wish for lone schools let us employ
cheab masters. But who chooses cheat
tailoss, eheap wa,chmakers. or cheap
workmen of any kind? five want good
schools let us give good prices for good
men. Those who send children TO
school to save the expence Of nurses at
home, or to keep them from turning the
house inside out, do well to prefer long
schools and cheap instructors. But
such as wish to make their children use
ful and intelligent men and women, fitted
to, perform the duties Of life understand
ingly and acceptably, should have them
weN taught, and pay sveh for it.
But it is utterly vain for the most &C.
compli ,hed instructor to undertakethe tu-
ition Of sixty or hundred scholars. II
ne has military talents, he may, sword III
hand perhaps keep down their turbulent
spirits, and after dressing" them hand
somely once or twice round, and decent
" cudgelling every tenth man in the dis.
strict, ing them under some degree of
discipline. He may keep them still,
which is all he can do. Even this in.
deed is no small object--for most of
them probably never feel the salutary
smart Of the rod out Of school. But in
s,ruction isentirely out Of the question.
Twenty FIVE are as many as any man
can teach.
Reading, writing and arithmetic are
easily mastered by the help of faithful
and intelligent teachers--but bows left to
themselves never understand them. 1t
may be proved to the satisfaction Of every
man that one month Of proper attention to
boy will teach him more than he learn,
in ;hrec years at common school. |
an, persuaded the standard Of public ed
iication may be raised very fac without