The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-01-25


pendeuce of our country endangered by the |
increasing sloth and ignorance OF ats citizens.
Fellow-citizens, | address you on no ordinary
topic. 1t is one which involves your dearest
interests. By being the posterity of such no.
bic ancestors as established our independence
and our primary schools, we are laid, as it
were, I'm er bonds cheerfully and vigorously,
by all the means in our power, to cherish and
encourage the support of schools-yes, of good
schools-and strengthen the pillars which sup
port the fabric of Liberty. With what shame
and confusion OF face should we not be over
whelmed, should our ancestors come forth from
their graves, and behold our Indifference about
schools! How could we answer them for the
neglect of some Of the most salutary provisions
of the law, which they adopted for their sup
port, and which, by suffering them to remain
10 force. we admit to be wise and judicious,
and yet, in our practice, disregard, yea, violate
five cannot answer TO them, how can we an
swer it to ourselves? We grant money e.
nough, it may be said. True, and have we
not read of those who only made clean the
outside Of the platter? The time Will come,
when the tchy and the Oherefore of this state
Of things will be required at our hands. What
has been done TO establish schools, and what
is doing to continue their usefulness has and
will continue to be matter of record. Your
posterltv will see and read it, and | leave it
TO your consCiences to anticipate their judg-
nents; that it will be just there is no doubt,
and so much greater is the reason to fear it.
beseech you, then, no longer to suffer such
state oil things to exist let every town begin
the good work of reformation in earnest, and
in that way make some atonement for the
past. See to it, that you choose able and in
nv NOT finn whore the
totally unfit stand an equal chance to be chosen
with such as are well qualified for Committee
men to provide instructors-men who will do
their aOhole duty, and see that the instructors
do thers--men who will require what the law
requires, the masters to produce certificates
of their good moral character, and certificates
of their ability and qualifications to teach
school-masters, who Can govern without all
the time whipping, and who aCtR punish, when
it is necessary, the great as well as the small
scholars, and that without partially, because
they belong to this or that famiiy-not IN tenn
per, but making known to them, that il is in
discharge Of duty. Committeeman are a.
gents for their respective towns, and answer
able for their neglect. If they do in any in
stance employ a master without certificates of
his character and qualifications, or either of
them, let the towns make it the duty of the
Selectmen, or some one upon knowledge of
the fact, to prosecute such master and direct
the Selectmen to withhold from him his wages.
The master must look to the Committeeman,
his employer, for his pay; and il he has neg
lected his duty, he ought Gas he must,) TO
pay il out of his own pocket. A knowledge
OF this fact will make him careful how and
whom he employs. 1t rs the duty of Commit
tee-men to see that children generally attend
school; if parents or guardians neglect to send
them, or keep them at home, require Of him
TO report such parents or guardians to the
town in town-meeting. Try the effects OF
shame upon such neglect and avarice. Let
the towns choose an inspecting committee,
(whose duty it many times is to examine the
masters and give them certificates of their
qualifications to teech,) who can examine the
masters, and inspect and Judge Of the pro6cien-
cy made in schools, as we'll as look at the
scholars. Clergymen are generally at the
mead of these Committees-let them do their
duty in visiting the schools, if they expect
1helr Pensioners to do theirs on the sabbath
BY attending divine service. If they set the
example of neglect of duty on their part, they
may expect II on the part OF others; and what
right, or rather with what face, can they COM
PLAIN Let them, with others of the commit
tee, examine the scholars, direct them where
TO read, spell, and parse grammar, and no lon
ger sit and have it done for thenl>by the mas
ter, either because they are not capable or
not Independent enough to do it for them
selves, "a fine inspecting committeeD and
this, too, where it has been the study of the
scholars for week before, because the master
had told them where they would be examin-
ed. The law had better be annihilated, than
TO exist even with partial neglect; for that is
beginning to be succeeded by general indfFer-
ence, and will soon be followed by universal
contempt. on these things
A'FRIEND TO GOOD SCHOOLS.