Delaware patriot & American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1828, 1828-10-10
From 'he Georgia Southron.
PUBLIC EDUCA ZION.

unJer which we i've, depenus OH Tue GlHhsiOn
knowledge among the general mass OF the people
il should, therefore, be the ilrst duty of those
,vhun mower has been delegated to provide {,
,he education Of every being belonging to the con
m.r;iy. We must confess that SO FAR, Genrg
In, done almost what she could IN order to pr,
mite the acquisition of knowledge. But the pa
she has adopted is yet imperfect; and thu.
.chool, are now more numerous, there is a defet
a the manner they are administered and provide
with experienced teachers, winch prc,euts thei
fran being 50 useful as they should be Our rt
marks audc to county academies and schools
and not to the University. The legislature liza
been buuntIul to the latter institution 1t is in
furnishing condition; but the legislature shout
not neglect the academies and schools, for the
are Of equal, it nat superior, importance to th
nenpe, inasmuch as a Sre;a II number OF citizen
are Interested IN their prosperity, than III the pros
my of Franklin College. For one hun,ll q
head, of families that are able to send their chll
lren to Athens, thousands eau opl, give cou,
mon education to theirs The legislature, at e..
cly session. should nut neglect TO take the subcc
into serious consideration, and to Improve tn
plan now pprsue, IN the state.
Every year schonl fund is distributed anon
,,e counties Sometimes this funds alter it ha
been taken away from the treasury, is in tn
fines in the hands Of commissioners, and some
Etine, no body knnws where. The should be
,lrct accountability required IRON tlD,c VIII
have the employment of tin, fand; aud through
tYr the state u few citizens only, say five in tac
{toapty. should have the disbursement nf the mo
pr, ami the choice Of teachers, with the exclu
<kite superintendent of al! the academies ans
3s,honl, in their respective counties. Ihcr
should he uniform rule, and uniform mode .
accounting tor the land and its employment. Is,
Me Plan now pnfsued, 10 accountability can b.
&cSpcctcd the counties are dilatory III maxim,
Ethrir returns; aid Ahel made are irequenlly III
correct and do not give at all satisfactory state
mpnt Of the condition OF the public school. 1t i
flauwn that several cuanlics have failed 70 make
3feorns for several years past. With such IN
! pciicctnns ii tie plan pursued, it cannot he cs
lerted that the !uhd provided by the state foe TIL
public Schools, viii accomplish the onjeet to
Which it was appropriated. With the mean, an
Resources 0l Georgia. there /, nut single 'lnab
That in few wears, every father wou, be able t.
have his children we'll taught il reading, writing
|and arithmetic. II not in some higher branches o
ucitnn, wsre Il more perfect y stem to br phr
wed Strict accountability viii improve the sys
tm: an, the legislature CAN easily find the mod
{ OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, and faithful ,liSchars
/ aiandence Of the puulic SCHOOLS.
We are hnund by every thing sacred, to pro
le for the education of our offspring. 1t "
| aun0t leave them a fortune or livelihood. let Il
| caye them, At least, the means ui earning thrl
| rc II honorably and virtuously; Tor they cann'
|brc0me good an,l useful citizens, il III their yout
| kn9wlcdse has not been Impaired to them III b
tc'acation they haze not been made acqnantc
(wlh the history aud public institutions OF III
|word 4 man of knowlei .e--oi good conmn
education, will earn his bread every where-i
fcsefy cline. He will he good citizen In
{.u"rant are generally prejadiced, stnboorn, an
#olten iaZ, a bad citizen. and bad father; gov
Termed by others he has no opinion OF his own. :
Besides, in a republic like ours. every cit'zen
! Bound TO serve hi, country, when called upon b
/ his Irlow citizens. II he has no knowledge, hoy
can he discharge the du,ie, of the office to who
the viii have been raised ? He can serve III
country IN ans capacity, il he has knowledge
\ MDst he not kAnw hoU to real aud wtlte. To
IA constahes And il he were to be sent to u
EeS'>'aturc. will not any man OF feeling be great
kMorfiied, should he not be able to understand tn
{purpott Ut Legislative dclibera,Ion How th'i
fcan we be useful to ourselves, 10 our families M
4 na' country, II We do not acquire tie means VIM
fyonng? Can a free man b. cGatented 10 wor
from morning till night, all the year ronn'l !
line field, wi hnut associaiing With his ieilo'
men without the happiness q campai!lon an
Children to cheer and comfort Ia, Old age =
here is time Cor all things rhe farmer Ia
MS leisure hours. lie has time, after his usui
!abor, to attend To wife and children. and even
public business; because # he has had pru'enc
and practical knowledge. when Young and robins
Ne will have worked hard enough to have acqui'
c'i such competency as to give him leisure tim'
when IT. more advanced are. BIT the ignoras
. the field will remain always in the field: h
will Le fit far nothing else: he will mt be loa
o. the community. but he will certainly be C,
pArr IN it. noble amhilion prompts the man
knowledge to better his condition. With the i.
aarant, To eat. drink, and sleep, arc all what |,
seeks in this world. With the man Of kn0wcds
Fcelon !, cherished; with the ignorant. whetht
/ an lltllngahalns Or a Marcus AMrelius gnvcrns.