Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-12-13


~ the school-mssses, 10 extracted from . re-
lDsrs prepared on behalfo Of the New-york High
oshebl. by the Hon. GnliAn C. vsrplanck. Pre-
sidbns - the Board; 2
II hSs bees to me q source ofpltMsure though
. m~siuBfholy one, that in rendering this pub
lie ,r'bsts to tho worth Of our departed friend.
the Respectable members Of two bodies. one Of
thssn the most devoted and efficient ia its sci
sasi6s enquiries, the other comprising 80 many
Nance smipcut fof Philanthrophy add learning
have met 10 do honor 10 the memory Of a
Gehsoi-. Master.
Thurs ara proudsr themes for the eulogist
than this. The praise Of the statesman, the
warrior or the orator. furnish more splendid
topics for ambiiiors eloquence, but no theme
can be moro RIG in desert, or mole fruitful in
public advantage.
TIE enlightened ~hberaliiy Of many Of our
~ tate go~vernments (anuongst which We may
elaiiR a proud distinction for our OWN hus
been extending the common school system o.
YER their whole population, and brought elo-
msa,ary education to the dior Of avery family.
In this STATE, II appears from tho anoualrepor,s
Of The Secretary Of Stale, there are besides the
fifty Incorporated academies and numerous pri-
: vato schools, between eight and nine thousand
school districts, in each Of which instruction is
IcStlVFty gFCns ihooV "s' fSe'
lAt $50 taught in the single state Of New.Yoik
to which may DO added nine or ten thousaad
more IN tho higher seminar,cs OF learning, OK
olusiyely of the colleges. .
OF what incalculabie influence then for good
0r avil, upon the dearest ieicrssts of society,
must be the estimate entertained for the char
astsr Of this grsat body Of teachers, and the
s~nssqnsni responsibility Of the individuals
vbs compose il.
Al tho recon-, genera election Of this state,
ths vote Of ATS 900 persons were taken. In
thirty years, tho great majority OF these viii
have passed a~wny.-Their rights viii he excr-
cissd and tho duties assumed by those very
children whose minds are now open 10 receive
the earliest and most durable impressions from
tbs ION thousand school masters Of this state.
what else is there in the whole Of our social
system Of such extensive and powerful opera
tion On the nations char There is one
ether infusnee, moro powerful, ard but ono.
Il 10 that OF tho hornxl. The forms OF Z
ffss government, the provi'iens OF wise lsgS.
iaiion. the schemes OF tho statesman, the saG-
riAess Of the patriot, are nothing compared
with those. If the future citizens Of eur rspab-
lie are 10 be worthy Of their rich inheritance.
they must he made 80 principally through tho
virtue and Intelligence Of their mo'hars. II Is
n that schoo. of maternal Tenderness that tho
And afe ctiops must be first reused and made
hnb,mal the carly sentiments Of pic,y awak-
snsd and rightly directed the sense Of duty
and moral responsibility unfo!ded and enlight-
susd. But mex, ia rank aud efficacy TO that
pare and holy source of moral influence. is
that of the school-mastar. It's powerful al
ready. What would il he, if in every one Of
those school districts which wa now toun', by
annually increasing thousands. there were 10
bs "a. ind ono teacher, well informed without
p,dAntry, religious without bigorry or fanatic
hro, proud and fond Of his profession. and hon
cred IN tho discharge Of is duties! How wide
would DO the intellectual, the moral influence
Of such a body Of men!
Many such we have among Us. But to raise
up q body Of such men they and their calling
must be cherished and honored.
s",c cho,l-msstcr's occupation is laborious
and ungra.sfal, its rewards are scanty and pre-
sarious.-He may indeed DO animated by the
Consciousness Of dong good, that best Of al.
eonsolafions- THAT noblcst Of all motives. But
that too must be often cloudoj by doubt and
uaesrtastY Obscure aud inglorious as his
daily occupation may appear to learned pride
and worldly ambii ion, vet to be successful and
h,2py, he must he animated by tho splIIt of
the same great principles which inspired the
most iIlustnous bsnefA ,ors Of mankind. Nhe
bring to his task high taIepi and rich acquire
mont, he must be content to look into distsn
years for tho proof that his l.bouIs have not
bssn wasted--'hat the good seed which he
daily ~scatiers abroad does not fall on the stony
ground and wi:hcr away, or among thorns TO
be choksd by the cares, the delnsions. or the
.viecs Of this world. lie must solacc his tolls
with tho same prophetic faith which enabled
The greatest Of modern philosophers, amidst
tho neglect or contempt of his own time. TO
regard himself as Sowing the seed Of truth"
for ~posterity and the care of Heaven. lie
mnst arm himself ag,isat disappointment and
modification, with a portion OF that same
noble confidence which soo.hed tho gre latest Of
modern poets, Nhen weighed down BY care
and danger, by poverty, old age and blind
ness
-Tn prop,ctic dream he saw
Tho yonth u,born, with Pious awe,
Imbi5s each eiruo iron, lis sacred page
How imperious, then, tho obligation upon
every enlightened citizen, who knows and feels
the value Of such men, 10 aid thu m, to cheer
them, and TO honor them. Ono OF the estab-
lishmsnts Of this Society was designed, we
hope successfully, 10 improve and extend TO-
male education. Our other inrtiiut;ons for
male education, has had, besides its oirest ef-
feet. the happy Incidental one OF e%'eva'ing the
station, charging the usefulness, and contrib
utinQ to raise the character Of the school-mas-
ter amongst us.
Humble then as our labours in founding and
f~atcriny this institution may seem, and limi-
ted rs they arc in their sphere Of action, wo
may look back 10 them with the purest salts
faction, since their certain fruit must be the
dia'ss,on Of light and truth und virtue, through
tks pusvse- NM most powerful ~ all agents, the
MOTHER and tho scHooL-MAsrER.
Works announced. The Castiian, a SPAN
ish Historical Romance; Memoirs of Paul
Jones, compiled from his original Correspon-
dsnce, Journals g.. Life Of Alexander Selkirk
containing the real incidents on which Rob
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