Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-11-16
EDUCATION.


Manual Labor.
V.-THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF EDUCA-
T1oN Is so EXPENSIVE, THAT ITS PRAC
TICAL EFFECTS ARE ANTl-REPTBLICAN.
At many Of our colleg the annual
expense, exclusive Of books and clolhing,
is not far from two hundred dollars; at
others, one hundred and fifty; and at the
cheapest about one hundred dollars
Who then can educate their sons at COL
lege2 Not more than one family in
twenty Thus nineteen twentieths Of our
population are shut out from the advanta-
ges Of education in the higher branches
and as knowledge is power the sons ofthe
rlcb, by enjoying advantages for the ac-
QUESTION of this power vastly superior to
others; may secure to themselves mo-
nopoly Of those honors and emoluments
which are conferred upon the well edu-
eted. In this way society is divided into
castles. The laboring classes become
hewers Of wood and drawers Of water for
the etucated. The two parties stand wide
nsunder, no bond of companionship unit
ing them. no mutual sympathies incorro-
rating them into one mass, no equality Of
privileges striking q common level for
both. The chasm between them, even in
thisrepublican government, already yawns
deep and broad and if it be not speedily
bridged, by bringing education within the
reach Of the poor, It will widen into an
immense gulf, and our free institutions,
our national character, our bright vision
Of the future, our glory and our joy. will
70 down into it, The general and state
governments have done much in order to
Bring education within the reach of the
great mass Of the people Millions have
been expended in the erection Of buildings,
the establishment of professorships, and in
the purchase Of libraries and apparatus.
And what is the result? Why the toeaL-
thy can educate their sons little cheaper
than before. But education is still so ex-
pensive, that the community generally
receive no benefit from such appropriations.
Thus, our legislatures have IN effect aided
those who needed no assistance, and tGntG-
-izsd. Tie neeIy ,oih a shOno Of aid so far
] REMODEL, that II can nfucr GratL them
There is no benevoIence in pointing a
starving man to loaf suspended in the
air. unless you giue him toings TO fig to It,
Ifa portion Of the funds thus appropri-
ated had been expended in furnishing the
students of our institutions with the means
of profitable employment during those
hours each day which are not devoted to
study, such appropriations would have
befitted the character Of republican peo-
pie, and our higher institutions; instead
ofmeting out their blessings, as they now
do, only TO favored few, would pour them
equally upon all, the sun Of science would
not rise merely to illuminate the palace,
but to glad1sn the hovel.
The present system is anti-republicn in
its practical tendencies in another respect:
II makes labor disreputabc. The hu-
man mind is so constituted. that it must
trace relations. II would be a mental
anomaly, if an impression made upon il
remained, unconnected with any other
4 object. Thoughts and feelings are inter
twined in clusters, and done up in bun
dies. Objects connected by juxta-posi-
ton Of time or place. and similarity O.
nature or uses, are recalled together
When one is suggested the other appears
Apply this simple principle to the case
before US. Look at our institutions o
learning. There, cultivated intellect, re-
incl taste, and extensive attainments, are
connected with habits Of bodily inactivity
end this connection sanctions and satisfe.
these habits. The learned are inactive
the unlearned labor. The former stanC
alooffrom all the employments of common
life; the latter are in the midst Of them
Hence learning comes to be associated a.
a matter Of course with inactivity. nut
honor upon it. and buoys it upward
while ignorance becomes associated will
labor, cleaves fast to it, sits upon il as al
incubus, and crushes il into the dust. l
the officers and students Of all our colleges
and seminaries should spend their hour
of relaxation in agricultural or mechani
cal employments, would il not GO. tar il
redeeming labor from disgrace2
Idesignto notice many other particular
10 which the present system of education
isinjurious in its influence upon the indi
vidual. and npon the community: but tn
discussion ofthese points will be reserve
10 another part of this communicates
where the manual labor system viii com
under consideration, and Its influence up
on character will be contrasted with tn
satsts produced by the presen, system.