State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-07-12
For the State Journal.
REMARKS UPON THE STATE OF
AMERICAN EDUCATION. n. |.

The following remarks were not sugSes-
ted from ignorance of the labors already
appropriatcd to the reform of our hitherto,
inadequate system of physical and classical
education, nor from an ungenerous depre-
ciation of the value Of those contributions;
but from q consciousness that they have,
almost entirely, failed TO meet tile expecta-
ton of the contributors. An inquiry, there
fore, into the CAUSES Of failure, can scarcely
prove embarrassing 10 the friends OF hui
manity. Surprise is not among the emo
tons produced by the hardness of reform.
Fanaticism, alone, could anticipate Sue
cess of this project, which has ever been
denied to moral and literary enterprise,
when directed against human preludices,
superstitous and long-confined habits OF
reflection. And yet do believe the sub
icct susceptible of n mode of presentation
more congenial with the capacity b" which
it must be appreciated, in order TO sue
cessfill issue, than it has hitherto been.-
Success can only be expected from pre-
scntation of the subject so transparent, so
palDable ms not to be liable to mlsapprehen-
sion bv the commonest capacity, or tile
rredoninancy of constitutional Incidence
over the enterprise of learning and fatigue
of thinking, will render our best attempts
abortiye. Those who dream of immediate
and unmpeded reform must suffer the an
noyance of a wakeful recognition of ineyl-
table disappointment.
TO what project of reformation, which
threatens conflic;on with settled prcJudlceS,
can even enthusiasm promise success,ailer
the demonstration of dogmatism displayed
in an infleXible resistance to the amellora-
ting suggestions of the christian religion,
as incucacd in the gospels of the New
| Testament
If doctrines palpably admissible of lgol,
cal certainty, enforced Ivy miracles ana
demonstrated by experience, have but par
tally succeeded in an importunate appeal
of more than 1900 years, who will be sur
prised at meeting impediments TO the snc-
cess of principles less readily recognized
AS the enanation or benificence OF heaven
The greatest impeachment to the propa
cation of learning, is that its advantages
can be appreciated, only, by those wht
have already acquired it; hence the almos
universal difficulty of rendering ii IN ohlec
of interest with the illilerate.
The great majority of every community
being incompetent to Judge of the advan
tages of adequate instruction, 1t Is, therefore
f im,raclicable TO give to literature charac
ter of usefulness, or TO render 1t sllhJec
, general interest.
1t is true that kind of education, scarce
! " more than nominal, is considered ralle
= con, enient than essential, by the great mas
| of our population, who are, too generally
! ofopinon that appropriations for education
, beyond that which enables one to read Al
t english translation of the bible to com
p pute interest aud cast up accounts Is ai'o
f gether, an injudicious expenditure
\ On the other hand there are those WHO'S
: pride is llattered lay all appropriation oItil
e name of learning, who compute II ny IN
4 expense of its acquisition, and by Who'
n it is appreciated, merely, as mn ep"het
u invidious distinction.
G 1t is not one of the seven wonders q
G the word, that mankind, in general sha
r have acquired prejudice or contempt c
t learning as little as it has seemed TO
: adapted to the improvement OF the appre
q cialle interests of society.
Il A course OF public instruction, whate'
c or il may have contemplated, has beef
a scarcely, competent to enable the s'udeI