Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-18

soldiers VINO, whist lhey receive instruction I'D oeldi
science at the expense of the State shall perform all the
duties of the Military Guard of the city, who trained
to look forward to usefulness and distinction among the
citizens of the State and by their solemn engage
nen are to make return to the public by engaging IN
the business of instruction in the district and primary
schools orthe Commonwealth must strike every observ
er as great and desirable improvement And here permit
me TO observe that the principle oimproye
nent in orr SYSTEM must be in the supply of teachers.
The want Of teachers has been The great evil which we
have had to encounter, and which must be removed
1t is in vain for US shut eyes 10 the fact that,
with few honorable exceptions, those to whom the
formation of the intellectual and moral character OF
our children is committed, utterly unworthy OF the
trust and incompetent TO the duties required by their
enpauements The bounty of the State has been un-
profitably expended in the primary schools, because
che school commissioner, however disposed to do his
duty 10 the poor compelled 10 patronze the near
schools without reference 10 their merits AND thus,
too often men bankrupt in character as well as in for
tunes ignorant and immoral whose opinions and ADVICE
would be deemed utterly worthless about any OF The
ordinary of life, permitted to have The rst
and most lasting influence on the youth OF our land-our
Jewels and hope. Nor have we been bettered by I'M
porta,ions from the North, where the manufacture OF
teachers regular trade prepared TO supply any To-
reign demand and like their shoes and hats, mace 10 or
der Brother Jonathan is astue and skiitu! trader,
whether he undertakes to supply intellectual or physical
wants he keep the best for his usc and exports that
Disguised with the known want OF qualification OF the
teachers amongst ourselves import others, under the
hope Of improving condition, and all that IS gained IS
that tile end of the year ascertain concerning the
new conner that he worthless those have re
ected. We must supply our own demand-we must
educate teachers who, born and brought up amongst
US have our own feelings admire our own institutions,
and whose love 10 their er iand will stimulate them
10 vigorous effort to improve lis condition. we must
open to the middlng and humber classes Of society
L.a "A
opment. We must elevate the standing and qua!iica-
tons of teachers and remove The opProbrium under
which the business of school teaching has aborcd for
many years amongst Sir tire profession 81 school
master has been, unfortunately Tor US, regarded as
rather iom md obscure clting, and once Tx thus
stigma upon it. il will soon deserve Il. With 80 mary
fields in which talent is rewarded III our country, DIS
nction would not he sought in one III which the aspi'
rant felt conscious that he Of necessity encountered
such a difficulty in the start. Many men have thus
been driven into professions acknowledged to be LIBERAL
but TO them utterly unprofiable rather than be recog-
nzed schoomas.er forgetting that TO instruct youth
and enghtcn ignorance has been in ell agcs, the IA
vortc employment Of the philosopher and the sage Sir,
this must be a!leredthe academies, both military and
those incorporated the State, must receive por-
ton of the public bounty as well individual be ralty,
and be required educate, free ofexpense youn" men,
who shall teach III our schools and academies. Those
10 whom they are entrusted must be required 10 FUR
nish teachers 10 the public in proportion 10 the money
with great pains and labor, investigated the systems Of
Europe and own country-l have consulted The
best authors both living mud dead, and the testimony
Of all is HatMe country achch has made no .gOr to
tdncae tearerS has done nothing for popular edacatt0n
This is the testimony Of Brouaham, Won Rraumer,
Taylor, and Of all whose works have been enabled
10 consult, and would urge upon this Convention
this important truth, by every conside ration drawn
from our patriotism and philanthropy; as we regard
the happiness Of children desire the glory Of
dispnl md h1.
nish crime Sir, the entire want OF moral qualifica-
ton amongst teachers is an appalling EVIL. IL
their intellectual aalnments were ever SO great, II
would afford no compensation for this deficiency
knowledge without morals never improved the condi-
ton of society," ii is but at best Substitution n trdud
for force giving to mscheyous boy the ability 10 work
greater mischief In order 10 prevent this, we must see
It that The youth receive contamination from the
vices of the tcacherlat the infusion of sound learn
ing accompanied b. The infusion Of sound principles
Without supply Of suitable teachers, how, Mr. Presl-
dent, can any system succeed, Your apothecarles
shops may be stored with nidble remedies for disease,
and the pestiencc may walk abroad and Stay all be-
fore IT, ii the physician L. wanting 10 make the apPli-
cation. All the wealth Of the Indies lavlshed on the
primary schools would be utterly wasted the qualified
instructor is wanting; and moral and Intellectual DARK
ness would shroud our land with an impenetraoie
gloom. The academies part and parcel oil The pri-
mary school system-they make large segment OF that
glorious circle Of intellectual culture, which trust
snail span cOuHlrS anu
est school may be, without the academies source
of teachers should only be called upon 10 grcrc at
disappointment OF our hops and the defeat OF our e.
forts In relation 10 this particular report we are told
bya gentleman from Richmond, that he fears that if ca
diets in Il military school substituted for the city
guard they viii not be willing to encounter the duties
Of soldiers cannot believe it. II such there be, lei
them seek education elsewhere. The yeomanry, the
sons of our gentcmen-iarmers and the farmers them
selves, the ordinary duties of life, encounter much
c. J.,g,,.
young men must be taught self. denial and industry;
the maxim must be constantly impressed, that he IS but
poor specimen If gentleman lrh0 cannot, he has htS
heaih support and takc care 81 hi'HseJ The cadet IS
called 10 the honorable dates of n soldier, and the re-
fined Investigations Of scholar Does he aspire 10 dis
tnc,ion- lie services Of his country, either teacher
TO instruct soldier to defend The rising generation
Of his native State, present field for lis atalnment in
which every energy can be employed Oh Sir, what a
henefacior TO his IS the man who has taught those
around him 10 seek and TO value intellectual pleasures
to draw from the OF literature those pure and
elevated enjoyment which leave of WEAKNESS
or sate;y-who has directed them 10 the inexhaus-
tble Of classical literature liberal science, and
christian philosophy the heart, throbbng with
PAIN has found relief, and the bosom, oppressed with
care, has felt lis sorrows socthcd, The darkness OF
dependency has been lighted with the beams of hope;
where old age, with all lis nrmties, has been render
ed cheerful and useful drawing from the mind pleasures
which the whitening hand of Time has not blighed,
and shedding mud radiance around the closing hours
Of life when without H. all would be dark, gloomy and
desparng. Ii there he any being under Heaven who
demands my sympathy, II is he who during the physical
decay gradua! old age feels that h. haS ntelec,u-
al stores but his inactive mind Supplied and enaned by
ignorance affords no alienation to the nirnlties which
must sink him 10 the grave. Sir, send The well quail
fled schoonaster abroad supply the demands OF virgi
MIA, with her own educated sons who will acknowledge
the double obligation Of patriotism aud whose
zeal i'll tire Of nothing short of comforting the
munity the blessings they have recevcd-who will look
10 our academies their aim@ mareS and who will
afford TO all youth practical demonstration that
the only legitimate arisocracy Of our land, the arts.
ocracy Of intellect and Of morals, and then shall
the contamination of our hopes in the blessings Of
education IL every cottage in our land. Your head
and mine Mr.. President, may be cold and low before
this is fully come, but The day in the distance;
and fathers found this country wilderness, and
tanned and gave it 10 Cor Inheritance, let us de-
liver it 10 our children not only unimpaired but i'm.
proved.