Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-26
POPULAR EDUCATION.


Substance OF an Address on Common Schools b,
Rev. b. Nj. SMITH, delivered at a public meet
ing Of the Citizens OF Augusta held in Staun,on
Sept II, ls4I.
Ma EDIroR: Il is task OF great difficulty 70
transfer any spoken Address the pages Of a news.
paper a pamphlet. Much which is interesting in
the Address, will lose its interest by the chance
There are other difficulties in the present case
The Address delivered, psrook little of the cha
racter OF the notes. on which was apparently based
that they furnish very imperfect guide to recalling
any thing more thaH the rudest skeleton Of the adj.
dress itself So extensive Is the subject that un.
restrained by visible audience, there is more dan
ger IN presenting views IN this form of infcting
severe trial upon your patience and that of your
readers. There is, however, consolation m the
reflection that rules Of proproty will compel the
reader to peruse what is written, though they might
impose Sone patience on the hearer of what was
spoken.
An address on common .'roos in Virginia, op-
pears obviously to embrace soms discussion Of such
questions rs the'ef
1. What is Edueation1
2. What au.Oua, of education is necessary to
every citizen, and why should 1t be possessed
). What is the eondltIon Of common schools in
Virginia.
4. What has been done in Virginia by legislative
action
This involves a discussion of the merits Of the
School Law, or acts OF the Legislature for educating
the poor children.
5. What remedy should be applied to supply
deficiencies and imperfectiousf
believe that all that said in my address
may be comprehended under the general topics
presented IN these questions.
l.. What is EducaIion2 In its proper and more
extended sense, by education is meant the devel-
opment or bringing out" of the qualities of mind
heart and body, winch naturally exist and of course
their improvement This is accomplished by iu-
strucuon and discipline. The term is usually ap
piled to denote the mere intellectual instruction and
discipline Of the schools. Without urging the
Proprety of the dehniton made, shall the
term in his address IN the limited sense OF its usual
nccepIntiOn. Common schools called from
their affording what constitute the elements of ed
ucaton, common 10 all. These are generally con.
sIdered TO be reading, writing and arithmetic They
lie at the basis OF all other Instruction. and can
conceive OF no education deserving the name. in
which they not incuded. They are as neces-
slry for prosecuting additional studies, as for en-
joying any Of the privileges which belong TO the
mind.
.. What amount Of education is necessary to
every citizen, and why should 1t be possessed7
The idea Of common school education wlch has
been Just presented, Is the popular idea entertain
cd IN this part Of the country, and evidently that OF
the trainers OF our school laws Reading writing
and arithmetic Constitute the only Indispensable
branches IN which the State requires the pOer chill
dren, whose tuition is betrayed by the annual p
preparation, 10 be instructed. But # the child
should be prepared by education for performing the
duties and enjoying the privileges OF a man, de-
hniuon oil the purpose OF education furnished by
the great Milton, It seems obvious that something
more should be Introduced into that Elementary
Education deemed indispensable for all our citizens
TO acquire. Some elements OF geography, history,
aud the government Of our country, and much
of the Bible history as will inform the mind on the
great facts connected with the primitive and early
condition OF our race, and so much % its Religion
as will guard the mind from ianatieism sectariansm
and bigotry and furnish morality for Time and
hope ior Eternity, ought certainly to form parts OF
the education OF the humbest American citizen.
This is important for the promotion of social and
individual happiness and welfare, as well as con
uueIve TO national wealth, and subservent TO the
preservation OF our invaluable political institutions
Whatever 1e the situation of an individual his
actual enjoyment Is increased by reading. Hsto-
ry opens TO HIM an entertaining view OF men and
things m other times. The Travels Of the obServ.
ing and intelligent inform HIM OF the state of society
the government and manners OF other people. He
may be instructed by the more solid and serious
writings, ami amused by the works Of Imagination
Thus, 100, his tastes Tor pleasure are elevated and
Tehnedi and lie derives a negative well as posi-
tive beneht from possessing ability and incina-
ton 10 read, inasmUch as he IS thereby prevented
IRON seeking mere sensual qualification whose mo-
derate enjoyment is often Injurious and whose ex
cessive indulgence IS alike destructive TO physical
and moral welfare.
knowledge IS power for good or evil and a sys-
TEN oil Elementary Education imparIing to the young
even the rudImenls OF human and divine truth ara
enabling them 10 use the great key IN unlock the
treasures oil the past and the present. coniers an IN
cRcuable benefit on the domestic and social condl-
ton OF man. For what IS contributed TO The indl-
Niuualt beneNL 10 al thOSe circles which
lac moves, TO all those interests to which he contr-
butes from that of domestic life TO that of the body
polite. BY as much as an honest, upright intel
hgent and sober man avas TO the good of society
one OF the opposite description, by so much Is
that to be valued which prepares the youth 10 he.
come such man. Again, in all those improvements
IN the arts which contribute 10 domestic gain in
pecunIdry point Of view. there is certain degree Of
intelligence necessary to enable people 10 use them
Some OF the most common Improvements in agri-
cultural mechanical, culinary and household impIe-
nents and convenences, would be valueless IN a
community OF ignorant persons-Ihs may be east
y illustrated 10y reference 10 that portion OF our own
state which is debaTred the privileges conferred on
Others. How often DO discover that many in
yenlIOns very useful IN different state Of society are
'iseiesst TO usi Whatever family or a community
saves, is a saving TO national wealth; and this view
may be extended The laws OF our country encour-
age improvement in the arts, and who knows how
much more rapidly such might be anticipated were
all the neglected talent Of land permitted some
means OF displaying It's vIlue2 We can all fee the
force ofthe celebrated lines
"Pull many gem " purcst ray serene
ThC dark uuiathOmed caves OfOcCau bcar
Full many flower rs born 10 blush unseen
Aud waste It's sweetness on the desert uis,"
especially when we know how little intellectual c,-
ture required TO unfold the talents Of Frank b.
lin, Sherman, or an Ewing. And popular i'm
prOvement j. the means Of bringing out such men
from obscurlty. Did our primary schools bring to
the service and benefit Of our country md the world
but one franklin in century, they would be worth
all they cost The ingenuity Of one single intellect
cOn;rved scheme for procuring water for the city
OF London, which saves 20 that city annually $40
100000. What Whuney's cotton gin and Whit.
mOres cardIng machine huve done for the IT, States
cannot be computed. England, by her machinery
has increased her physlcu. force in commerce and
manufacture 10 a power equal 10 that Of $4,000 COO
Of men. France has increase ed hetu TO only II COO
coo. The power Of the two countries without ma .
chinory is about the samo-6, OCO, 900 Of men Thus
while England has more than quadrup'ed France
has barely doubled her national powcr.-Thnt in-
teilgence among the people Is necessary TO appre
CntC and use as we'll as construct machinery We
have seen; and that intelligence Cows from ne ca
pacity to books and otter writings which en-.
large and inform the mind.
In such q country us ours, tits vastly Important
that the people should DO able TO read the copsfifu
ton and laws, and have sufficient intelligence To an.
with dependence on demagogues, and to discern
proposed by their egislotors.-Unless good law,
and schemes OF improvement meet the appreciation
Of the people they need not be passed. This par
Of the subject expands 90 much that can only clos,
u by breaking of somewhat abruptly, with bur ON.
more illustration Of the positions token Whit
mans personal dignity and happInCss s promoted bl
his mental Improvement, his comfort by the d1mcs
&c hearth is equally advanced. In uncducated fam
lies, there b. little subordnation other than tho
produced by physical superO Ity. There is Iiu.
happiness other than that which share In com
mon with the brutes, and there Is little peace Otbe
than thatwhich stern authority on the one hand an
tervile submission on the other, procure. Butin th