Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-12-28
For the Standard.


Mp. EDIroR: Permit me, as an hmm.
ble individual, 10 say few words TO my
fellow.cilizens, through the medium of
your paper, on what l consider subject
Of deep and vital importance to the whole
community: and that is the subject Of
common school education. l think it is
a proposition, the correctness of which
will not be controverted by any, that in
telligence is the life of liberty; that the
general diffusion of knowledge is the
grand foundation upon which is predica-
ted the hopes and future prospects Of our
growing Republic; that it is the key
stone TO the arch, upon which it mainly
relies Tor the permanency and perpetuity
ofits fiee institutions. And how, let me
ask, is this general dissemination of
knowledge, correct, general and political,
to be obtained, but through the agency
of our common schools3 In our Govern
ment, the sovereign power is vested in the
people. There is not a man in all the
land, who has arrived at the proper age,
and who has not incapaciated himself by
crime, but is within his proper and le-
gitimate sphere sovereign. We all en-
Joy the right of seIfgovernment-the
right, either by ourselves, OF by deputy,
TO enact the laws by which we are to be
governed. There is no distinction in
consequence Of wealth or poverty Al
the ballot-bOx the poor man speaks as
irumpet.toned and eaectually as the
wealthy and the great. l rejoice that it
is SO. l glory in equal rights. But still
it must be admitted that knowledge is
poHer-and that unless you place within
his reach the means Of acquiring infor-
nation; Of educating himself and his
children; the wealthy man has decided
advantage over him. There has much
been doae in order 10 improve our CON-
mon school system within THE last few
years, it is true. That our Legislature
has enacted the most wholesome laws,
and salutary regulations, pertaiDlhgt to the
system, which under existing circum-
stances they could do, there can be no
doubt. But notwithstanding, that much
remains TO be done, is no doubt equally
true. That much advantage would de-
rive from the furnishing good school
houses, and supplying them with suitable
benches or seats, would add greatly to
the benefits 10 be derived from the system'
is in my opinion, quite obvious. Agreat
advantage would also accrue, from the
furnishing proper books, for the classify
ing of the scholars.
But this is not all. Much greater ad-
vantage would be derived by exalting the
business Of teaching to the dignity of a
profession. Men of all other branches
and callings, are trained and educated
with an eye single to their profession, and
are not considered competent TO pursue
it, until they have served an apprentice
ship. The Merchant, the Lawyer, the
Physician, and indeed many Of our Me-
Chanies; stand high in society; while
their Teacher; the man who is to edu
cate their children; to give them that in
strHctiOn which has been wisely termed
"the life of the SOUL" is by many looked
down upon as mere underling; liable
and subject TO be found fault with; to b
ordered and spurned about by the whim
and caprice of every subscriber; to hav
his conduct criticised and remarked uT
on; and that, too, in the presence of thei
n children. This is not asit should be.
consequence Of this very state of thing
some Ofthe very best talent ia the c6pr
Try il daily prevented from coming foI