Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-12-13
FOR rHE sr1SDARD.
Mn. EOrron.

I
Mn. EDrToR. w-' ars- 4
Th6 season having arrived, when IN
coassqgsnOs OF the inclemency Of the
weather. and the greatlsDglhofIho nights
ourcitizens win have more time to de-
vote 10 the purpose Of reading and ac-
quiring Information; ] will take the lib.
ertYs Of saying few mOresthiBgso on the
subject Of "common school education
''the general diffusion Ofintelligence."-
Il isadmitted believe as an incontesti- |
ble.truth; that Government so delicate.
ly constituted as Ours;-based upon the,
popular will; the mere creature of the
people who can with one breath make or
destroy it at pleasure, Is entirely dopen-
dent for the very tenure Of its existence
upon the strength of public opinion;
how then, is the permanency and perpe-
tuity ofourpolitical institutions to be en-
suied, but bY properly directing the ex-
erciss of the popular will, through,
the agency Of Common Schools by
the general dissemination of knowl-
odge9
OurGOVernment is Democratic ihfts ma
ture and character, al least il was so de.
signed by lis founders; and republics are
PrOVerbially shOrt.lived. They aim at
higher standard Of eqaityin Government,
and require therefore higher standard
Otyirtue TO administer them: and bv
what means is this virtue to be obtained,
butby increasing, and encouraging, fa-
ciliiies for obtaining moral md political
Information!
True, we have colleges and semirarics
Of learning, created by legislative author.
ityj and endowed with splendid priv,
leges, but owing tOthe expense attend
ant upon purSuinga course of study in
one Of those higher institutions Of learn
ing, 1t is not TO be reasonably expected
that their benefits will ever, or at least
for many years, be extended to any but
atavorite few. This being promised or
admitted, one thing must follow to de.
monStratiou, thai majority OF the youths
in our country must rely in the entire,
upon the present "Common School syS.
tem," in order to obtain moderate Eng.
liSh education.
Notwithstanding that great pa ins have
been taken 10 improve our present sys.
TEN Of instruction, yet it must be admit.
ted, by every person competent Of iudg-
ing, that il is still very defective in ma>
ny respects. Some Of these defects, il
is highly Prsba able, are inherent in the
system itself; but that there are also
others susceptible of remedy, can scarce.
ly be doubted. II is doubtless a prop.
osition, the truth Of which will be ad
mitted by every teacher of age and ex-
perienee, that the system might be great
ly improved by exalting the business Of
teaching TO the dignity ofa profession =
/ am well aware, thatin introducing this
subject, Itouch upon nice and delicate
point. Times are hard and The people
sensitive, believing that in order to
accomplish his,bOth the wages and qua>
ifcations ofteachers must be increased;
thlB TO q certain extent is probably true,
but that the advantage to be derived would
ultimately more than counterbalance the
additional expense 10 be incurred, does
not in my opinion admit of dis.
putO. Fa
Itis indeed, perfectly surprising, that
there should be no other state of life, no
other occupation, art, orscience, in which
some method Of instruction is not looked
upon aseTequisite, except only the SCI
ence OfPublic instruction, the noblest
and most difficult Ofany. Apprenticships
are held necessary TO almost every art,
commercial or mechanical; long course
of reading and study, must form the d.
vine, the physician, and the praC ticul pro,
fessOr of the law; but every man Of any
degree Of talent thinks himself born
good public instructor. Yet Socrates was
ofa different opinion; for he held It to be
necessary for teacher 10 be thoroughly
acquainted with the constitutional make,
with the different grades, and with the
various and ever changing, ,-the finest
shades Ofhuman character; and this he
declares is knowledge of the most OK. fC
tensiVe Natures amalter of science, Of
d;li1Anca. of raIact;on ,;,l -