New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-11-06
THE T r [ B y n E
Common Schools.

Common Schools.
gentleman extensively acquainted with our
Common Schools has handed us report of Mr.
IPH. THOMAS, Superintendent of the Common
Schools of the town of Stepbcnton, Rensselaer, Co.
# touches several points of the deepest import
,pce to all the friends Of Education. He COM
mains decplyo the inattentlon of parents in visit
ng the schools. He says" In all pecuniary
matters our citizens are, as they should be, alive
totbeir interests. II farmer or mechanic should
employ man at wages in the most trivial occu-
patton, the amount Of compensation would insure
The most watchful supervision. But the teacher
seems to be of different and privileged order OF
beings" This truth has struck US forcibly as one
othe chief defects in The districts throughout the
country.
Il results from the utter Inconsistencies, on
The part of the parent. OF the results depending
on the early training of his child If commu-
nifty should engage man to take care of the
bsdics ard limbs Of It's children, it would be ANA
ing careful how limb began to droop or lose its
Noporton, or eye waste away under the wrong
management Of the man to whom they had been
entrusted. With the first appearance OF such
disaster the town would be in buzZ-yet these
same parents commit the mental and moral struc-
ne of their children-more easily moulded, and
moulded wrong than the physical--to d BOBBY or
avicious man, without ever questioning his work
or caring to see the progress he makes IN des-
ruction. We have seen a child with a spirit as
much superior to the master who controlled it, as
Bthe eagle to the yulture, and when we have
seen the rude and ignorant training to which ii
was subjected, we have thought if it were our
case we had rather the child would learn nothing,
than learn so much it would have to unlearn or
bsspoiled. You may add Improvements ad inf
ntum 10 our common school system, but until
the parents can be made to watch over every step
othe chlld's education with the deep solicitudc
that spnngs from true knowledge of its import
ance, our system of instruction will be vitality de-
lectlve. Why, this apathy seems to us the
stfangest of all apathics. We have cattle shows
and fairs innumerable, and multitudes throng
them, and they become months wonder. The
method of raising it. He will tell you he never
leaves it to hired man, unmatched and ncared
far But you cannot by any possible amount Of
argument awaken the same interest In the tram
ing of youth. Let a cattle show be advertised,
and you wonder where all the multitude come
tom Yet advertise common school conven-
ton, and you wonder where all the people can be.
Now, this simple fact reveals one of the most
startling truths, and conveys the severest rcbuke to
the parents of our country
We feel inclined to ask if child is not better
than horse, and the examination of your chill
dfen OF deeper interest than the examination OF
-FOUR cattle 1t is one of the sad features Of our
age that men have no spiritual eye. They value
only what they can ouch and handle. Educa-
ion is supported because every one says it must
sNpported; while lis greater end is defeated by
lhewant of that deep interest which right con-
ceplon of It's high purpose creates. We heartily
concur In the closing sentiment of this clear
sighted Superintendent: " 1t is to be hoped that
new and salutary feeling Of concern will be shown
eythose most deeply interested in this matter;
and that the supervision of Common Schools Will
not be left almost wholly to public officers, whose
capacity and fathfulness are not always to be re-
LED on"