American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-02-21
REPORT OF DIR. COLLINS

IN RELATION TIC THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
DR.. Collins, chairman of the Committee on
Education of the Second Branch of the City
Councils, to whom was referred so much of the
Mayors communication as relates to the Pub
tic Schools, submitted the following report OIL
Wednesday:
Your committee cannot refrain from an eX-
preston of their high qualification at the pro-
nlinence given, in the Mayors annual message,
to the education of the young and they most
cordially unite with him in the opinion that,
!sthere is no kind of expense which the people
of cur city will contribute to defray with more
alaority, than that for the support of Public
Schools" The education of the young, in in
sttutions supported at the public charge, is, in
many portions of Europe, and in this country,
one CT the most remarkable features of the age
in which it is our happiness to live. 1t is pa
triotic policy; because, while education ava
kens the faculties of youth, and thus preserves
the mind from starvation, and the heart from
impoverishment, it also enlightons manhood in
all that appertains to civil and religious liberty;
and thus qualities the citizen to comprehend
and to maintain the principles OH which our
institutions are based. 1t is an economical po-
Icy; because the diffusion of knowledge tends
u vi <lpu
cost attending OH the conviction and punish
n,ent Of the offender against civil and social
laws, would be more benevoently expended in
teaching him the true nature of moral obga-
ten. The welfare of society may require sa-
csiiice to the sternness of her statutes; but hui
mainly will endaavor to save the citizen from
the commission of crime. 1t is benevolent
policy; because education teaches man his ac-
countability and his destiny; and thus conducts
him 70 the knowledge of the Great Spirit from
whom he came, and to whom he tends. So
ciety, like loving mother, should open her
arms to receive the destitute wanderer and the
homeless orphan to her warm and ample DO
som; and may reasonably expect that the vir-
tue and usefulness of manhood will more than
repay her maternal care. The unenlightened
mind Of man gives utterance to sounds as
gnournful rs those Of the Ethiopian statue when
surrounded by the darkness of night; but when
the genial Influence of education is impaired,
the sound is as harmonious as that Of the same
statue when it received the rays of the rising
SUM- 1t is delightful to contemplate that pub
lie education Impaired to poverty and orphan
age, may give Development to genius of the
highest order, which, without this fostering
care, might have gone down to the grave,
shrouded in Egyptian darkness-"darkness vi
sible"-"darkness that might be felt" The
rude block of marble lies undiStinguished in the
quarry, until the csel of the sculptor gives it
the graceful proportions which attract the ad-
miration of the world.
The noble example afforded by some of the
States of the Union, deserves imitation as far
as prudence will allow. Massachusetts appro-
priated, during the last year, 900 for the
support of Schools; New York about one mil
lion for 100, 900 children actually taught in the
district Schools, Pennsylvania $470,0oO for
EOS, 402 scholars; and the Controllers Of Phla-
delphia city and county expended S220, 900 for
the education of $500 scholars. Ohio has
six thousand Public School Districts, and &C.,
900 youth entitled to the benefit of these
schools Your committee are confident that
the public spirit of the citizens OF Baltimore
will induce them to initiate, with due regard
to prudential considerations, such bright exam
pies, which give fair promise for the prospe-
rity of our country, and the perpetuity OF our
institutons-civil and political.
Your committee have INDUCED in these ge-
neral observations, in order that they might be
enabled to define their own position. They are,
i'll the largest sense, the friends of public edu-
cation. But they cannot close their eyes from
the influence of those prudential motives which
control the action of all rejecting men. They
are aware ofthe pecuniary burdens under which
Baltimore has been placed by the indulgence of
patriotic considerations; and they proudly re-
joice at the seltsacrificiug spirit with which she
has sustained her fair and upspottcd name
The city authorities should be cautious in inn