Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-14
common school Education.

Is soon 10 commence, IN thls city, the Puoilcaton OF
periodical TO be devoted to the cause of Common
School Education. Mr.. West we believe is fully
competent to perform the task which he will thus
assume with ability and usefulness, and it will be for
the public to add, by generous support with
success.
In this State, regret to say it, the subject Of
common school education has been sadly neglected.
though it is universally admitted TO be Of the highest
importance. This neglect has occurred on the part
of those alive to the importance of the NATTER chiefly
because Of the absence of by which their
efforts at reform could be concentrated and made
effective to the accomplishment Of the end in view.
In TIE proposed publication this will be fur
nished and we hope TO see spirit aroused which
will exert healthy influence, and ultimately
to vast number Of our youth, who growing
up in ignorance, the incalculable benefits of good
school houses and good teachers. Every sound prin
cple of morals and politics points to this beginning
as the only true basis of rational freedom. A good
and early education is less necessary the order
of the commonwealth and to the preservation of the
State than to the benefit of individuals. Without it,
the of the people are deprived of the means of
improvement, they enveloped in ignorance, they
become the victims of the cunning, they become
degenerate reckless and improvident and finally vice
and crime and their lamentabe consequences the
deplorable result. good education, says anouy-
nous writer sis the great of nation through which
the people see the tendency of tie laws in their proper
unclouded light, and which prepares them to bend
with becoming submission to their authority. 1t
opens 10 them the fundamental laws of Christian
morality, which comprises those of just government
and impresses on their minds the great tribute they
to the State that protects their lives and proper
tes-their reciprocal duties to their neighbors who
alleviate their Affections and them in distress
1t is the basis of temperance of prudence, of WISDOM
Of subordination of social order, and of individual
and public confidence. 1t is the great centre of union
that cvilizes nations and links them into endear-
ing society. 1t is lamp that perpetuay burns be-
fore mans eyes, that illumes the recesses and bye
fellowman led to the preparation of crime and
thence gnomnous death. Its his only safeguard
against the Turing wiles of the designing hypocrite,
and the Vaccinations of the pcnsioned informer. 1t
awakens within him that all-saving monitor which
stands between him and disaffection to the laws,
injustice to his neghbor, degradation to himself by
departure from moral rectitude.'
Aristippus considered man without Education as
stone which is insensble to every thing around it !!
Diogenes considered an ignorant man "a BEAST
Cicero says, s' that a man should have learning,
only for ones pleasure independent of all its
other advantages" "This is (said he) nOurishment
to youth, pleasure to old age, ornament to pros
perity, refuge and comfort in adversely 1t diverts
at home, is of no hindrance abroad it passes the
night with us, accompanies when travel, and
attends US in our rural retreats"
Seneca says, 50 if you employ your time in study,
you will avoid every disgust in life; you will not
wish for night, or be weary of the day; you will
neither be burthen to yourself nor unwelcome to
Others
ITO what higher object (says Plutarch) could
Numa have directed his attention, than TO the culture
of early infancy -
knowledge (says DR.. Johnson) is certainly one
of the great of pleasure, is confessed by the
natural desire which every mind feels of increasing
its ideas. Ignorance is mere privation, by which
nothing can be produced 1t is a vacuity in which
the soul sits motioness and torpid for want of attrac
ton, and without knowing why. We always rejoice
when we learn, and grieve when VIC forget"
"a proper Education of poor children says Sterne)
is the foundation of almost every kind of charity.
may say of policy also.'
"In every age said Martin Luther, " even among
the heather, the necessity has been felt Of having
good school masters, in order to make any thing
spectacle of nation. But surely we are not to sit
still and wait until they grow up OF themselves. We
can neither chop them out of wood, hew them out
of stone God will work miracles to furnish that
which we have means to provide; must, therefore,
apply our and money to train up and make Them.
1.-THE education of our children" said John Adams to
his wife, sis of my mind. Train them to vir
tue Habituate them to industry, activity and spirit
Make them consider every vice shameful and unmany
Fire them with ambition to be useful. Make them
disdain to be destitute Of any useful ornamental
knouledge'
To these gems we might add those of hundreds of
other wise of all ages and nations, but it is
unnecessary.
We shall therefore conclude with a practical re-
mark of Horace Mann, the excellent and efficient
superintendent of schools in Massachusetts, which we
commend to the attention of those especially who are
ready to admit the proprety of the periodical proposed
to be published by Mr.. West. He justly says, that
"every friend of education who insists upon quaf-
cations superior to the present. bound to do his part
towards furnishing facilities and encouragements by
which they can be acquired. We cannot consistently
denounce state of things which we do nothing to
improve"
MAIL CoNTRAcTs.-The Union of the 9th states
that the Postmaster General had been employed dur
ing several preceding days, Sin opening the bids for
carrying the mails in the western section, for which
the contracts come round this year. The number of