The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-27
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about three weeks SINCE rssa,s4 before they closed
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hearty interest and s.ssas sS from & parents md eer
a." :ss seS
one day, :" &c.
These are interesting facss They show that the
science Of education Is advancing with the general
march Of Improvement; and hey render no longer
doubtful the ProPrisy snd impor,sncr Of deyotii 6
portion OF the means Of this national institution, h.
assist IN carrying forward, rapidly, thia
great movement Of the age.
The ball provides for tho preparation Of sets OF
iuusuauons specimens, apparatus, and school bools
suited for primary scbeols." ! consider these pro-
visions Of the highest Importance. Next to the fur
nlshng OF proper teachers, 10 the necessity for prop
or Instruments Of education, Indeed, do not know
but this should be placed foremost in Importance;
for with the best illustrations apparatus and books
The teacher could scarcely fail TO perform his part
with the greatest advantage and the best suceess
The propnety Of having professors Of the most
useful sciences and arts" connected with the "nor
nal branch" ofthis institution, Is too obvious to
quIrea single remark.
The bull does not propose, (for indeed the propo.
siiioo would be absurd To give TO such school books
as may be prepared, any authority, other than that
whieh the character Of the institution and their
intrinsic worth, would impress upon them. But 1t
" very certain, that able and experienced men, d.
recting their minds particularly To that shiect would
ne prepared 10 give 10 the world something far bst-
YER than we now possess-somelhing In the way Of
elementary books, which would essentially contrib
ute To the uniformity and efficiency of general educa-
uoo' think n viii be acknowledged by all who
know anything of the subject, that such books for
primary schools are at this momea great desidera-
tun. know Of no means by which greater benefit
could DO conferred upon the people al large than by
the ludlcious preparations and cheap supply Of such
books. They would be equivalent to great plan Of
education, enansting from the highest and best au.
thority, causing the light Of all modern science and
modern Improvement TO converge into every country
schooLhousc in the land N.|..
There are other features In this bill, Mr. Chair
man, upon which d would be interesting to COM
ment, If the hour alotisd by the rules Of the HOUSE
would permit The lectures by able men OF science
The cheap and useful publications and the ilyesiisa
ions which the managers have power 10 direct
may be made, by judicioos direction, to contribute
TO the most useful and important ends. But these
intelligent man. s...r
approve heartily the provision which forbds thu
establishment of any school of law, or medicine or
divinity, or any professorshp Of ancient languages
| The scope Of my remarks throughout has been in
accordance with this view, and | hope will fully
Jusniy the position. The humber Of persons who
could be educated by all the funds Of this institution
must OF necessity be very limited; and unless thew
be instructed with view To communicate the light
and difuse the knowledge receiyed, the benefits Of
the establishment would not be general
The annual appropriation Of ten thousand dollars
for the gradual formation Of library might have
been limited TO smaller amount, with better re-
suit But the managers will doubtless act with wis
| dom and discretion.
BY proper management this institution may
doubtless he made the instrument OF immense good
to the whole country. To the government il will
be OF no slight advantage. Il will be great nslitu-
non II may attain character high as that Of
the French Academy; and its authority viii then
be decisive in reference to numerous questions Of
scientific nature, coptinuslly presented TO the COM
mites Of Congress and the departments OF govern
| ment, for determination and consequent action.
Such an institution is greatly needed in the federal
city IL is Fortunate not less for the public service
than for the advantage of the individual citizen that
the opportunity is now afforded to accomplish so
important an object cannot doubt that the oppor-
tunity will be seized with slacrity, and improved
wnh something Of that spirit of ibersy and ntelli-
gence which think is embodied in the bill now be-
fore the committee. " ...