Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-08
News. Politics, Sc.
FROM THE RICHMOND EseuIRER.
PARENTS AND EDUCATION.

IRON THE RICHMOND EkSllHEh.
PARENTS AND EDUCATION.
Now that public sentiment in Virginia has
been somewhat aroused OF late, by the recent
patriotic exertions of many very good and wise
men, in different sections of our beloved State.
| have thought it wouldn not be amiss to call the
attention OF Parents more particularly tothesub-
iect of Female Education. So far as /, relates
TO the education of the fair daughters of Virgin
ia, parents are now, and have heretofore been,
almost crlminally careless and Indifferent |
would not be understood to intimate that they
have been neglecful in securing to their daugh-
tiers the first rudiments OF education; but that
they do generally educate them as If the mind
of the better and loveler portion OF our race
was incapable of high state OF polish, none
can deny. What is yet, perhaps, more cry
ing evil, is the fact that they, when an oppor-
tunity presents itself for finished education,
are induced to believe, that however straight
ened the pecuniary circumstances OF those
who have given their being, and to whom
they look for support, yet their learning and
requirements will never be called into requlsl-
ton, because, forsooth, after the routine OF
schoolroom duties shall have been discharged,
no demand for the fruits of their labor and ap-
plication will be made.
Should this be so! Are you dischargng
the duties of good citizens or kind parents
Are you not holding out false colors to those
for whom it is your duty, and no doubt your
wish, 10 provide, instruct and counsel /
would say to you, discard your apathy aban-
don your false notions and false pride. Let
the Young women of Virginia know and feel
that they are no longer 10 lead llstess and
inactive life but that they are hereafter expec-
ted to aid and assist their respective families,
so far as their constitutions and the convention
alities of society warrant. Then, indeed,
would new era dawn upon the society and
domestic happiness of our State-brlngng
along in il. train well educated sons, happy
matrons, industrious and sober husbands.
Look around you, We parents, and reflect
what numbers Of young women there are lea
ding lives OF incidence, all, too, from sheer
wan, of employment. Their education beng
such, God save the mark If education you
can call il, as to teach them that II is dlshonor-
able TO be employed. There are indeed, bot
few whose condition in life Is such as TO Justl-
fy them in retaining from all kinds OF labor ;
yetit is rare in Eastern Virginia TO find young
lady in employment; but too many, lear,
for the want of some profitable calling in life,
are disturbed with thoughts
"Tba, wiring their souls the live long nights and
day."
II matters not if parents are wealthy. yet |
do insist that you should so instruct your
daughters, so educate them, that they may
hold themselves in readiness for the casualties
of life, aud the vicisitudes and waywardness
of fortune.
Ask yourselves which is the most indepen-
dent, the Young lady who is making her two
or three hundred dollars per year, and whose
parents are in the most Strengthened relations
of life, or the young lady who may be worth
some two or three thousand dollars, leading a
life of so called pleasure2
Then educate your daughters-emphatcaiy
educate them--educate them TO take care OF
themselves, and take charge Of your schools.
Let us cease TO make requisIiion on the North
for our female teachers. Drive away from
them the false notions that too many have
relative to dress. IL is a truth, as sad as 1t IS
true. ,ha, the Young ladies Of our State are but
TOO prone 10 hasten through the period OF life
allotted for education and the requirement oil
learning, in order to enter upon the ln'oxica-
inc round of fashionable society. =.
Fathers and mothers 0. Vlrglnial this should
not be SO. Upon you the responsibility rests.
If The future mothers of old Virginia are
brought up in idleness, forgetful OF economy,
what shall wa expect Of those who are to be
the nsa Of another ssserst,on -