The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-02-27

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the world to christian piety. Our wise
lawgivers have done much TO dissent
nate the blessings Of education. The
trainers Of our Constitution have de.
clared in our "Bill of Rights" (Which is
the charter OF our liberty that "School'
and the means of instruction shall for
ever be encouraged by Legislative pro.
vision.p They believed this 10 be'es-
sential to religion and morality, and
that all these were necessary to good
government and the happiness ofman.
kind. Ip, the third section Of our o"Bill
of Rights you will find the following
forcible and appropriate language'-,
"But religion, morality and knowledge,
"being essentially necessary to good
government and the happiness ofman-
"kind, Schools and the means Of in
" struction shall forever he encouraged
"by legislative provision, not inconsist.
sent with the right Of conscience."-
Agreeably to this wise provision, our
Legislatures have made some excellent
regulations. We are provided with a
School fund, which, properly applied,
would 60 far, IN meeting the necessary
expenses Of instruction throughout the
State. The principal am cunt Of money
appropriated for School purposes is as
follows: The State Common School
fund amounts to $2Oo,459,o4; interest i.
and rents on Virginia Military School
fund, Sl1.707,3o; interest on the us.
Military School fund. $7,18l,7e; inter.
est on Conn. Western Reserve School
fund, 9,5l9,54; interest on section l6,
S59,799,9l. The total amount is two
hundred and eighty-eight thousand six
hundred and sixty dollars and fifty-fve
cents. OF this, Monroe county is en-
titled to S3,463,5s, beside other con-
tingent funds which come into the
School treasury. ~ ~. a"''s -
Thus we have thousands teemlng in
10 our treasury every year for the edu'
cation Of our youth. Never was mo-.
ney set apartto nobler use, and never
was money more listlessly squandered
to no purpose, as it is in too many
instances. But we think we begin to
see better day dawning for Monroe.
A respectable number of our teachers
recently assembled together and orga-
nized themselves into an Association TO
be called the "Monroe County Teach
er's Institute" The prominent object
Of these Institutes is TO prepare teach.
ers to discharge faithfully and success
fully their arduous and important duties,
The Institute will hold its first meeting
in WoodsGeld, commencing on the filst
Friday in April next, at which time
they hope all the teachers in the coun.'
ty will meet them. Wherever these.
Institutes have been established, and
sustained and encouraged by the .peo-s
pie, Common Schools have fousished,s
and every school secured a good teach.
er. They form themselves into a
school, and each teacher in turn be-.
comes a learner or preceptor, accord
ing to his inferiority or superiority in
mental requirements. After full and
Tree interchange of opinions on all sub
ects connected with their voca,ion,.
they hope to be able 10 establish among
themselves a uniform method OF teach.
ing and governing the Schools under
their care. Certainly the people are
interested in having able and efficient
teachers, and unanimty Of opinion a.
mongst them as to the best method OF
imparting instruction. We sntreat
your aid and cooperation. Without
it we can do nothing. With it We can
WELD powerful, and we think happy
influence upon the interesting youth in
,,r ,o,,,rj, !, tlCg5LE9-. s.GIfaytl 5nr VI
~. 0DN'... s,t yG E.,r.-o ss.ps
Ia conclusion, TO you, fathers, moth
ers, guardians, we address word, a.
word of entreaty, and earnestly beg
youoto give the subject your serious
attention, and lend your poWerfutnid
to tie efforts now being made. Think
less of that dollar, and more Of your