The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1847-08-21
For The Cecil Wing.
Remarks on EduCation-N0. II.

to the superior system of education in
Prussia; and animadverted upon the inn
projections and deficiencies of our own.
In Prussia, the Go vernment is paternal,
assumes and exercises all the functions of
father in the education of its citizens.
There, every child, no matter how lowly
and humble his condition, receives good
practical education. If the father is too
poor to educate his own child, the Gov
eminent takes him and educates him at
its own expense. If the father is able,
but unwilling to educate him, the Gov
eminent takes and educates him at the
fathers expense, which it compels the
father to pay
As return for this boon, after COM
pletlng his education he is compelled to
enter the Army at IS and remain until he
is 81 years of age. During this time he
acquires sufficient military knowledge to
enable him to enter the ranks and defend
his country when it may be necessary for
him to do so. This is far better than our
militia system, which, in most of the
states, has degenerated into military
farce. If in the meantime while at
school he manifests great and superior
natural cndowments, the Government
permits him to remain until he has &C
CURED a complete Classical and Mathe-
NAUTICAL education. This comprehensive
paternal and liberal system Of education,
system which not only surpasses all
others, and challenges the admiration of
the civilized world, was originated and
consummated by Frederick the Great,
the most enlightened and illustrious Mon
arch of the 18th century, the impress of
whose great mind and brilliant genius it
so distinctly bears. This philanthropic
and enlightened system of education,
which penetrates alike the humble cot
tage and the gorgeous palace, has made
Prussia, which was formerly weak and
inconsiderable province, one of the most
powerful, prosperous, quiet and inhuen-
tial Kingdoms in Europe. There, we
hear of no civil connections and insur-
rections, no burning of churches, no DEM
clifton ofprivate dwellings by an infuri-
ated populace, no executions and trials
by jury ytuwards, with a bleeding Con-
stitution weeping over its sanctity,
Constitution, which guarantees to every
citizen fair trial before he is condemned
and which considers every man innocent
until he is proved TO be guilty. There
both life and property are rigidly pro-
tected. And whence thisample security
to life and propertya 1t is entirely ow-
ing to her comprehensive and liberal sys-
tenn of education which reaches every
hamlet in the kingdom, and which in
fuses into every citizen moral respect
for and obedience to the laws.
"Pour les enfans, Mentor disoit qu'ils
arpartiennent moins leurs parens qu'
a la republique; lis sonts les entans du
peuple, lis en- sont Temperance ct la force;
il NEST pas temps de les corriger quand
lis Sc sent corrumpus." Here it is truly
said, that the Republic has stronger claims
upon its children, than their Parents, 1t
then follows as an irresistible conclusion
that it is the sacred and imperative duty
of Republic, to see that all its children
have good practical and moral education
Is this the case in our own countryl A
country, which, in the organization and
administration of its Government, pro-
fesses to be the purest model of Republic
can Liberty. Truth answers, in tones
deeper and louder than the eohoing thun-
ders of our Niagara, No. Some of the
most eminent men of our own country
have been practical teachers, among them
EXPIRES. John Quincy Adams, the late
Hon. Samuel S. Southland of N. Jersey,
Ex-Governor Silas Wright of N. York,
Ex-Governor Cass of Michigan and Gov
ernor Skunk of Pennsylvania. But why
with the exception of the Hon. VIM. c.
Preston, now President ofthc Columbia
College, S. Carolina) have they all left
the profession of teaching with disgust,
Because they We're only haFpaid and
could make three times as much in other
professions. Still all admit, that the
duties of teaching ought only to be COM
mltted to the most competent and talen-
ted-As it requires talent to develop tall
ent, genius to develop genius, Many
persons send their children to teachers
incompetent, inexperienced, and possess
ing but limited education, because their
charges are low. Not rejecting that in so
doing, they not only throw away their
money but also the time of the child, and
and thereby sustain double loss. As a
child will learn more under competent
teacher in months than it will under
an incompetent one in 10 months. Here
are the tuition fees and months 11n-
lost, besides, he will ultimately be COM
PEELED to 60 to a competent teacher, to
unlearn, (Which is more difficult than to
learn) what he has improperly learned.
The whole system Of education in the u.
s. is entirely and radically wrong. We
have but one Institution in the u. S. ca
pable Of comforting good sound practi-