Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-09-27
'. For the Portage Sentinel.
To the Friends of Educaffon.


Fsl'oso Cstssens:-Perhaps vou ma
hare seen a call in our county papers 70
the friends Of education to meet at the Cour
i house in Ravsnna. on Monday the End O
Cct. next understand this call to be gen
eksL Parents, guardians, school directors
teachers, indeed all persons of all proles
siens, both gentlemen and ladies, are cor
daily invited to attend, that some plan ma J
be devised to elevate our common schools
Teacher come up and give your experience
in teaching that all may be benefited there.
by, or listen to able and experienced teach.
ers concerning the easiest and best modes Of
communicating science to children, hear a
full and complete set Of explanations in all
the branches required in your teaching.
Come one, come all, do not fail.
Parents may we hear from you relative
to the difficulties you encounter in educat-
ing your offspring-either in science or
morals as you desire in your own district
house, erected by your own hands and sup
ported by your moneys.
School Directors, no small responsibility
rests upon your shoulders. 1t is for you to
decide in the selection If Teacher, whether
you are to have school in your district
during the following winter, or whether you
shall have quarrels, and dissensions in your
neighborhood in its place. Come to Ra-
VIENNA then and see what can be found in
Portage county calling themselves teachers,
and make your selection there after seeing
the talent of your professionals tried. Ii
you have already hired teacher, come
with him to the convention and see if he
has not hid his talent in the earth where his
Lord will never obtain it, nor your children
receive the use.
Ministers Ct the Gospel, is it possible that
you have not seen the immortality growing
up in our schools! Have you not visited
these, our nurseries of learning and heard
the vile oath, or seen the obscene engraving
upon the wall or desk? Ii you have not,
have you done your duty? Ii you have,
what excuse may be offered for you? Come
then of all denominations and assist in this
great work. Ii there be those who think
taat our present system of schools are work
ing well, the question may be asked do you
not think they may be bettered?
There is one thing to which l must call
your attention. Why are not the sons of
the wealthy found at home mingIing with
the poor in our common schools! What
sends them to the academies, or places them
at our boarding schools? Is it pride on the
part of the parent, Or a love Of novelty in
the offspring? Would to God that it were
No. A deep affection on the part OF the
parent to the child tells him to place these
whom he holds most dear, beyond the vices
and corruption at home.
This growing feeling must be crushed, or
soon the last xestage OF our best, but most
abused institution, will be destroyed. The
love OF enjo ing Al equality with all, resting
Ia the mind Of the poor young man or Wo-
man, restrains them from attending the COM
mon school, and their situation in life will !
not permit them to attend the Seminary.
Thus, indirectly, Ignorance is fostered in
Our midst, and GU Common school is brought
into disrepute. There is one mode to reme-
dy this evil, viz: To elevate the standard
oi teaching and suppress those vicious hab-
its found IA our schools. If this be not done
Ind that speedily too the moneys paid by
the state uader the present arraage cement will
hscome nuisance to society. This may
be matter OF discussion before the inst
tute. Please come one ard all and give
your opinions.
Parent, have you the books necessary for
your children the ensuing winter! How
are YOU assured of that fact' Perhaps the
wisdom of your teacher may come up in
opposition to your own, ard then who must
Weld? / understand that the merit and de-
merit If authors is to be matter of discus
sion at the convention, so please come and
plead for your favorite works.
do not wish it understood taat | am
filing a crusade against teachers, by no
means, While it is my opinion that teachers
fall far short of their duty, it is also my
opinion, that parents have work that must
be performed before the wished for object
will be acquired. This is matter of much
importance and will come before the asso-
citation.
Our buildings called school houses, but
more properly pig sites, throughout the
country entirely forbidding in their appear
anee without, and nousht but mass of
tlth within, speak in terms too strong to be |
mistaken the spirit that is felt relative to ed
ucation in the county.
/ have already enumered difficulties
enough that lie in the way of our
schools, although many more exist. VIII
one, and all, who feel an interest in this
matter attend. Come the first day SO that
you may.have the advantages OF the intro
duction. To Teachers it is highly import
ant to receive the first lessons in the course. |
..si. AN OBSERVER OF INSTITUTES.
For the Portage Sentinel.
,.,s Teachers Institute.
A Teachers Institute will commence In |