The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-03-04
For Tile Cecil Uhig.
COMMON SCHOOLS. No. II.
Ito be Contin,,ed.)

OOLAASOLH CSA1SSAO' lvU. LIZ
Whenever a general persuasion shall
be entertained amongst us that the pres
ent condition of Education in the Coun-
ty is bad, there will be good reason to
hope for speedy amendment, for in
Politics as in Morals the first step to-
wards improvement is to become sensi-
bic Of our imperlcctlons; and it may be
encouraging to us to remember that the
schools of Prussia, now Conicssedly the
best in the world, were, less than CEN
fury ago, as bad as ours. For it is a no.
torious fact, that Frederic the Great, al
ter his Silesian war, to provide for his
superannuated grenadiers drafted them
to teach, or, shall we rather say, to COM
ma,,d in his schools, since it is expressly
recorded that many of them weremore il
literate than the children over whom
they presided. There should be no need
less delay in making the requisite change
yet the construction Of a System of Ed
ucation for State is far too important
measure to be suffered to come forth
shapeless lump to be afterwards licked
into shape. Before we interfere with
the existing arrangements, let a thorough
investigation be made ofthe working Of
the various plans adopted in other States,
and let all the master minds of our own
State be invited to give their friendly
aid, SO that, after due deliberation, sys-
TEN may be devised, worthy OF Maryland
and suited to our peculiar institutions
and circumstances: so we may hope to
be spared the ridiculous tinkerng that
has characterized the educational legis-
lation for some neighbouring counties;
for, be it observed, it is not legislation
that has been wanted. Act after act has
been passed, from what is called the
Cumberland Turnpike act to the present
time, we are bound TO suppose with good
intentions, whatever idea we may en-
terrain of the wisdom Of some Of the en-
actments. The law Of 1916 for exam
pie emphatically declares IN its preamble
the great importance of sound education
to the welfare OF the community, and
then proceeds to authorize the Treasurer
of the School Fund flor whom suisse
quent act substitutes the Orphans CourD
to disburse the magnificent amount Of
Miry-sir dollars for the education of des-
titute child, in annual instalments not to
exceed twelve dollars each Well has
Holy Writ declared 'sThere is that with
holdpth more than is meet but it tendeth
to poverty" Reflect what 1t costs to
prosecute rogue for petty larceny: to
send houscbreaker to the Penitentiary,
or murderer to the gallows, and con-
slider with yourselves whether it mi ght
not be true economy to educate the child
rather than to prosecute the aged telon,
to build school-houscs rather than prs-
ons, to pay teachers rather than wardens
and goalers.
a It's not, tobe sure, anticipatedby the
most sanguine of the Friends Of Education,
that education will at once Danish crime
from the community, but it is antlclpa-
ted, and experience warrants the eXpec-
tation, that it will greatly lessen the
number of crimes and mitigate the afro
city of those that may still be commit
ted. You will find by referring to the
last Report Of the Maryland Penitcntia-
ry, that by far the largest portion of Its
unfortunate inmates can nelthcrread nor
write; that very large number read and
write imperlectly; that but thirty-thrce
have received good English education,
and only two classical education. And
such is the uniform condition of goals
and penitentiaries as we'll in Europe as
America. The only objection | hear
urged against the proposed change is its
increased expense: and undoubtedly it
will be somewhat more expensive than
what it is to supersede, as good article
of any kind is expected to cost more than
an inferior one. 1t is, however, set
tied maxim of domestic economy that
the best is often really the cheapest in
The end. And if man could learn wis
DON from the errors of the past, and
spend in the arts 0! peace the millions