Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-10-19
WHAT is EDUCATION?

This may seem very simple question,
and very easily answered.; but many who
think SO, would really be very much at a
loss to answer it correctly. Every man, in
free country. wants three sorts of education ::
one, to fit him for his own particular trade
or calling,-this is professional education;-
another, To teach him his duties as a man
and cilizen,-,his is moral and political
education ;-and third, to fit him for his
higher relations, as Gods creature, designed
for immortality,-this is religious education.
Now, in point of fact, that is most useful TO
man which tends most TO his happiness :;
thing so plain, that it seems foolish to state
it. Yet people constantly take the word
''useful" in another sense, and mean by it,,
not what tends most TO mans happiness,
hut what tends most to get money for him !;
and therefore they call professional educa-
ton very useful thing but the time which
is spent in general education, whether mo-
raj or religious, they are apt 10 grudge as
thrown away, especially if it interleres with
the other education, to which they conine
the name of "useful;" that is, the education
which enables man to gain his livelihood
Yet we might ell be excellent in our seve-
raj trades and professions, and still be very
ignorant, very miserable, and very wicked.
We might do pretty we'll just while we were
at work on our business but no man is at
work always. There is time which we
spend with our families time which we
spend with our friends and neighbours, and
a very important time which we spend with
ourselves. If we know not how 10 pass
these times we'll, we are very contemplate
and worthless men, though we may be very
excellent lawyers, surgeons, chemists, engi-
neers, mechanics, labourers, or whatever else
may be our particular employment. Now,
what enables us to pass these times well,
and our times of business also, is not our
professional education, but our general one
1t is the education which all need equally
namely, that which teaches man, in the
first place, his duty to God and his neigh
bour; which trains him to good principles
and good temper; to think of others, and
not only of himself. 1t is that education
(Which teaches him, in the next place, his
,duies as ci,zen-,o obey the laws al
ways, but to try 10 get them made as per-
aect as pOsStote, 10 UNDERSTAND lnal goo0
and just government cannot consult the in
,eresls of one particular class or calling, in
preference TO another, but must see what is
for the good of the whole; tina. every in
aeres,, and every order ofmen, must give and
take; and that if each were to insist upon
having everything its own way, there would
be nothing but the widest confusion, or the
merest tyranny. And because great part
of all that goes wrong in public or private
life arises from ignorance and bad reason
ing, all that teaches US, in the third place, to
reason justly. and puts us on our guard
against the common trick of unfair writer's
and takers, or the confusions of such as are
puzzle-headed, is most valuable part OF
a mans education, and one of which he will
find the benefit whenever he has occasion
10 open his mouth to speak, or his ears to