The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-27

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Csmmsn sehesls.-Ne. 8.
As there are always obstacles in the way TO
prevent the efficiency Of any new system, so
there will be to that Of the Common School
Not that the majority Of the people will oppose
the establishment of a respectable fund for the
State generally, and the requirement Of a GER
tain tar in each county which shall be mini
mum; but this will doubtless be barely suhi-
cient to sustain the system In nominal exist
| ence, while IL will depend on the interest taken
by the majority in each couiay, whether they
will raise sum sufficient to carry IL to high
state of perfection. BY referring to the report
of the Board of Education for Massachusetts,,
il will be seen that some towns raise but little
over two dollars per scholar, while others raise
about eight, and yet all raise more than the law
requires.
! But it Is not sufficient that the money be
raised, and the teacher employed; the Common
School is one of those democratic institutions,
which requires the countenance and hearty
support of the whole community to make it
really efficient. II is said that some sinner de-
are disposed to taunt and deride the Common
School, will destroy much Of the good which it
would accomplish. II the influential part Of
the community, who are amply able to do so,
still continue to patronise private schools, and
to look down upon the others, as merely estab-
lished for the "common herd''-as some who
profess to be republicans have the hardihood to
| char acterise those who gain livelihood by
honest labor; If such influences are supposed TO
operate to any great extent, the people will lose
the educational spirit, and the school become a
by-word anda reproach. In fact believe there
needs much more Of the real educational spirit
10 be infused into the minds Of all classes, be-
fore the best devised system can become really
efficient.
And here suffer me to indulge a little in
theory, which shall have its application in
future legislation. To sntitle our schools to the
confidence Of the public, we must have good
teachers, and to make the labors Of good teachers
useful, the confidence anG interest of the public
must be enlisted with them. believe the same
course Of policy may be made to secure both the
one and the other. Kentucky, in organising
her system, has the experience of many States
to guide her; let her select the best parts from
all their systems. Normal schools, supported
by the State for the education Of teachers, have
more than answered the expectations of their
most sanguine advocates. Let Kentucky estab-
ish one which shall be the pride Of her citizens,
and an honor to her name; which shall give to
those of her own citizens, or Of other States,
who wish to teach within her borders, the means
Of becoming thoroughly qualified at small ex-
pense to themselves. Teachers Institutes, held
In different parts Of the State, where all the
teachers shall be, for the term Of ten DAYS or
more under the instruction of practical teachers
of great celebrity, and where the best talent of
the country shall be assembled to enlighten and
encourage both teachers and people on the sub
ject of education. have proved abundantly sue
cessful where they have been tried.
These means, together with county superin-
tsndents, State board. and perhaps auxiliary
boards In the congressional districts, receiving
their appointments from the people, but adding
to their efficiency by union in central eduea-
tiOnsl power, with an able secretary at their
head, would soon have the effect, not only to
give Kentucky a Common School system of
which she might well be proud, but, what Il.
still more, to make all her people proud of it.
Another obstacle in the way Of rendering our
Common Schools efficient, I approach with
some 6elicacy; but believing as do that it is
one Of the greatest obstacles. IcannOt. as lover
Of the human race, and particularly of the
rising generation in Kentucky, leave IL unno-
ticed; an obstacle which. wherever il has exist
cd to any great extent, has prevented the diffa-
sion Of knowledge. ! mean the institution Of
slavery. II is somewhat significant fact that,
while every one of the free States of our Union
has a system Of free Common Schools more or
less efficient. no one Of the slavehOlcing States
has such ssystem in general operation. / do
not say that such system cannot be maintain
ed without emancipation; but the fact that il
has not been done In any Of the slaveholdiue
States, il sufficient evidence that slavery pre-
SCENTS great obstacle. Besides, glance at the
state of society will explain il. Where the
land Is owned in large plantations, and cult
waited by slaves, the residences Of free inhabi-
tants are frequently too much scattered to make
such schools practicable. Again, the tendency
to wide distinctions in society between those
who labor and those who do not, tends verx
much to prevent both classes from taking an
interest in the same means Of education; and
moreover. If the well educated. energetic, and
laborious teacher receives less respect in the
community than the hOllow-patsd dandy in
finer cloth. young men of spirit will not enter
upon the profession. furthermore, IT is found
by experiences, that those youths who are en-
ployed In some kind of labor during the inter-
walls Of their attendance upon school, will make
much greater advancement. and take much
greater interest in their studies, than those who
have nough, but play to engage in; and that
frequently those who attend school half the wear
aud labor the other half. really make mole ad.
vancement than those who attend constantly:
and that to look forward to life Of business
stimulates the mind, while 10 look forward 10 a
life Of pleasure enervates il. Common Schools
find their elements of prosperity where all ara
pressing ON tn business enterprise and improve
ment. and where each is 50 intent on accom-
plishing his object, that he heeds not the labor
IL may cost him, nor the social standing of those
with whom be may pursue his calling. Such a
state Of things does not now exist in Kentucky.
AZ comparison Of her prosperity with that of
her border States across the Ohio will sbow-
IL never will exist no Ion0 "A al a h,. a.. ..l