The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-12-19
Fer the Miners Express

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Public Schools are now so universally estab
lisEcd, so literally endowed, and so extensively
patronizcd throughout the State, that anything
said OF written in favor of these laudable institu
tons might be deemed unnecessary; more par
tcularly, as each school is placed under the fos
tcring of enlightened and judicious officers
who, no doubt, will discharge the important du
ties entrusted to them by the public, with honor
to themselves, and profit to the rising genera
tion;-gentlemcn, who will discountcnance vice
and immortality, and promote virtue and cduca
ton. But, admitting these schools are furnished
with all the necessary appendagcs peculiar to ;
well-regulated school-room; with desks, bench
cs, blacboards, maps, &c. &c, stove and fire
wood, and all other articles used in scminaries
is there not one important s'item" yet wanted
Yes; IN efficient Teacher A school-room SUD-
piled with all the essentials already mentioned
is like clock without pendulum, or an army
general; 1t requires man at the head to gov.
crn, who has judgment to keep the various parts
in motion. 1trequires teacher, who commands
the requisite qualifications of good school
master, viz: "Education, discipline, and Erpc
r1cncc" If these essential qualities are founG
united in the same person, the school will pros
per; knowledge will be diffuscd throughout the
district; the children will learn in youth what
will raise them to cminence in manhood, and
make them respectable in old age. Hence, the
necessity of procuring the services of learned
and talented gentleman. A teacher may be q
good scholar, and an Indifferent instructor: bu
an ignorant and stupid man can never be pooe
teacher. A man who devoted his youth to use
full studies, his manhood to acquiring perfect
knowledge of these studies, and his declining
years to the honorable, but Improbable occupa
ton of instruction, should be literally rewarded
his income should be commensurate with hi,
services. The third qualification is also ncccs
sary; education and experience, without discp
line, can never be efficacious
We hear, day after day, some men say, awe
don't want great scholar, who asks great wa
ges; we are poor; any one is good enough TO-
| children; we can get man for ten or lively.
dollars month to teach, many is the good MAJ
who works from light to dark for less than thu
schoolmastcr gets, and who learns children wei
enough. What does children want more tina,
to learn to read and write littlc'"
Such absurd and ridiculous remarks and 9th
or silly observations arc heard daily espresso,
by these modern "Goths' and esVandals," VIII
have no interest in the common wcal-who con
tribute little or nothing to the School Fund -
We also hear from time to time, such men ex
claim, elm as good as any man in the country,
and such other slang. How can the son be a.
"good man. if his education be neglected. I
youth is to be spent in ignorance, is manhoo,
loitercd in sloth and ignorance7 Will not hi
old age be dwindled into want, in misery, and il
universal contempt? The child, whose knowl
edge is confined to ga little reading and per
haps "writing his names" can never becom
eminent in either Church or State. lie may b
4 Fcpi. isth, isi9.