The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-10-11


perhaps not very distant day. Impressed
with this belief, they have though. it not i'm
proper to offer few remarks to accompany
their report Of bill for the establishment
and maintenance of common schools, trust
ing that their views, and few preliminary
suggestions, may so far meet and obtain
your appreciation, as to become at some 9TH
er period, in part, basis for future legisla.
ton on this all important subject.
The appointment of a committee on
schools, in each branch Of tue legislature OF
this territory, is recognition of the princi-
pie that the general diffusion of education,
intellectual and moral, is essential to our
present happy form of government, and that
virtue aud Intelligence are the only pillars
on which republican governments can safe
iy rest; aid every attempt to build up free
institutions without these, must ultimately
tail. The puresr form Of democracy would
but prove the greatest curse, where the
minds and the hearts of the citizens are. I'M
prepared for the proper understanding aud
exercise Of their rights and high privileges
The more intelligent the community, the
more expanded will be the views which il
will take of its true interests, and the less
impeachment will The friends of judicious i'm
provement find to the accomplishment Of
their plans. But if their plans could he ex.
tended to imagination's utmost stretch, and
completely executed, the strength and true
glory of the commonwealth must rest at las
on the intelligence and virtue of its citizens
The diffusion Of knowledge, is clearly ant
Justly one of those great purposes fol
which all should be taxed for the common
good.
fit is the right, and the duty of a govern
ment 70 take a portion of our property Il
secure the rest. Surely, il cannot be denieC
that it has equal authority, and that it il
equally wise and polite, to appropriate I
portion of it also for the purpose of cult
waiting those noble faculties which distin
guish man, and which, if properly improy
ed, and carried onward from one generation
to another, will create security Of proper
ty and national prosperity and strength
enduring and progressive.
Not only those who have children to edu
cate, but all classes and conditions SHOULD
be made to sustain a system, which, if judi
ciously supported, would tend to the rapid
spread of knowledge among the various ra
ces Of men, in this territory, and prove su
perior to all other means for the preserva
ton Of life or property, and the future
peace and prosperity Of the community
Where all should be made to bear a part Of
the burthen, they, of course, should be adj.
United to an equal participation Of the ben.
efits, and all invidious distinctions be a
once, and forever abolished.
The three great departments of educa-
ton, are physical, intellectual and moral
All men cannot become eminent for scientif
ic or literary attainments; but all intelli-
gent beings may be made morally good, and
thus the I'M mo, a, nina ne prepared to take
its rank rank sssa.sos4s intelecs-not only Of
;nis transitory existence-but of the whole
universe. Man should be educated for eter-
nifty, and fitted to take his place among those
whose employment it will doubtless be to
diffuse happiness throughout that sphere, in
which their Creator destined them to move.
No system of education, then, can he COM
plete or desirable, which does not view man
in this light.
Morality and religion should be regarded
as the most essential elements Of education,
and should hold their due prominence in ev-
cry institution Of learning. The sublime
truths and precepts of Christianity should
be impresslvely urged, and clearly explain
ed, as presented in the Bible, and as taught
and illustrated by its Divine Author; and
(bigotry, fannticism, and narrow-,ninded
sectarian prejudice, alike, be forever exclu-
ded from every temple of knowledge and
consigned to that dark oblivion, to which
the progress Of light and knowledge are
Fastening them.
| The examination Of teachers, by compe-
tent and select persons, is a matter Of the
greatest Importance to the success of any
scheme Of education.
Every where a certifcate---or some other
proofs required of him who designs to
practice law, or who sets up as physician.
If therefore, we endeavor to project the
public health and property from quacks of
every description, are we not also hound to
protect the minds aud morals of children
from the incalcuIable injuries that may be
inflicted by quack teachers' and the public
who are to support the teachers of youth,
have perfect and just right to ascertain
their moral and intellectual competence to
the performance of their duties Public
patronage might and always ought to be,
withheld from the incompetent or unworthy.
In few things, perhaps, are inexperienced
and some times intelligent men--so liable to
deception by the artful and plausible, as in
teaching, and the communi,y--or proper