The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-12-19
ours,
For the Miners Express
Public Schools.


Public Schools are now so universally cstab-
lished, so literally endowed, and so extensively
patronizcd throughout the State, that anything
said Or written in favor of these laudable institu-
tons might be deemed unnecessary; more par
ticulary, as each school is placed under the fos-
tcrng care of ightencd 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;-gentemen, 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 a
well-regulated school-room; with desks, bench.
cs, blacboards, maps, &c. &c, stove and fire.
wood, and all other articles used in seminaries:
is there not one important 'item'' yet wanted?
Yes; an efficient Teacher. school-room sup
piled with all the essentials already mentioned,
is like clock without pendulum, or an army
a general; it requires man at the head to gov
crn, who has judgment to keep the various parts
in motion. 1t requires teacher, who commands
the requisite qualifications of good school
master, viz: "Educatiom, Discipline, and Ezpc-
racnce." If these essential qualities are found
united in the same person, the school will pros
per; knowledge will be diffused 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 a
good scholar, and an Indifferent instructor; but
an ignorant and stupid man can never be good
teacher. 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 his
services. The third qualification is also neccs-
sary; education and experience, without discip-
line, can never be efficacious.
We hear, day after day, some men say, awe
don't want a great scholar, who asks great wa
ges; we are poor; any one is good enough for
children; we can get man for ten or twelve
dollars month to teach, many is the good man
who works from light to dark for less than the
schoomastcr gets, and who learns children we'll
enough. What does children want more than
to learn to read and write littlcs"
Such absurd and ridiculous remarks, and 9TH
or silly observations are heard daily expressed
by these modern "Goths'' and "Vandals,' who
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, 'I'm as good as any man in the country,
and such other slang. How can the son be as
"good man, if his education be neglected? IF
youth is to be spent in ignorance, is manhood
loitercd in sloth and ignorance? Will not his
old age be dwindled into want, in misery, and in
universal contempt The child, whose knowl-
edge is confined to Ga little reading and per-
haps .writing his name" can never become
eminent in either Church Or State. He may be
nm bonost n,an I, snesi
4 ,hcrefore renouhcc All conncctlon with lay