Southern shield., 1850-05-04
FOR THE SOUTHERN SHIELD.
 UCATION,

Education, as a system, is too much neg
 ected in Arkansas. Almost every person
 will acknowledge its importance to us as a
 people, but as people, there is amongst us
 too great spirit of negligence and procras-
 tinaton. If we look around us we see
 hundreds of children and youth, who are
 soon 10 appear upon the stage of action
 grappling with the powers of error, and
 guiding the affairs of church and state over
 the huctuating waves of popular commo- ton. And yet we find that parents are al flowing them to slumber in ignorance, as il they were not possessed of that priceless |immaterial principle that must shine in the Armament of honor and distinction, or gro- vel among the worms, when their own lheads shall be buried beneath the grave
 yard turf.
 Some young men (of whom our State
 should be proud) have broken over the re-
 straint thrown around them by their birth,
 and rose upon the strength of their own
 genius, and at this moment seem destined to
 take an exalted position in protecting the Interests and controlling the destiny of our | Institutions.
 If we could bring around us the young of our community, and if we were capable ot determining with accuracy the strength |ot mind and genius of which they are possessed, we would not be long in coming
 to the conclusion that we have amongst us
 the elements of greatness and national pride. Give these tender plants the improvement of which their talents are susceptible, and as the present encumbents of life and honor lshall be "gathered with their fathers," a class of men will assume their places, who will develope the wealthy resources of ag- Iriculture and manufactures of our country, and make these western wilds bloom like the garden of God
 Would the community in Arkansas, see their State ard nation rise in the scale of moral worth! Would they see the moral face ot affairs changed to resemble heaven!
 Let them lay out their fortunes in the cul- tivation of mind. Let them teach their sons and daughters the secret power of perseverance. The parent must mark out the channel which the little fo untain must pursue until it becomes a mighty stream that shall rush forward in an impetuous torrent that empties into the ocean of eternity.
 1 do not wish to be understood to mean that parents should teach their charges what the world calls ''riSingF' 1 do not advo- cate the doctrine of manufacturing gentle
 men. We have too many of this class already. It is more desirable that they should remain like the pearl in its native rubbish, than receive little book learning, and but little other cultivation which moral, rational creature Is intended to receve,- and then be turned loose upon society to display their learning and brilliant parts, and impose the consequences upon the un- lenSpecting community. But mean that they should receive all education in which | the elements of science are blended with
 those of virtue and industry; so that when they arrive at the threshold of manhood they may say nothing about their degree"
 but ''liit the latch and force their way'' to
 meritOriOus distinction. The "real grit"
 may reside in the farmer or tailor, the black smith or mason, the "hewer of wood and drawer of water," or any other honest trade, with as much propriety as in the profes-
 sional man; and we seldom find worth or
 merit in the gentleman of leisure.
 There is a mighty defect in our manner
 of employing teachers. The usual plan is
 to give the work of instruction into the hands of whoever will take it on the lowest terms, and the result is we not unfrequentlv place a matter of the first importance in
 the care of most unworthy fellow, who has no more laudable object in view than
 the filling of his own purse with the means
 which should be paid to a man of qualifca- ton, moral and intellectual
 On some future occasion, if an opportu- Unity offers, may offer some other rehec-
 tions upon this subject cannot close the
 present however, without insisting that it lIs the duty of our citizens and lawmakers
 to take this subject into particular considera- ton. Upon the subject of education rests and depends more than any other subject upon which we legislate. pRoTEus. o0~oCNN~O~~o~~)~~~~~O0~~~~~~~O~o~