The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-08-25
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE

OPkNING OF ihh othOoLSs-iu SUMMER
vacation is over, and the teachers and schol-
airs reunited to-day. There has been in this
city. as indeed generally throughout the
whole country, a great Improvement in the
schools, within a few years; and now with
those established by our corporation the
means OF education are within the reach of
all, the poorest as well as the richest. And
it is gratifying to know that the number who
attended the schools, last year, greatly ex-
ceeded those Of any prior year, aud one Of
the teachers informs us that the number In
attendance to-day bid fair to make the re.
port of the coming year exceed all proceed
ing ones. shGt
II is certain, from these facts, and we sup.
pose they WILDE found to exist generally
throughout the country, that the generation
who are now growing up to take the place
o that which will soon pass away, will be
better educated than their fathers; and as
every year the means Of education are en-
larged and the number oil scholars increased,
the day will soon arrive when every child
in the Union will be taught, at least, to read
and write!
And that every child in this country
should be taught to read and write, those
who, either as parents or guardians, have
the charge of them, should feel it to be an
Imperative duty to see to-. Tn this civ the
means of education are placed within the
reach OF every one, the public schools are D.
pen TO all, and there Is no excuse for the pa.
rent or guardian who allows the child con.
fded to his care to grow up in ignorauce.-
And yet there are persons who take no heed
Of the education of their children; who al
low them TO wander about the streets in idle
ness and vice. That sach children will be-
come vicious members of society-that they
will be a Disgrace to themselves and a plague
to those who reared them-that they will in
time be found in our jaiIs and penitentiaries
who can doubt!
And who is to blame for thisl Shall the
child be expected to diSappoint the destiny
which the parent has marked out for il! And
shall the parent complain-the child having
fulfilled IT'S de%stiny-that sorrpw has been
brought upon the home and disgrace upon
the name. The responsibility Of these rest
upon those who could, whilst yet its wears
are few and its mind susceptiblc-who could
have bent the twig ere it grew to be u tree
who could have pointed out and led the
way to knowledge and virtue, but failed OF
their duty to the child in lllhese things
the responsibility OF all the evils that follow.
ed this neglect, il upon those who thus
failed Of their duty.
IL must be a great curse, "sharpcr than a
serpent's tooth, to have a thankless child"
but then how much keener is the pang, to
know that you nursed the vice in the child
which the man has developed! Il can do
nothing for itself. 1t is in the hands of those
who are to rear 1t. If they but do their H.
tyrit will grow up with knowledge aad vir.
tue increasing with its years. I'm the gang
OF little Migrants WHO may now be seen, ev-
cry day, struggling about the streets, chill
drcninyears but already men in vice, who
can say that there may not be among them,
all tho elements Of greatness and goodness.
Who can say that, if properly cared for, if
allowed the opportunity of improving their
minds and developing their talents, they
may not outstrip in the race OF improvement,
those whom fortune has seemingly more ia
voredl Give tbom. but the chance. The
Public Schools are open to them. II is but
Tor the parent to say the word mud they will
be tnnght. N It to give them this chance is to
rob tue child Of its rights, aud at once place
the parent in the category of criminals
What parent will so rob its child!
We have teachers fully competent, and
willing to make every effort to secure to the
ebildrnofour city a good education; but to
do so II is necessary that they should have
the CO cooperation Of parents. Shall they have
III