Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-10-22
Original.
COMMUNICATED.
HINTS on EDyCATI0N.--N0 /,

HAN / q "! EDeNAlIVN'-H ~
Mr. Editor-T herewith send you for
publication the first number of u series
of articles on Education, which have
been pcnncd, amid pressure OF other
duties, with the ardent wish that they
may awaken the attention of some small
portion Of your readers to the impor-
tauco Of greater efforts, to plant and
cultivate inlhe minds Of tho risinggen-
Grafton, those principles On which de-
pcnds tho future happiness and pros
pcrity Of our beloved country.
In the prosecution of any and every
business OF life, it is highly necessary
IL. Lavo some definite object in view,
aud especially is this the case in regard
to the work Of Education. We should
not only educate, but should also bo
able to give tho reason why, and to tell
what eSd we wisl, to accomplish by so
doing. 1t is almost universally admit
ted that chillron ought TO be taught
something, but it seems to inc, that, III
general, our views and aims are too
limited-tIlat VIC think too little Of the
FUTURE. lis known TO all close obscr-
yers Of tho history and progress of our
country, that there are many influences
now at work, especially in the cities,
which arc leudipg to tho overthrow Of
our present form Of government, and to
tie tostaDlislNment Of an aristocraey, Or.
.:something worse, upon tho ruins there
sof.ii4,fNow, since this is undoubtedly tho
case, case, ii becomesibe Inhabitants Of tho
country, the rustics as they arc called
byisoneof their city brethren,) J to wake
up p to their duty and their danger, aud
prepare themselves for tho defense of
.tle!rsrich.s, and for tho safe transmits
ion ion Of freedom aud freedoms blessings
to their posterity; and the question is,
how can this end be best attained! In
all ages Of the world tho Ignorance of
tho masses las been tho great obstacle
in tho way Of the advancement Of liber.
ty. lis nature is still unchanged, and
on the universal diffusion Of Intelligence
depends tho continuance of those po-
litical aud religious privileges which we
now enjoy. 1t is highly important that
parents should remember this, and,
whilo educating their children, bear in
mind tho duties they will have to per-
form, the Offices of trust which they may
have to Gil, and the difficulties they may
be called to meet. Especially should
lloticrs arouse themselves to the con.
sidcration Of this subject. None arc
too poor, or too secluded to raise up
patriotic statesmen, Some poor, nog-
iec,ed widow of our lells, who is now
straining every nerve in noble efforts TO
train her little boys to virtue, knowledge
and industry, may some day have the
happiness Of knowing that she was in
,strumcntal in saving our beloved land
from anarchy and blood. If wo do not
feel interested in this matter, lot US
turu our eyes to tho down.troddcn ma
tons of Europe, Asia and Africa; aud
recollcct thatsomo of these nations were
once free and p0wey@i,-that they once
attracted tho admiration of tho world
by their civilization, energy and patriot
ism. Aud why are they not still in the
enjoyment Of these blcssings? Ask
l,istorywhy. Ageneral answer will be,
that tho education of the common pco.
pic was ncglcctcd,-that designing pol
iticians used ignorance as stopping
stone to power.-tlat gaining this, vir-
tue aud patriotism withcrod bonealht the
breath of those, whose only object in
seeking elevation, was, to revol in lux
ury aud vice. In this manner were the
pillars Of liberty removed, and soon
tho noble structure, which had cost tho
blood and treasure Of thousands Of de-
sdtod patriots, was but mass Of mold
criug ruins. What lesson should this
teach us!
Again, tits not only necessary to cd
,,catc, but to educate dright, t,-here is
the point. Many Americans arc cduca-
ting. thcir sons and daughters in such
way, that, in IL future day, it may prove
to iayobpon better for our country had
,lcy never been educated at all. Let
wealthy fathers, who arc training up
their sous in idloncss, and teaching tllom
to consider wOrk disgracclul, think Of
this. Lot mothers, who teach their
daughters TO turn with scorniul airs
from farmers and mechanics, stop and
reflect on what they arc doing. But u
boyo all, lettIoso parcuts who are talk.
: ing Of sending their sous to England
Sand l,aucc, to bo educated amid the
sf,ria,or,,,icaI influences uG LvrdS and