The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-17
DEMOCRACY OF sCIENCE.-NO. 2s
BIT JOSIAH HOLBROOK.

Legislative provision through the States for
supplying the sehOols-ail the schools-of the
country with "CAgISErs OF AGRICULTURE
AND MEcHAyIsx,' would make large returns
for OUTLAWS. from each OF SIX different sources
FIRST. Increased 9,laI. feGtions of teachers
The elements OF these two great pursuits, prac-
ticaly exhibited and explained, would furnish
the keys OF snowletge 10 teachers, and could
not fail TO enrich their minds with new stores,
or to give them new skill in imparting those
stores TO their pupl.s. They would not, in
deed, furnish all the various qualifications to
he obtained at a normal school but they might
increase the qualifications of the whole body of
teachers in the land, giving them desire con
stanily 10 seek new treasures, and new skill in
transferring them to others.
SECOND. Collections by pupils--A school cab
met never fails to lead pupils to make collections
for themselves, both at their school rooms and
their homes. Thus, a hundred specimens are
soon increased to thousands, and single cab-
net, at the school house. is multiplied to equal
the number of families in the district, making
the additions many fold the value of the orgi
nal outlay.
THIRD. Development o. reso,rces.-Numer-
Gus districts OF country, for miles in extent.
nav "Ithut b'tu tApOitu thoroughly
minutely by schools located in them. Discoy-
cries of great variety and richness have thus
been made. The discovery of chrome ore, on
a geological excursion, has reduced the price
OF chrome yellow from fifteen dollar, to fifteen
cents pound, comforting benefit on every
member of society.
FOURTH. The advancement of agriculture and
The mechanic arts-What better mode to ad
vance any subject, than to render a knowledge
OF ITS principles familiar, practical, and uniyer-
sal? What better mode to render familiar the
knowledge OF any subject, than practical exhi-
bltons OF It's principles, properly explained and
applied A hundred minerals. properly ex-
planned IN their character, relations, and uses,
with process of Analysing them, showing
their connection with farming and mechanism,
and moderate collection of the elements and
combinations of forms, as exhibited in nature
and art, would throw flood Of light on all the
operations OF farmers and mechanics, aflording
a mighty grasp upon the whole circle of know
ledge.
FIFTH. Reciprocation. let the juvenile
energies OF the country be combined on a great
system of productive science, and reciprocation
Is inevitable; and who can calculate the power
or the mighty results of such combined efforts,
rendered still more powerful by each giving and
receiving strength from all the rest2
SIXTH. "A cheek upon Lu,rlessness. will any
one doubt that the juvenile energies of the coun-
try can be employed in exploring the resources
OF the country Has any one ever seen bow
who would not gladly engage in exploring the
surrounding country? While thus employed,
wlil they seek opportunities for lawess out.
breaks Within five years past, as many mil
Mons OF property have been destroyed by juve-
ME mcendlares greater portion of them, no
doubt, educated in the schools of our country.
II. while at school. their attention had been so
directed as TO show visible productive fruits of
their efforts, and thus se!frespect promoted.
could they have been induced to join party of
lncen'l'ar'es OF othcr-. Tor disgracng themselves
by outrages upon society? Surely, if schools
do not prevent their pupils from becoming
thieves, midnight assassins, and incendiaries,
they are not so good as they ought to be and
as surely not so good as they may be.