Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-23
COMMON SCHOOLS,

of North Carolina was first adopted, we all
began TO congratulate ourselves on a bargain
which had not been made to wit, that the
State or the law was TO take off our hands
all the trouble of educating our children.
1t was considered that moody now had
any thing 70 do in the premises machine
had been invented and started that would
catch up all the ignorance and manufacture
it into intelligence, would run Of its own ae-
cord, keep itself regulated, mend itself, bring
the raw article TO its doors, put it in the
mills by lis own inherent power, and regu-
late It's motions and its arrangements by its
own ,olition. Wonderful machine! Such
an engine never had been seenVoeessa, ner-
will such a perpetual motion, instinct with
reason. memory and a wise forecast, ever be
invented by man. All his inventions need
his nursing care to make them useful and
Of all others this is most needed by system
designed to enghten, to mora'ize, and to
tit for the trusts and responsibilities Of men
and women the rising generation OF great
Republic
For one would not voluntarily live un-
der any government that would take off my
hands the care Of educating my children; Of
the cost, SO far as money is to be paid,
would willingly be relieved, but Of the cost
Of care and oversight never, never would
consent to be discharged.
A government having such power would
be an intolerable despotism.
Your exccllency having much experience
of human nature, will doubtless agree with
me in one conclusion, namely, that it is
SANDER on our race to say that the love of
money is the ruling passion. Counting by
heads, few, very few of the human family
sell themselves to the sordid passion of gain
merel for the sake Of gain; the great ma
Jority are seeking ease. pleasure, to get rid
OF that doom pronounced on Adam and ev-
cry son Of his to make their bread by the
sweat of their brow. To be able to get re-
lieved in some way. is the great aim of
vast majority of mankind and in aiming at
this goal, or rather at the goal of happiness,
they forget what really constitutes the pleas
ures of immortal being.
God made lator onr duty, and as he is all
hene6cence he made our duty our happiness.
Every trouble he imposes on us is really
blessing: and if our children, like brutes,
could take care of themselves as soon as
born, there would be no such thing as family
ties, flal reverence, fraternal affection or
coniugal love and fidelity.
Nevertheless. without reasoning on this
subject we were disposed to rejoice at the
mistaken idea that the State had taken from
and acting on tins tsse9aaf eh;bi-en9t
indisposed to do any thing to promote the
success of the schools, and deemed it great
hardship to be called on to act as Committee
men. When specially required to perform
) any duty we murmured, exclaming in bitter
disappointment, l thought the State had
taken this trouble off my hands-it's an out
rage to have to be troubled in this way, when
others are as much interested as I am !"
Yes, it was an outrage to have to look af-
ter the education of our own chiIdren-to
+ have to be troubled with the regulating oi
d schools the repair Of schooI-houses. the Sc
lection Of good teachers, the settling Of dis
i putes, and the oversight of the schools where
{ our own precious offspring were being trained
: ard prepared for honor or nfamy 1t wa;
{ nobody 's@usiness, it was the State lookout
: and if it could not regulate these schools i
u ought to abandon them.
e Such was the universal feeling, and th'
" State not being able to keep watch at every
II school house without having the must abso
- lutte power, and revenue to spend in thi
- object, of ten millions year, the school
III were left to chance.
u TO do what we unthoughtedly locke,
;" for-to watch vigllantly at the door Of ever
i school house, see specially to its management
n y, without the aid Of the parents themselves
III would cost more than the whole amour
y paid to teachers. But is this the languag
e- N becoming freenen2 I write with plainne:
nc I want people to consider. What is til
on u. fundamental princip of our government
S1' That all power is vested in and derived frol
H. the people-that the People are the Gove'r
"' naent
nJ Offices are created that their incumben
i, may discharge certain duties which the pc
~, pie can delegate with convenience and safet
ho You, Sir, perform certain Executive dutie
No inconvenient to be performed BY all the pc
~ pie, ard that can be safely entrusted to "
md for limited period. act in like manner
mo so act the Chairmen Of the County BoarC
md &C., &c. But can you enforce the law wit
en, ont the help of the people? Can you sci
2 agents all over the State, spies into eve
mas neighborhood to take up criminals for tria
ON The people, through their grand .juries, p
Iy- sent them, the people set as jurors to t
pm. them, the people must through the law, a
on1 by the aid of law officers, all established
md themselves, regulate their own affairs.
So with the schools-the State can res
,,b- late the general system. afford informant
bar and statistics, pass laws and establish offic
Mi to execute them, &C., &c, but still the D
foo pie must everywhere assist, must assu
do. trouble, and must bring to bear, on the c
less GERS Vi eacn So.ioo' nouSe' ahi ac'l'e' WIG
ore some public opinion.
in This cry about trouble is unworthy Of
do as American citizens, unworthy Of us as m
Sino unworthy of US as immortal and accounta
nth, beings.
utes We had our choice when erecting fc
rites of government; Europe Sdor4ed vari
Sses- models, most of which relieved the pee
the of all public cares We chose new kinc
heir one, involving perpetual series of trou'
can to each citizen.
Ives. Every four years we choose to be trout
e or with the election of our highest magistr
that President of the whole country, and m
the time and anxiety does it cost US to find
and get the right man; every six years