Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-11-05
American Common Schools.

tntiohs,r and they have lately attracted a
grenI deal Of attention in several foreign coun-
tries, particularly in Great Britain, where an
attempt has been made TO destroy the volue
of the American example, by alleging the ir 1
! liyious tendencies Of our systems of ins,ruc-
ton, A recent work on the subject, by Mr.
rremenheere, an Inspector Of the English
schools, has been much quoted and discussed.
That the staten enls Of that gentleman and
his party will not pass without refatation may
be inferred from the following extract of a
luminous letter on the subject 10 the London
Daily News. ~
,liaving bad during recent Wis Il 10 the
United States an opportunity Of admirinp the
noble zeai wilh which thsy provide for the
instruction Of the people, the abundance and
excellnnce OF ther Schools their unceasinr
Efforts 10 provide for the extension and her.
ieciIng Oi their school svs,ems, return TO Ibis
country more bumiIiated than ever at lhe
painful contrast which ii presents in this re-
spect Of that nourlshing democlacv, beleiyinp
that the only secure foundations Of liberty arc
to be found in knowledge, are jealously ,igi
liant lest the republic should, at any future
inc take harm from Ignorance. They re.
4 quire to be satisfied that their citizens arc
! provided with all the means Of instruction
that il is possible TO supply, aud (lat expcri
rnce and invention should be incpssantly task.
ed to increase the amount and improve thc
! quality of the means. Accustomed bcvond
any people in the world to contemplate the
progress of voluntary effort, the achievements
OF private Enterprise, and to have faith in both
they have not been SLOW 10 discov er tha, In
cation Tor obvious reasons is a speciality which
! oniiles the usual laws of demand and supnly
! which languishcs on the feeble aid Of indi.
vldual effort and starves on voluntary sunnort
They have therefore filed their land with
schools not dependent on the dcsultory boun-
tyot tha benevolent but resting on the self
j imposing taxation of the communitv-not
disfgured and eneumbcred By the dole Of
charity, but thriving on a universal contribu
ton, the fruit and recognition of n universal
duty. Such is the excellence Of these schools
that IN many of them the children of the rich
are found consorting with the children of the
poor, not because democracy requires IL. but
because democracy is so earnest in its Dur
pose that the rich man can find no elementary
Instruction ior his children SO good ms tina;
which by law is provided for tho children of
the poor man. Nor can there be the shadow
OF doubt that when this system of common
schools shall have been carried out in all It's
perfection through the whole range of the
union, we shall find in the RISING generation
not only the obteraton of such peculiarties
or blemlShes as may now offend us, but more
over the rare assemblagc of those qualities
winch constitute the ornament and strength
oi national character To do what thev have
done, The Americans have had their Difficult.
ties, and the same cheifdiiiculty as we have.
II the Sad-fiy pedanry of voluntarvism did
not much modest them, the antipalhies of re.
+, ll9ious sects. as with us, serious Obstacle.
lhey trumphed over it in the only way that
they could-by establishing secular schools,
from which the great stumbling block of re-
igous teaching was excluded The result
mas been perfectly successful and satisfactory.
A most lnsldious attempt has indeed been
made to show that the working is prcindicial
: 10 religion, by Mr.. Tremenheere, one of Her
MnJes'ys inspectors OF schools, in bis account
OF the short tour he recently made in the
United States lthas been completely baf.
Il Hon. Mr, Twisle,on sSho o",,,an eAe.,ons Q, 'he
4 addressed 10 gcntI.mon o,;a;n'I eu I"e'ieS 10 og
l wpb the scho6I, sys,an, On'i"ay nI co"nrcteo
puisheJ men c,r ;be nn,non anu se.era' vera; o'S'n-
! ltemenheere's assertions; the answers TO
winch furnish thorough refutation of them.
nv imnression i tha, !, $50, answers ahG
SOM inornui,y ~ go, -, uSs st ~ 'equ'reo
that which thew snccsssfnlIu e,.AF're as s
i was the oninion oftbo soLn'l pP Du' =, II
Mr. TremrnLcnro baJ '' "''''''sers ina'
rome conc lusion which Sa NV o,'s WIN Tor
test. Certain am that bad bo " ,s;d ~ pahi ~; 10
self of lher kindness i; ia ~ ~ "s"nGa nm
have chanoed his nn,a IT, nc Wu"iu soon
Boston schools ,,;s;,ai = :" oo'e'ai ol the
ublioing and irtoll;Can. !" so'pany WIN inc
schools Mr. Bisbon Is sa'eIln'snueht i OF
quest The ch;laren nrosa,, stou AS 10 re-
SUNDAY scbools 70 tnld ' w. , "iao iau oeen d, 10