Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-02-26
educational Department.
An AddresS.

An Address.
The following address was read BY Mrs. s.
&. Clayton, before her school and the school
directors of Fremont, and contains many very
excellent ideas. She has been teaching one
of our primary schools, and we learn, With
much success:
Man, noble in reason and exalted in intel
lect, and made in the image of his Creator, is
but grade above the brute creation, without
that knowledge which it is his duty and priyi-
lege to acquire.
Consequently 1t becomes the duty of pa
rents, teachers. and all others who are inter
ested in the welfare of the rising generation,
to place every inGucement before them to
climb the rugged hill of science. They should
have good teachers Not those who are mere
lY qualified to pass an examination and care
nothing about the interest of the schools, but
those whose minds and energies are engaged
in this noble field of labor.
The minds Of the young are much more sus-
ceptlble than many imagine.
The impressions made BY their teachers,
time can never efface. Cold must be the
heart OF that child that will not be influenced
by kind and faithful teacher. And should
they be induced to walk in the path of use
tuness, how great will be the blessing to So
clety. The future destiny of our beloved
country depends upon the rising generation
Such boys rs these, that now compose SO
large part of our common schools, must soon
take the place of those that now rule us as
nation; and 1t is the sincere desire of every
patriot, that they may become learned, yirtu-
Gus and happy
Then will slavery and intemperance. with
all their consequent evils, cease to blot the
fair pages of our history. Our common school
system is one cf the best in the world. The
rich aud the poor here find level; and there
is as much interest manifested for one, as for
another. Then how careful should those be
who have the responsibility of employing
teachers, to employ those only, who are well
quaIlfied, and take deep interest in the well
fare of children, to preside over the youth of
our land
OF how little value is paltrv gold in compar-
Ison with the worth OF the immortal mnd.-
But, alas, for frail mortality, how much higher
do they value i'll
Who are those generally employed as our
teachers? All must admit they are those
who teach for the lowest wages. Community
do not think hard that they are taxed for the
support of our government, sufficient to pay
those in authority from three to sxty-eight
dollars per day; but he who tolls to adorn the
the minds of their children, is considered as
unworthy of dollar, and they complain very
much at fifty cents.
Teachers should visit the parents Of chill
dren, 1t would often prove beneficial to con-
verse with them in reference to the interests
OF those they have placed under their care--
l have often heard it observed by persons,
that they have got along in the world without
so much education, and their children are no
better than they are.
This is poor philosophy, because our great
grandmothers baked bread in the ashes and
got along very well, it does not follow as a
matter in course that we shall lay aside all our
and do the same. They impro-
we'd thel- privileges and il is our duty to i'm
prove ours. If we do not we are accountable
for it,
The old fashioned doctrine that girls do not
need as much education as boys, is, think,
looked upon by this enlghted community, as
one OF the errors of past ages, which no one
will cundescend to advocate.
That responsibilities of females are as great,
and even greater, than those OF males, has
long been admitted by those who are qualified
to be her Judge.
1t is hers to mould the infant mind, to min
ister to the suffering and destitute, and pre-
side over home where all should be Joy and |
peace. 1t is true her voice is not heard in the |
halls of Congress, and seldom in public assem-
blles; but like her Savior, she is to do good |
to all living, If her education was what il |
should be, the trihng novel, the latest fashion
and the silly song, to her. would have no
charm, for she woud have pleasures of a no.
bier character, in which angels delight to en-
gage. Then she would no longer be the slave
of man, but his most beloved companion. |
have not the education desire, but am in |
the morning of life. | expect yet TO drink Of
the crystal fountain of knowledge.
And it is my humble desire, that my be-
loved country may rise as much higher, as
her privileges are greater than surrounding
nations. And it would add brighter star TO
that banner. which we are proud to call our
own, than if we had one of the richest king
doas of the world, brought beneath our
sway. And now. beloved scholars, your du
ties are to be Of SO important character in
after life, how necessary that you should be
dlIigent Lot your teachers possess whatever
qualifications they may, unless you make an
effort for yourselves, their efforts will be Of
little avail Then constantly endeavor to i'm
prove your minds, for you arc trimming a
lamp that shall burn forever Since have |
been with you, in most of your studies, you
have made rapid progress. But must now
leave you. trust that when another shall
ill my place, your efforts will not be less, but
greater.
Go on then, with unyeldiug perseverance,
and you shall reap rich reward.
The sun, the earth, the stars, may pass away,
All nature ehange-no monument remain
The mind Of man shall onward move,
And hold communion with its God.