The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-12-23
;,,n.,,im rdrcn,ion Convention.


Normal school, and common schools for the
industrial education OF our people, to be
laid before the Legislature for adoption.
We now propose to state few reasons
why, as a matter Of STATE policy, our people
have very deep interest in this movement
Itis unnecessary to enlarge on the d,iecis oi
our present common school system. They
are palpable TO every one who has child
to educate. In our own town, which has
more than an average school fund compared
with the other towns Of the state, we are
VIGOROUSLY without any regular system Of
public instruction. With a fund almost of
itself sufficient to provide school capable
of ailording educational facilities for every
child in the tewn, we are without even n
school house, and the same is lamcntably
the case throughout the entire state. So
wrctched is our system that the voice from
every quarter is for rclorm-and the reform
demanded is thorough and radical-tho
clearing away entirely Of the rubbish Of our
present system and the substitution Of
structure new in all its parts.
What shall this new system boz The
first great want Of our present system is
uniformity in school books, and in the mode
and course of instruction. The next is cill-
cient means of exciting an interest among
our people in favor Of schools, and the adop-
ton Of such legal provisions as shall ensure
the erection Of school house and the Or
ganzation Of an efficient school in every dis
trict needing one. Another is, the means Of
providing n reliable supply Of competent
teachers. And the last great want is, the
adoption Of course Of instruction adapted to
the times, and to the oXegcncics and pur-
suits Of the great mass Of our people. These
wants the new system, whatever may be its
details, must supply.
Mr.. Edwards, our state superintendent Of
public Instruction. has been laborioualy en-
gagged during the past season in pcrtecting
system intended TO supply these wants
WAT the details Of that system are, we are
not informed. Transccndently important as
the subject is, when he proposed to explain
them to our people, they preferred to hear a
political harange to his lecture, and We were
left in the dark. Gifts general outlines how
ever, we have some knowledge.
The Industrial League of Illinois has been
as laboriously engaged during tic past sea.
son in the same direction, and in reference
to their plan we are better informed. In
the main, VIC believe it is not antagonistcal
to that Of Mr.. Edwards, the only supposed
difference being, that it goes farther. Both
plans contemplate the establishment Of per
feet uniformity in school books and course Of
instruction the adoption Of means to excite
interest in schools among the people; and
the establishment Of a state normal school
The difference, aside from financial schemes,
if any exists, is in the character ofthe course
Of instruction proposed. Mr.. Edwards,
more cautious than the league, It is under
stood, proposes TO conIinc the course Of in
structon within the beaten paths, following
as near as practicable the general model of
the New York and New England free
schools; while the league proposes to take
very important stcpin advance and to adopt
a course of instruction that shall be more
thoroughly practical and adapted to the
wants ofthe industrial classcs--to the far
mcr, mechanic, and merchant, Of whom the
great body Of our people is composed OF
the two systc'as the latter certainly com
mcnds itself to our judgment as the more IA,
tional, and conformaJlc to the genius OF our
government.
The systems ofinstruction hitherto pursued
in this country have all aimed at one com
mon goal, and that is the fitting of the pupil
for learned profession. They begin with
reading, writing, arithmetic, elocution, Ian
guagcs, &c, until the pupil is supposed to be
ready TO enter college, and fit himself for the
study of theology, physic, or the law. The
system is neither fair nor democratic. The
mass Of our people are engaged in entirely
different pursuits. Outside of the few enga-
ged in the learned professions, we have no
class but are either mechanics, or engaged IN
commerce or agriculture, save one class, and
that is the genus 'loafer." A just system
for our state should therefore be adapted to
the great majority of her people. 10 meet
their wants, the league insist that instead of
teaching such branches as arc only prepare
tory to the pursuit of the learned profess
ions, the object should be to furnish to the
great industrial classes of our state-our far
mers, merchants, and mechanics, each in
their own sphere, the same thorough, liberal,
and practical education in those sciences I'M
derlying their several pursuits, as our
schools and colleges now afford to their stu
dents in theology, medicine, and law.
To show the transcCndent value OF this
sort Of education over that hitherto most ca
red for, let US present few considerations in
favor of more thorough education in agri-
cultural science, now so little attended TO-
Agriculture is cmphatically and conlcsscd'y,
the interest paramount of this whole CONT
ncnt. Yet, for lack of scientific knowledge,
has any pursuit been more shockingly or SUI
icidally pursued? a high authority tells
us, that "ln the carly days of New England
the fertility Of her virgin soil, and its bount-
ful production Of wheat caused even aston
ishmcnt, and yielded returns to the hand Of
husbandry Of such cxuberancc as to surpass
even the dreams Of the farmers themselves.
They, most unwiscly, believing this fertility
"inexhaustblc,' were utterly needless of
even the ordinary cXpedients Of conslcrate
husbandry, for porpetuatlng the resources of
the soil and the result is, that the soil crthe
same New England is now absolutely incNpa-
Die Of producing wheat as . remuneratiyc
crop; and the entire population is supplied
with brcadstutf from the fields of the