The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-03-16
NO. XLVl1I,
For the Pioneer.
Extract of Lecture On Education,
BY MICHAEL MAGHfR.
Dei,rved at Traverse des .S,our.

/, powers SO AS 10 make respectable figure among ,u
! 'eiiigences o the same order. When, and by whom
d this standard established II would now be
10 ascertain. Perhaps il not, nor never has bee n
tue standard. Perhaps he standard far above an.
Dey"hd this; but, really when hear men and wo.
men OF !itte than mediocre intelligence and
ho' great share OF knowledge, called educated We
are induced to believe that we curse ives INNS, 10
some ewhere the mark and ,hi. the ,ende,c, r
The present idea Of education is not 10 elevate m
already too low estimate Of it, but to sink il sIl
lower. '
, IL Is too low The standard Of Education should
l DE many, many degrees higher than 1t is Ask the
True student and he viii say-Ycs elevate i, bv ali
means though should arialn 10 IL, Eievste ,t
80 that II viii be splendid object shining in the dis
tance-so that it will require labors and sacrifices
worthy oi ITS great name. il viii not damp nv spy,f
II VIII not satisfy my mind that ! SEE a faint giimmer
IN lie lar of region o space. viii work for il; the
greater the labor, the precious the splendid
prize Elevate II; let us have one name in keepng
with our lnsti,utIons by which recognize the suc
cessini student One name-an Educated Man. an
Educated Woman, that will ou'we irh-that will re-
present more real worth than all the gaudv tinsencs
OF arstocracy--one that will find response IN
tne breasts OF Free men wheo the empty assumptions
oi arIstocfacy will only fad their own echv/
A more interesting and important branSh Of history
than that OF Eacaiiou-thcre IL none The history
OF Education Is the history of Nations IL is an m
dex to the rise, progress and deca, II the variou,
natIonaiities which have appear ed upon the world
As tho strong OF the morning sum- tresh from his
couch OF rest dispel the Of earth SO does edp
cauon shooting lis rays ol Intelligence into he heart
enlishen men. The one, as he rise. in his
glare OF majesty. Affects here block Of clouds and
there one; makes thai lake, but A few minutes 40,
dtrkiy cnvelcped, Of bright and joYous lie.
aud rids that river Of its darkiy, looming Lurihen
whilst he other, lis fires enter the hear, is mir
rored IA the face, reflected in the family, and felt in
the community and nation.
"As the i"ig is bent, the tree $ inclined is an
! apotlcrm which has LOST Of II. C,,,o
and truth because Of its age. The tree viii grow as
the sdpliDg s bent to. day just much as il would in
the az ot Moses. The Tremendous respous Utilities
oi parents in this mater Of education and the great
necessity OF just views upon it, are topics hici SEN
siby appear this connection Their duties to ioei
to the oid, 10 the american Nation and to their
EamIiies, all call upon them to hold ri stt views of
edueaIonto collect these views into an object and
put that object into execution. Principle vii! hc The
inevitable result Of snch wise # action and
when parents generally viii educate ihelr children on
principle, whh a definite object y th a view To regard
men, principles aG things isolated individual
Itres, having no reciprocal interest, sympa,hies
no common tendencies, hat II the stca, measure Of
means which the Greater IN the formation # The
universe ol mlrd and matter, varied, all b. rmony
and oider IA the gea, principles Of ,he fn,Ticaa
const',ron looming Up behind, beside and before
them; then VIII they have discharged Il dre,sd re-
.ponslbilityihen vii they have iuihlcd an impeia-
tive duty.
We are told hat certain Of the Nations of an,eui-
y taught Their offspring TO steal aud ju>t proper
ton Il they sdeii IN this aIt, were the, con-
sidertd educated In most Of thr Older nations on
the ConuneaI Of Europe, youth of the humber class
from circumstances Hh,.h 'hey CONTROL
induced 20 lonk To- those in aitueuc. and power. and
persons oi Il superior caste. Blood makes a pfrat
difference. Who is fortunate .s to ", alb. t frace
his lineage 70 some Lord or Count B t.ou1h thev
were TRAITORS pirates hishu ayIer, VII tai>c his
head am"ngst those oi lhe an,iquated notabites OF
glorious g.
,.ea C,., 4 :
the Impresson iha The object Of Educa'lon in Eurol
u 10 inCucae such views, III make man the ca ,nsir
slave instead oi HE lce Uan, bat shoy thar it j.
with the great Of The people thai the idea of "A
education should be familiar; THAI the, should
nnOw i ~ all Is icatiugs, understand ~ an It's
minute ramGoationS, and knowing aud un ier standing
NAV lie able 10 direct IT,
When to consider tn idea of an Anne, lean
educaion, We find II eutir"y antaeunislic ith ,hat
which have iu.i been con>idct na in SO ia A. he
circumstances mentioned 60. iicrc Intelligence
rowns upon the empty assumptions # sptcios great
hess iie'e, The gteat man rec. sE;l.d IN the
saEb o ms iatheF nor g,ana nor great father,
but IL has own indvldusi,y. in his own ind, dual
person he possess the elements tue greatness
or he looks IN vain fcr affirmative echo from the
! masses Of his countiy ymen.
/ In Conformity thea with pecuiiar natioray
witt, The e and fec scope o! human p, iion and
with comprehensive National views which We rccog-
n2e and cherish should education nee NeCil-
inr IA view that all born free and equal aud
,hat God will reward them according To Their lust
deserts should 1t progress-kceping IN view sDoh
elevated points these, watched y The intelligence
Of A ruling people and directed by incn and women
Qualified for the calling American education " ~ be
come luuinary growing with the growth Of the
Nation in power, extent aud greatness
In view ing education thus uaturall, led TO
ask o,r rselves-A.e there means within OF: compass
and what are theyl That There mems nianv
MEANS numerous agents, numerous advocates, needs
M demonstration here. On Family circles saw ,heie
are n-sns--our Schools, Academies, Colleges ard
Universities say there are mean>-;he Lecturers Deck
and The Printing ft'ss say there and Asnc-
rcan Socir.y SAYS there are means. These all
educators-these all agents IN ,he great work Of
education.
There is one Of these agents, American Schools,
which more than any other deserves attention
The American Common Scho" as au Institution,
should not only be guarded encoura ged and peiu-
ated hu, should be elevated ,o H. position We
have Academies Colleges and Universities all good
IN their places, Tar their influence lt. Ear
as they afford opportunities 10 the lovers oi know.-
edge 10 the vel! doers profit by their excellent
means; but how useless TO expect that The great
! of the youth oi the country profit directly hy
their teachings. The shallow education impaired,
perhaps better say received, IN o. the District
schools IN nany parts OF the country, perhaps
plaiuiy visible and deinon-rabie any proposition
which ( might make. Friends Of education have
called; thev have told the people hat upon in,ei-
genre virtue and patriotism depended the stability of
the AmeriC Nation, and have requested aid ele-
waiting proper position this great National Fort
e They have reminded them that while good schools,
e good Colleges, and other such institutions, founded y
= individuals and directed according 10 their plea are
or preiudice may be instruments of much good they
K never can be considered comprising but rnoiety
Of the great array Of means which ought be within
the reach Of every one Of the youth of the country
e In the Of higher education, we are indeed
behind many Of the nations of the world. Some ol
g those which softly call ignorant, hesilenish and
such musical names, would,werc to examine care.
fully, show many new things in this respect, nany
- which with profit could apply. What
there opcn for the true aspiring bn; penny
r less studentl Pom, him to a Yale a Harvard All!
if am not msiniormed his plea Of poverty viii no
Ne deemed sufficiently HEAVY TO deray the expenses
= Of his collegiate II is so throughout hi
re country With but few exceptions. New York, ai~ ay
Id the 'front.' rank oi the progressive march, has made
ne step this direction in the establishment Of al
Institution which deserves honorable mention, Th'
New York Free Academy. Ohio boasts an OberI
a different but generous PLAN These stand on
sha cf Aca,ames and f'DirUcs. AMI