Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-01-26

Education

Up your paper see 3ln article from
an aged man, on the subject Of Edu-
cation, in which, he Civ s an eSposi-
ton of the wretched co ndition of our
com mon school system, Of the intel
lect cal imbecility and moral depr avi-
! ty of its teachers 1t is presumable,
that this gentleman, from his long
experience and extensive observa-
ton, is qualified to delineate very
clearly, the present state Of educa-
ton among the citiz ems of Lincoln.
A knowledge of its commencement,
a close observation of its progress
for twenty nine years clear insight
(Which he protested to have of its
varied machinery at The present day.
certainly gives Sim an advantage
over the most OF US with reference 10
this matter But, sir, whileit is a
lamentable fact that the common
system is far4below what it should
be; while it is true, that all Of the
teachers of these schools are not as
highly educated as they should be,
and perhaps Jtw who are Solomons,
yet i think til e writer of the article
to which refer has done neither the
school system nor its teachers JUS
tice. He carries US back 10 the days
of his infancy and tells us of an
Academy, the preceptor of which,
"fatigued with the monotony Of doing
MoHang,'' would 90 to sleep while
some of his more Industrious pupils
would spend t heir time at cards, and
also, Of one who. passed an entire
week without reciting a lesson This
same gentleman states, 81 haz ard
nothing in dec laring my opinion that
our public schools are now in a worse
condition, tina h was that Academy
at the time mentioned" This wri-
ter then, by His own statement, as
sumes the position that the teachers
generally of Lincoln county, in
1858, 'fatigued with the mcnotony
of doing Nothing are passing away
their time by sleeping, while their
pupils fatigued too, perhaps, "uiM
tie pOnotony Of doing nOthng,'' are
amusing themselves with a social
game at cards : some, partly BY the
neglect of their sleepy-hended teach
ers, aud partly through their own in
dolence, pass entire weeks with no
Rotations whatever. This is in
deed dark picture, and if true, the
best talents and energies of the
county, should be br ought to bear
Immediately, either for It's improve
ment or entire abolition. But is
this a, fair description of the Schools
Of Lincoln? | opine that few such !
schools as those described by that
gentleman, can be found in the State
Of Tenn. How then can that writer
reconcile it to bis conscience, thus
o cast opprobriums on the school
system, thought defective, and the I
lonest and well meaning teacher? i
10 not wish to be understood as con-
ding that the school system is
lot greatly defective, both as to its
up erinteudence and amount Of funds
invested; on the contrary, | main
ain that the teachers are not as well
Qualified as they should be; their
minds generally are not sufficiently !
mbued with the high position they
'ccupy. Til ley seem not to know
hat the influence which they are I
waying over the minds Of children |
vii have lis weight in the formation i
f their future character, and may I
ecide their future destiny. The
ommunity at large do not feel that i
eep and abiding interest in the edu- e
alton of their offspring they should, '
nd without which the best system f
ould prove abprtiye. If we would S
improve our systems Of education, il
e must enlighten the community, y
xcite an interest in the minds Of all, 1
full determine alton to have good t
,hools cost what they may. con- "
Give that to be the plan, and not il
y villiying the present corps of t
,acborc who arc .narhapS doinr no :,