Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-05-11
For the Telegraph,
DIR SCHOOLS.

OUR SCHOOLS.
MEssRs. EDITORS =
There appeared an article in your last is
sue under the head of "Our Schools" which
we'll deserves the immediate and active con-
sideration of every person, who is solicitous
for his own or his countries good. Without
efficient schools the rising generation around
MS must grow up, entirely destitute of the edu-
cation they indispensibly need for the COM
mon affairs of life, and their position as citi-
zens. These selfevident facts need no labor
ed arguments for proof, while they present
to our contemplation deplorable state OF
things. Look around US, and see how rapid
" we are bringing that condition upon us.
See the scores of idle boys and girls in every
part of our beautiful village: How few are
engaged in any useful employment? how
groups for the perpetration of some mischief.
or perchance they are to be seen hanging
about places which decency bushes to name,
taking lessons in base ribaldry, profanity,
end every species, of brutal degradation.
Who, but parents are responsibleef for Fsuch a.
state of things? Upon them to a great ex-
tent hangs the fate of these children; they are
to say whether these embryo citizens are to
be Intelligent and useful, or ignorant and de-
based. But where are the means for obviat-
ing this threatened deluge of ignorance and
deplorable degradation Where is our per-
manent school organization? Where are the
thousand dollars of public money that should
have been drawn and paid for educating the
scores of children above alluded to? Indeed
where is the School House in which they, and
coming hundreds should be taught? What,
no school organization? No attention to the
drawing of money appropriated for the edu-
cation of our children and indeed no school
house. Is this American, or is this state of
things characteristic of the enterprise and
No, it is not American, but spirit of sordid
parsimony that overrules the better judgment
and generous impulses of our people. What
scorching chargin must it bring home to the
mind of every parent who looks upon grown
up sons or daughters who, through his parsi-
mony are still destitute of the knowledge re-
quisite for the performance of common bust
ness or their duties as citizens and who must
necessarily murder out miserable existence
among the ignorant, vicious and debased,
with minds incapable of enjoying any of the
oil of 1o4o oil
such parent wrthe under the modification
of soul arising from having through near
sighted selfishness thrust his own flesh and
blood from all association with enlightened
society, and hurled his children into the CON-
panionship of the low, vulgar and soul crush
ing legions who hang like a blighting mildew
upon the enterprise and elevated enjoyments
of enlightened society. Who possessed of
any soul or any pride of character can en-
dure the reflection of being, or becoming such
parent? Yet look about us-such is the OBJ
vious tendency of things What shall we do?
Shall we remain inactive, and float down the
stream of time utterly reckless of the de-
structive tendencies of our lethargy? Com
mon observation tells us how superior an
intelligent community is, over one envel-
oped in ignorance and shows us that with the
former are identified all the enterprise, life
propensity and happiness of people, while
wretchedness and oblivious obscurity attend
the latter. Who will raise the first voice for
the cause of education, and begin this sadly
neglected enterprise? EAT.