Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-02-11
EpUcATToN.

In the view we take of ii, we think that in on,
country, with the many facilities which every pa.
rent has of sending their children to school, il
should be considered a disgrace for a youth or a
young man to be seen daily in the streets, and par.
ticularly those who are known to be lamenta.
bly, lin the dark" as regards a knowledge of the
most ordinary branches Of an Education in their
" language. If parents have not the moral OF
other force to make their boys attend school, it is
unfortunate for them as well as for their offspring
that there is not some law compelling to them
Ignorance is the greatest evil and the greatest
misfortune which can be entailed upon Republi-
can form of Government-and as there are actu-
ally laws in many of the monarchical States Of
Europe which force the young of both sexes to
attend school and receive a comparatively good
education, we do not see why there should not be
some such law in our own land-most particularly
when the permanencyo of our institutions rest upon
the intelligence of the people. The liberty which
allows parents and guardians to do as they please
relative to sending their children to school, is a
species Of liberty in this country which, if wrong
ly exercised, may bring upon their heads the heel
Of the tyrant; and We warn those who have the
responsibility which the care of children neces-
sarily imposes, to be ever mindful of the school,
house if they wish to lessen that responsibility.
and to act their part well towards both God and
man, and TO the young and inexperienced who are
under their charge.
We trust, that in the many changes and reforms
being made in that difacult branch of Legislation,
universal free Education, that the law of force,
As alluded to above, will prevail at an early day.
NOT only do the young themselves, (being unable
10 appreciate the value and blessings of l~earning)
nave . natural distaste for going to school, for stu.
dy and confinement, but it is melancholy to 20.
nec' 'na' mere are parents, not few but q great
many parents, in every section of our country.
who for nothing else than selfshness, and regard.
less Of the sacred duties they owe to their oAsnr;n.
to God and to their country, desiguedly keen their
children at home and rear them up in ignorance,
that they may enjoy the little benefit a~ccruing to
them from the labor of their boys and girls. Who
doubts the necessity Of there being some law for
such dsluded and criminal parents? VINO doubts
that there should be laws to protect the young in
this rscpect, that they may be saved from evil and
have rho advantage Of . cultivated intellect to
direct them the proper oourse to pus,as in life for
THAR prosperity and happiness, aftetfhey have be-
come Of sge.
We shall not pretend to surmise or calculate the
extent Of ignorance among the young Of our town
and it, vicinity, nor that degree Of blame which
should b attached to parents and guardians in con.
sequence Of it; but, that inexcusable ignorance
does exist to a certain extent and that a certain
'egree OF cT'mlnality rests upon the shoulders of
no natural and legal protectors of those who are
unfortunate Is not to be learned in accordance
With their years, is a fact which, here as else
vhese, cannot be refuted.
No one can complain that there is not sufficient
pportuuiiy IN PIaquemine to acquire an excel
'at education, from the lowst to the highest bran.
les Of learning. Our schools are competent and /