The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-12-20
EDUCATIONAL.
CO.OPERATIuN


OF pARENrs, DIRECTORS AND TEACHERS, IN THE
WORK OF EDUCATION.
IN Essay before The Columbia County Teachers
dssoeiation.
BY JOHN @. FREEZE.
II is only lately, that The world has learned
the true value of associated labor Until
within afew years, comparatively, every in
dividual man was left 10 Struggle as best he
might, through difficulties and trials, to all
Independent vantage ground. The best years
of his life were spent wholly in acquiring,
and when the time and means for enjoyment
came, the powers were blun,ed by age, the
laste was vitialed, the desire had passed
away, and The body and The mind were both
going to decay. Within the last half cen.
turY, however, associated labor, associated
capital, and associated inlellec, have changed
the whole face Of nature, aud rendered easy
of acquisition, that, whose attainment was
before, among the impossibilities In all
parts Of our county we see the magnificent
results of This new principle. We behold il
at work in almost every department of the
social compact. We have life, health, and
properly insurance ompanies-rail-road, ca.
nal, Telegraph aud Express companies--we
have building, mining and manufacturing
aesociations--we have societies Tor sending
the gospel to the Heaihen, and for forward.
ing letters 10 the newly organized territories
Of Nebraska and Kansas. In fact il is almost
impossible to mention single business of
life, inio The successful conduct Of which, as
sociated, work, wit or wealth has not entered.
Ineed not stop to inquire how many of the
stnpendous works of the day would have
been undertaken, or could have been COM
pleled, had they relied upon mere individu-
al exeron and resource. We all know that
that The cooperation Of many minds 10 one
end, renders failure ALMOST impossible--ihat
wketherihe object be mental, moral, social
or political improvement, the success is pro.
poriional, not so much 10 the merit of the
cause, as 10 the amornl of outside pressure
The common schools ofihe State are them
selves srecies.of association for education
al purposes, and derive very much OF their
efficacy from theft connection aad uniform
iy. The fact thai every District pail Of one
great whole, iha, the eyes of the county are
upon il, and those OF the State upon The coun-
~, must Of necessity, be siimulant 10 exer-
ton. Every man, woman and child in the
State, is a member Of this all,important as
sociation. Ought il not then, upon the prin.
ciple Of associated labor, wealth and talent,
be The most powerful engine 10 the Com
monwesllha Il ought 10 be, and IL is--It is
ahe fnlcrum of Archmedes with which to
move ihe world. 1t is aI-pe.vading in It's in.
fluence Iii embraces all ranks in lis boundless
catholiciiy--ittreads with equal step the PAL
ace of lhe rich and he cottage of The poor,
and leads in either hand the son Of the poor
man and The heir OF The rich, 10 the sane dis
,ipciion and emiuence. We cannot now con-
ceive, that this great educational society, the
Stale Of Pennsylvania, shall ever cease lis
glorious work, or prove recrean; 10 ITS high
and solemn duty.
Considering the end ia view, we have no
knowledge Of any scheme equal to il in ev-
! erlasling impor,arce. !, underes the very
framework of socieiy--the true religion Of
Christ depends upon il for il spread and pro.
pagation--ihe happiness of daily life,--the
enjoyment of an idle honr--lhe successful
work Of the busy day,--ihe holy calm Of an
evening al home--in fine the eternal and
temporal well being Of all mankind depend,
mainly, upon the succass Of the great educa-
iionai associations.
When however we consider The State al
large, % The socieIy, We see plainly that il is
moi perfect in its machiusry, and much more