Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-09-13
Prom the type Of the Times.'
Educational Reform.

Educational Reform.
There is crying demand for q thorough
Overhaulilg Of our Educational system. The
old mode has served its time-answered its
end, and is now accomplishing little but evil
The Free Common School system for the small.
Ter pupils is rightly begun, and needs but the
gradual improvement which Is its own vital at
tIibute, to make it all that is desirable.
But there are no schools for boys and girls
over twelve years Of age, that meet the de-
mand Of existing circumstances.
The populatiOn-that is, the native pOpula.
tion-Of our country are running out. Each
generation is feebler both in body and mind
than the preceding. The children every where
are weaker than their parents Such is en-
phatically the case iu the upper class" and
such is the case to less extent in the middle
and "lower class"
During the first two hundred years from the
settlement Of this continent. the physical and
mental strength, health and energy Of the
people we're preserved from generation to gen.
Grafton. But during the past half century or
about two generations, the vigorous blood of
the old Hueenot and Pilgrim stock has sus-
tanned considerable diminution Of vital pow
er, and that dminuton will be still more per-
ceptible in the next generation.
The influences by which our primitive Vigor
was maintained so long, are apparent to every
thinker, The people were heroic and life was
spent in gigantic labOrs. Clearing the forests,
subduing the earth, fighting the Indians, hunt
ing the wolf, the bear and the deeT.-and then
the British for dear liberty in two memorable
and glorious contests, these are the labors
and excitements which enabled the best blood
Of Europe TO flow through vigorous arteries
for two hundred years. During this time the
people had not accumulated wealth enough to
establish an aristocracy of physical idleness,
fashion and luxury, that are absolutely fatal
to every one that enters that charming society.
A few old bSrons had begun to plant themsel.
yes in Virginia and New York, but the most
Of them we're driven out and their property
cOn6scated by the revOlutiOn-fOr they we're
generally tories.-andthe few who espOused the
peoples cause were compelled to bow TO a
more Democratic Land'system by which their
family splendOr was destroyed.
During this period, too, only now and then
one was encouraged to study beyond the Rule
of Three in mathematics, or beyond Cape Cod
in geography, while the people would have
started in utter astonishment had any one pro
posed to teach English Grammar in common
school. Now. Ln academic course is nearly
as common as reading and cyrheripg were in
the olden time. Then few Of the most Wig.
orous were sent to college; now the college is
filled with a mixture offeebleness and strength.
Then there were no precocious children that
survived period of five years,-now by rea-
son Of various influences that might be stated,
nearly every second child is precOcious and BY
attentive nursing is enabled to go to college
for certainly, is he not a "natural born" pro-
phet? Then, the vigorous young men at col
lege engaging in all the exercises that were
not considered vulgar, could graduate without
much loss of physical power; now, there is a
very general wrecking Of young bodies in at
tempting to become wise. Then the girls we're
kept at home under the tuition of working
mothers, now they are sent to Female Col
leges. the hot beds of aristOCracy. and utterly
unified for wives or mothers; and from their
enfeebled powers will spring puny race.
1t is not safe for any parents to send their
sons or daughters 50 the existing colleges. In
three cases out Of ten the boys will graduate
with the grave, and among the girls in nine
cases out of ten, those who ale not slaughter
ed will be utterly spoiled by fanciful notions
and foolish sentiments. il they should be SC
fortunate as to get the means Of living q fash
iOnable, useless and most wicked future.
What is the remedy? III Industrial Edu-
cation for all of both sexes over twelve years
Of age. No man or woman was born TO live
either in physical or mental idleness. It is
one Of the highest crimes against God, nature
and man, to neglect vigorous daily use Of al
our bodily and mental powers; Every powel
was given for use, and failure to use it is tht
gradual distraction of the power. Every
child over twelve years, should work and stu
dy suitable portion of each day, and to thi
end must all our high schools be sooner or la
ter remodeled. To this must we come, or th