The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-02-05


| earnest-that he feels what he saws Will,
his theory and practice are as opposite
the poles!
'Oh! this is fine indeed,'' says one 60.
throw all the blame on the people and nov
ON the teachers ~
Admitted, friend, that your teachers ~,
not what they should be-just because 90,
would not have them any thing else III
what they are.
But the man who presumes to take unou
himself the Office of instructor should a.,
that he has an awful responsibility restiDr
upon him--having by his act of acceptance
assumed ability, he is responsible for hs
whole duty-whether he be really able for
it is another question.
If men felt the weight that this. vocation
throws upon them how few would teach
Yet no one who does not 50 feel is qualified,
In the words of chaste and eloquent writer
1.-THE school is no place for man without
principle" repeat, the schO2Lss no place
for a man acithout principle. LET such
man." says he, "seek livelihood INV
where else, or, failing to gain it by other
means, let starvation seize the BODY, and
send the soul back to its Maker as it's
rather than he should incur the fearful gu
of poisoning youthful minds, and dragging
them down to his own pitiable level. If
there can be one sin greater than another
on which heaven frowns with more awful
dlspleasure' it is that of leading the young
into principles of error and the S9bqsipg
practices of vice."
ooh, woe to those who trample on the mind
mat aeathless thing! They know not y!la.
they do,
Nor what they deal with. Man, pcrchancr NAV
bind
The flower his step hath bruised; or light anew
The torch he quenehes; or to music wind
The lyre-string from his touch that flow -
But for the soul, oh, tremble and beware
To lay rude hands upon Gods mysteries there .,
Would that the sentiment contained hero
could find q hearty response from every
North Carolinan from Cherokee to AlLe.
marie!
Many attribute the present deplorablc
condition OF our schools to the working of
our schoOl-laws and our Legislation upon tho
subject NoW, while it is evident that evil
has grown out Of the bounty of the State
think it could be shown that not the laws,
but disregard for the laws-not its legiti
mate use, but its gross abuse has wrought
what Of evil is connected with it in any
way. Too many people, mako the State
principal, and they become auxiliarics in the
education of tkcir children. They do not
seek help from ihe State. They are til,
helpers. Others go farther and will do
nothing themselves, not because they are
not able, but the States bounty is sufficient
i'll their estimation. While others still per.
vert the law by diverting its benefit from
the poor where it belongs, and appropria
ting it to the use of those who are able 10
school their children literally without any
aid.
This seems to mnLo - question whether
well to take this plank away
from those who are able to Swin. TIL they
learn to rely upon their own resources! But
my object was to solicit, to the aid of the
needy, the help of the mighty.
Is there not in old Mccklcnburg one capa.
bic of making himself teu who is willing at
least to glance at the subject and give his
cOuntrymen the benefit of such surpcs.
tions as he may think practicable We
shall see. Dominic.
Steel Creek, January 81, 1856.