Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-01-28

schools, county institute of three months, or
even one month yearly, and township meetings
monthly or weekly during the school months,
would be fountain of instruction for the teach
ers to drink deep and long of without being
exhausted. If the directors, teachers and
friends of education would be more active and
persevering, meet together in council for an
interchange of sentiment, and work together
in harmony, it will elevate the cause of cduca-
tion and produce the most beneficial results.
These meetings will bring together the teach
ers of the county and townships, before un-
known to each other, so as to have an inter-
change of views on the subject of teaching
the various modes and principles of govern
ment, so as to combine and have uniform ac-
tion in all the schools of the county. In this
way each one will have the benefit of the 9TH
ers experience in the art-in this way they
learn lessons of practical knowledge and ele-
vate the standard of the profession. The first
and great object of these associations is the
acquisition of useful knowledge for all who
intend to engage in the business of teaching,
and arouse the drowsy powers of all who feel
interested. 1t gives young men and women
chance to improve themselves in the theory
and practice and advance in the branches
taught, as we'll as to develope and expand the
mental powers. Therefore it must result ben
eicially to the common sceools.
School government is subject that should
be well pondercd in the minds of teachers, so
as to establish judicious impartial and effec-
tive system in regard to rules of restraint, re-
proof and punishment in our schools. Educa-
tion is acquired, not hereditary. Titles and
honors may be hereditary, but learning never.
No one was ever born poet, statesman, or
philosopher. Man in state of nature without
the aid of reason to guide his mental powers,
may be compared to a stone or rough block of
marble in its primitive state. There is a fig
ure, form and features in it., but it requires the
sculptor's chisel to bring forth symetry, pro-
portion and beauty-to produce that which so
much resembles animated life itself that the
image seems as if it could really speak, and
possessed the powers of life and motion. The
massive and noble buildings in Philadelphia
and other places, which are built of brick,
granite, marble, &C., were once heap of dirt
and stones, but now tranformed into order,
beauty and use, stand as living monuments to
projected them. esThe sculptured image of
the beautiful Greek Slaye'' has all the ORDER
beauty, symetry and proportion of sentient
beings. If mind has great an effect on in
animate matter, what will be the effects of
mind upon mind, when applied to sentient be-
ings and animated nature If the need of
praise is due to the artist who gives form and
beauty to the insentient stone, marble or wood,
how much greater praise should be given to
the instructor who takes the child in infancy
with its rough nature and unshaped intellect,
and after weeks, months and years of faithful
labor, so forms the immortal mind as to bring
out perfect man in intellect, one who with
honor would fill any station in life from that of
privote citizen to chief magistrate of free
and enlightened people. Then, let Progress
be our watchword and motto-our fiji ght on
ward and upward with patience and perseve-
rance. In few years at most, all now living
must pass away. The rising youth will take
our places to govern and rule the destiny of
our nation. How important is it, then, that
they should receive the right kind of knowl-
edge The glory of the United States and
the sheet anchor and palladium of our repub-
lican government and independence, is ma
tional education for the masses of the people,
giving all an equal chance to ascend the hill
of science. knowledge is wealth and power,
and can be obtained by means of common
schools. Then LET us labor for their success.