Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-08-20
For the Democrat.
American Educa fiOm.
BY JASPER PACKARD.

A true system of American Education
must necessarily differ from the education
al system of any other nation.s We are,
in many respects. a peculiar people. In
the first place we are people ruling our
selves. Every man, 10 use common ex-
preston. is sovereign, and every son and
daughter. prince. and princess of the
blooi-royal.- 1t is necessary. in forming
an educational system for our country, to
recognize the relation that education sus-
tsins towards Republican, institutions
Without education in its highest and tru-
est sense, any people is unfit for self-gov-
erHmeut. Freedom unrestrained, is an
archy; restrained by force, is despotism;
restrained by voluntary consent. is Repub-
licanism;" and this self-restraining power
will be exercised only by people enlight-
ened, and virtuous. Kings and princes,
in monarchial governments, should, and
usually do receive the highest culture. He
in whom the power of sovereignty exists,
should have every portion of his nature
his physical, mental. md moral being
harmouiously developed. This is deemed
indispensable in the sovereign. The safety
of Republic demands that every one of
its sons should receive like development;
and without such cultivation and elevation
of the masses, Republic cannot be safe.
History reads us lesson on this point,
which we would do well to heed. Like
causes produces like effects; and if the
causes that have worked the downfall of
other Republics, exist among US. we shall
inevitably follow the same road to ruin.
Ignorance of the masses is undoubtedly
one of these reasons.
These remarks show what national sys-
tenn of education for us should embrace. 1t
should be one calculated to develope every
power Of the human being. This only is
education in its true sense. The term ed
ucation means much more than is implied
in its common acceptation. 1t does not
mean, as some Of our modern reformers,
who can teach Grammar in twelve easy
lessons, and Greek and Latin in the same
space Of time, would have US believe, a
kind of polishing over. sticking on of
something as kind of appepdage. like a
feather on hat, for display. nor does it
mean, as it is often supposed. pouring into
the brain-pan certain forms of knowledge.
1t means wha: the term itself implies, and
what he old Romans very well understood.
E--out of. and duco-to lead, to lead out.
To lead out and develope not part, but
he whole man, the physical, the intellectu-
al, and the moral man, and such an educa-
cation would De the glory and strength OF
Republic. Such au education is the one
adapted to our wants as a people. Our
common schools form a worthy part of a
national system of education, but they Ne
not the whole. They meet our. wants as
they go; and if we could have no more,
let us always cherish the free school,; open
ing, as it does, only the portals of knowl-
edge. and revealing but glimpse of the
glories within. One benefit of our CON-
mon schools is, that they foster the spirit
of Republicanism. Every school is dem
ocratic institution. These schools bear an
important part in forming public sentiment
and public sentiment in a Republic, is the
great power behind the throne. Stars,
garters. and ribbons, the gay badge of roy
atty, and the gilded trapp:ngs of wealth
are no compensation for lack of brains
The son of the hod carrier, and the son o.
the rich banker, take their places side by
side, and s'Young America" is no strong
er in the one than in the other. The pool
mans son has an equal chance. and per-
haps far outstrips the other in the race fol
honors. But while we are emphatically 4
go-ahead people. we do not make that pro
vision for going ahead in education which
our character demands. We reach a GER
tain point, and then stop. and talk of hav
ing finished our eudcatioa. "A finished
education! Has such an education eve
been known? We pass from the comniol
school to the Academy; from the Academ.
to the College, and work till we receiv
the degree of Bachelor of Arts. No,
just at this point it is, that the discipline i
any part of our education terminates, an
we are prepared for the acquisition 9
knowledge. Here, then, we ought to b
permitted to lift the veil. and explore tn
gorgeous. archways of tn. temple of knovl
edge. This course of four years in Col
lege, to obtain the A. B.. and three more
bringing the A. NJ, almost as a mater c
course, is relic of scholasticisn. fwhicl
descended from the English Colleges to u.
/ 1t ought to be abandoned. Formerly tn
Arts included altogether. seven branches
=