Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-01-14
Education.

capuoh andthen turn away with a-'humphi
another dull dissertation upon the old, hack
MED theme, Education"4but read what we
have to say, as we desire to submit a few
practical thoughts upon this important sub
ject.
And first, the Common School system
claims our attention, because it comes under
the puryiew of that good old democratic
rule of doing " the greatest good to the
greatest number" Common School Super
intendents and Teachers Legislators and
writer's, all spread themselves in eloouently
alleging the imperfections and defects of our
system-they talk most periodically of the
large amount of money paid out by the
State annually, and assert that this large
sum is not doing what it is reasonable to
expect OF it for the education of the masses.
But the great fault in all such is, that very
lew practical, available. suggestions, are
given to remedy these defects. ANY auack
can tell a man he is sick /; but it requires the
skillful physician to eradicate the disease
and restore the patient to health.
Now, our object is not to claim the skin
to prescribe the remedies for the diseases in
the constitution of our common schools Int
IN the name of the great common people of
the State to ask, that those who point them
out so readily, would bestow a little more
attention upon what will heal or remove
them.
We beg leave to give, however. as our
humble opinion, hat the mistake in pre.
scrlbing remedies by those who have at.
tempted it, has been in putting the corrective
IN the hands of the school committeeman
instead of the general superintendent and
the teachers themselves. 1t has been tried
long enough for it to be a demonstrated fact
that members of the common school commit
tees do not and will not give their persona,
time and attention to the workings and ope
rations of the school room. Their own bu
slness does not leave them time to do so
and many are incompetent to the task. i
they had the time and inclination.
Not so of the superintendent and teachers
They are paid to bestow their whole tim,
and attention to this important interest an,
their competency is presumed, from the fac
that they are in those positions. If the,
are found wanting in the discharge of thos,
duties, they should be discharged, and prope
and faithful men placed in their stead.
The general superintendent should be
man OF strong, practical common sense-no
a man of visionary ideas-of far-fetched an,
unattainable notions of reaching perfection
In the system-not content with pointing on
defects, writing long lectures to county su
perlntendents, and making hurried speeches
to a Knot of a few dozen uninterested mer
IN the county towns. No none OF these
But after finding the defects, he should o,
to work, with his own hands, to remoy,
them. He should visit every school in tn.
St~te, If PoSsiblo-and wha. he does NOT 4,
In one year he may the next. He should
examine the. fitness of the teachers lool
INTO their manner of imparting instruction
see what books are placed in the hands o
pupils to study from, and by all such mean,
make himself thoroughly acquainted will
the most minute, as well as general opera
tons OF the system. Then he can Eno,
what IS wrong, and how to remedy it an,
Dy no other means can he arrive at thi
knowledge. And if a general superinten
Gent will not do this, we go for abolishine
the ONCE; for a wagon has as much use 70,
a nth wheel as we have for a general com
mon school superintendent for any otheI
purpose.
another radical defect is the employment
OF incompetent and unfaithful teachers Fo,
the sake of the small salary for which som,
men can be procured, they are EMPLOYED il
preference to those who have prepared them
selves for this sphere in life, and are op,l;
ned 20 give correct and solid instruction >,
those placed under their charge. And W,
nave known teachers who were perhaps edu
cationaHy competent, but who seemed To fac
No interest IN the school, except for the dol
lars 1t brought into their pockets. They had
SLOW watches for opening school, and yer,
fast ones for dismissal. :
1t is by such means as these that ON,
common schools have failed to accomnl;sB
what is justly expected of them. Let il be
Inc duty OF the general superintendent to
seek out all these malpractices, and exercise
such a rigid scrutiny into the affairs of
county committees, and teachers, as will
cause them to see to it, that no cause for
complaint shall exist when he comes to make
ms regular visit and then these tb;nos vii,
be speedily discontinued.
we bad intended continuing our remarks
80 as 10 embrace the Academic, Seminary,
and College education, of our youth; but we
nnd this article already too long, and must
deter them until next week.
ooDEY'-lt is not everything that is pub.
lshed that we are willing Tn recommo,