St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-10-07
From the Davenport Weekly New
OUR PUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS.


history public men and States have re-
gardcd the education and training of
their youth as of the most paramount
interest. All the old lawgivers made
provision in their codes, from the days
OF Solon down, upon this subjcct-for
well knew they that TO the success of
any government class of superior,
educated men were necessary.
Modern European Governments -
those of Prussia, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden, of portions Of Germany, and
Of Switzerland are justly famed for
the noble provisions they have made
for educating the children of the
masses. The universities, the gym
nasia, and the primary schools are
open to all and the consequence is
that seldom will you find citizen Of
any one of those countries that can
not both read and write.
In this country, from the earliest
period of our history, this branch OF
our political economy (tor it may bl
Justly called such, has received from
thc State and Federal Governments
the most Jealous and attentive nurture
| The trainers of our constitutions seem
to have been fully sensible of the i'm,
portant truth incorporated by Pcnnsyl-
vania's eminent lawgiver in her or,
ganic law, "that men of wisdom and
virtue were requisite to preserve a
good constitution, and that these quail
tiles did not descend with worldly i'll
| hcTitanCc, but We're to be carefully
propagatcd by virtuous education
of youth" All of the States have no
bly, eXerted themselves in the cause
and placed wise enactments on the
statute book.
In the new States of the West ou
! General Government has pursued &
policy in its land grants, of whicl
Caleb Cushing has eloqucntly sal,
that it was "a noble and beautiful
idea of providing wise institutions 70
the unborn millions of the West; o
anticipating their good by sort o
parental providence +; and of associa
ting together the social and territorial
development of the people, by incor
porating these provisions, with thu
land titles derived from the public do
main, and making school reservation
essential parts of that policy"
The Federal Government has indee'
been liberal to our own State. |
properly managed, the fund for th
State University and ourpublic school
, will be the largest Of the kind III tn
t country. Bv the supplementary ac
to our Organic Act, Congress donate
t to MS, for the establishment of a Stat
, University, 44,0s0 acres of land, an
: for school purposes the 10th section
!. or its equivalent, in every township
G Should this fund be preserved, an
not squandered, the University of low
e will one day bc the richest in the lan'
J. and our school fund will exceed ths
o of Connecticut. which is now I'll
;. largest in the United States.
d But not alone upon this do we d
: pend for the support of our commo
t schools--thc taxable property of eat
c district is also subject to and lab
c for a certain revenue for school pu
poses This is wise provision, fl
:, it has been truly said, that whi'
e costs nothing is lightly esteemed, al
', people generally will not take or fe
r much interest in the welfare Of COZ
Dt mon schools, unless they are taxed f
t, their support"
lie With all these advantages surroun
1 } l.. 1
Is eral support, with good material
work on--what prevents their pre-
IL perity and usefulness? That tn,
have been neglected to a certain G
| tent, nobody doubts. In the cites mo
interest is felt in the matter and t
n, rules of the school laws are mo
tn strictly observed but in many
r. the country districts they receive b
little attention, save now and tn
= from some energetic and intellige
men.
u, We look n0,c for more activity a
DC greater energy in the manageme
of our school system. People see
re to begin to be awake to it's imp
Iy tance, and teachers are stirring the
ke selves to elevate the standard Of TIN
Is. most useful profession. We sincere
hope that both people and teach'
w. will recollect that reading, writ
ut and ciphering do not alone constit'
us education-that, though half educat
is men are very useful in their sphe
for and do great deal Of good in
ln- world, yet they never rise to the L
nj fulness of really educated men;
,ur that they will unite in endeavorine
as raise the standard of our conn
zen schools.