Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-07-11
Practical Rduoation.


During q discussion al the late State
Teachers Association, one gentleman very
properly observed that the attempt to got up
High Schools in towns or districts Of sparse
population must prove failure; that Col
lege could not be erected in every county,
nor a Collegiate education attained in that
way. He thought il was the design Of the
founders Of our Common School system 70
provide, at the expense Of the Stats, suitable
houses, and teachers who were qualified to
teach oil our children the rudimen.s Of a
good English education but that IL was not
contemplated TO teach the dead languages
or the higher branches Of mathematical -
This could not be done without oompetent
teachers, at great expense In towns num-
bering not more than 5000 inhabitants, High
Schools could not well be sustained, and that
il was useless 70 undertake 10 compete with
higher seminsries Of learning in the tut.
tion ofthe higher branches. He thought many
Of our common schools undertook to toach
too many branches, and that it was better to
learn one branch thoroughly, so as to be
enabled TO make practical use of it, than,
as is too often the case, great many
branches specifically That an education
to be of use, should be eminently practical
and thorough, morally, mentally and physic-
ally.
These remarks, as we'll as the opinions Of
other gentlemen on the same subject, ap-
peared to us to be founded on common sense.
and suggested to US the necessity of more
thorough observance Of all the obligations
and duties of life. As illustrative of this
we will compare two citizens-one Of them
has but limited knowledge Of science as
taught in the schools, but he has been com
PEELED to be self-reliant and depend on bis
own exertions; this makes it necessary TO
thoroughly understand whatever he under
takes. This cannot be accomplished with.
out systematic labor. His habits are formed
In early life, and he labors cheerfully from
dewy morn to dusky eve. satisfied that those
labors will be duly rewarded. His income
may be small, perhaps not more than enough
to provide himself and family with the ne
oeSsaries Of life, but he strictly performs all
his obligations to his Creator and to society
With the poor and needy he is always ready
to sympathize and extend helping hand
His conscience is at peace, and hIs toll du-
ring the day brings with it sweep repose
when he lays down to sleep. With the
false-hearted, dissipated, fashionable world,
ha haa 20 =.
with his own occupation, and the revenue
which he derives from it. His stock of
worldly gOods is small, but Well,directed
honest industry slowly increases his wealth
He is, in short, not only happy man, but
useful citizen.
The other citizen is the very antipodes to
the one just described. His parets, by rigid
economy and severe toll, accumulated q for,
tune for their children and those children
were not slow in finding it out The son
va describe is graduate of one Of our FIRST
College, BE had capacity to receive in
struotion, snd obtained the highest honors
Of his class. He returns home, and in a
short time by the decease Of his parents
finds himself in possession of ten thousand
dollars. With this he enters an extensive
mercantile establishment, marries modern,
fashionable young lady, and commences
housekeeping. His house is furnished
with rosewood furniture, velvet carpets,
fine piano, damask curtains and other arti.
eies OF the most costly kind The young
merchant is greatly Aattered by crowd of
admirers; his business is better than he
could have anticipated, but he is in debt for
large part of his goods. His ten thousand
dollars gives him almost unlimited credit t-I
His wife entertains all the elite Of the place
In most sumptuous style, in his splendid
mansion His "turn out" for an evening
drive is greatly admired, and our young mer-
chant is every where recognized as one Of
the most fortunate and best business men
in the place. His contributions to the
Church and all benevolent enterprises, are
Of the most liberal character. But, unfor-
tunstely for him, crisis, such an one as is
not unfrequent takes place. His custom
ers are many Of them, indebted to him,
and those that pay as they 60, curtail their
expenditures. His notes are constantly ma.
turing and must bs met This gives him
uneasiness. Heretofore he has been enabled
BY great efforts TO meet his obligations as
they became due, but now efforts of the
most extraordinary character have 10 be 70.
sorted to, Our merchant, to save his credit,
commences to pay four per cent for twenty
days At the end Of that time he finds
himself still more embarrassed and has
again to spply to his friends for assistance
This is more and more reluctantly granted
until be is finally informed that it ia i'm.
possible for them to extend him any further
relief, accompanied with gentle hint that
they expect him to repay all that be has Dor.
rowed without much delay. Our young !
merchant then fnds himself swamped; makes
an assignment His goods are sold at half
what they cost, and after the fees of the Of
hesrs are paid his effects, perhaps, pav
- cents on the dollar. Ills endorsers are
compelled 70 pay several thousand dollars
Tor theiT Kindness, and hls failure ruins a
na@bsr OF hsrd'WOrking, kind old gentle.
man He is utterly ruinsi, and the people :
OF the world thsn Wag their beads and saw.
Il told you %. Ths yOung msrshant lived
20 'sSs I'D he vie was TOO sItespRunk"