Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-03-08

For the Free Press.
INDIANA--ITS EDUCATIONAL
STATUS

Indiana, for long time, has been looked upon
as, cducationally, the most barren of the sister
hood of States where popular education is to
much extent tolerated While this is to some
degree the case there is eau e, the knowledge
of which to some may not be uninteresting
This knowledge may enable us to ascertain one,
at least, of the many evils that grow out of sys-
TEN that blinds the eyes of those who are situated
within its fascinating influence. as well as its
actual partcipators. Political Simpsons from the
sheltered wales" of your own New England have
been shorn Of their strength-inspiring locks by
this daughter Of the ''Suuuy South"
Of the political influence of the system Of un-
paid labor we are not entirely ignorant; but Of
its influence upon the educational interest Of the
nothing has been said
The great mas, Of the people Of Indiana emi-
grated hithcr from the Slave States more on ac-
count Of the indirect influence Of the system than
from any settled dislike of the system itself.
So, We are not surprised to hear them, at
an early day, demanding of Congress the suicidal
privilege of nursing the author Of their moral, So
cial, and political degradation to their bosoms.-
Well may they now thank that wise and consery-
tive ongress that denied to them their un-
patriotic desire for time has demonstrated the
ncaculable superiority of the free, over the slave,
system of labor.
But the power that forced them to seek new
homes in the wilds of this State also deprived them
of even the rudest ed ucation. This not the
greatest evil. For consequent upon this was that
stoicai Indifference in regard to the intelligence of
thei' own offspring. TheyIwho do not experience
the value of education IN themselves, rarely ap-
preciate its advantages in others. Therefore the
sturdy yeomanry Of this State have sought to be-
queath to their posterity broad acres teemng with
the wealth ofnaturc, rather than the more endur-
Ing substance Of an intelligence that would open
TO them the e7haustless treasures of our fertile
soil.
But during the last five or six years great re-
formation has been slowly working. Not that the
scales ofignorance are about to fall from the eyes
of the first settlers but that the pressure of out
side influence upon the rising generation is like |
iy to sweep them off by the tide Of modern pro-
gression. During the reconstruction of political
parties ir 81, '55, and Sc the points Of policy
and the principles at issue, had tendency to Sc
parate this progressive element in the young and
intelligent from the old-fogy element, that taught
'let well enough alone" The former insisted on
temperance and legislative prohibition the latter
demanded tie freedom of dealing out destruction
to themselves and posterity without the least re-
-i-o
ance Of slavery the latter urged non-interven-
ton with it in the Territories. The former de-
manded retrenchment in the public expenses, and
an investigation of our financial condition the
latter insisted that it was all right, inasmuch
they had the control of the legislative and ex-
ecutive departments.
In the meantime the school fund (Which is
mostly raised by taxation in all the counties and
sent to the Capitol to be divided among the
counties in proportion to the number of pupils in
each,) } decreased every year, Notwithstanding the
uniformity Of the tax. The hopes which most
people entertained, that the fund would soon in
crease so as to support six eight months school
per year in every distr.c, were soon blasted. Lo,
now, as Indeed it has been heretofore, the funds
accruing to each district but poorly support three
months school in each year.
Thus we see that while Indiana can boast of an
admirable school Law, her financial condition
renders it powerlcss in accomplishing "that where
unto it was sent" But in the present turn of
political affairs in the state, We have hope that
our educational system will receive that attention
that the subject demands. q. J. +.
Pittsboro, Ind.