Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-09-04

TEACHERS CoMPANY.-Mr. \. G..
Dickey has been authorized to raise com
pany to fill up Col Irwin's regiment, and
having received considerable encourage
mcnt here, has determined to make an CT
fort to construct it from among the teach
ers OF Mtfiju, Centre, lluntingdon and
other counties Pertinent to this subject
&e suhjOn the following communication
Should School Teachers GO to War?
This question was discussed by some of the
members Of the Institute retaatly l.id here,
and it seems sufficiently i3!puytant to be pub,
lcly considered l.y all those who are immedi
atriy Connected with cnLlm"n SchS"lS.
l,hall assume. what every loyal man will ad-
NIT, that ii Is right, necessary and more than
honorable for men to offer their services in
defence of tau country'S government an the
eAu>e of Frccdun. The only question is Thu;
Are teachers more needed i,t home III the
schools than in tie army!
No intelligent man would consent tn have
thr pubic schoolS closed. until the condition
oi the country is desperate that every 9th
er interest is lost in the one pressing necessity
81 saving the GovernnGt and popular Lib
uty from complete subverSiun. But there
are in almost every county nlure candidates
."r teaching than there are schools besides
nut fcw Schuuls usually taught by men could
b. taught 10y women, who would gladly avail
themseives Of the opportunity to labor once
4'r their own support and their c,nntry's de
fence. la many instances. Doubtless, poorer
n ~
# comGun schools as whole would be re.
tarded but can il be expected that so vast
and mad "a rebellion shall be suppressed
without temp"rnry injury to every general
iHterc>t? We who, bv our position, are
necessarily careful and jealous for the pros
Perlty of 50 great Il good as common Schuuis
must remember that far tie time patriotism
Is the one commanding duty-that our coun-
try's institutions and civil freedom must be
luaiutained, at whatever cost or sacrifice; then.
when right uiumphs and peace is restored,
We will renew our former claim to public at
;ention, and more zealuusly than ever before.
seek TO secure for all, the blessings of a good
common school education, as prOmotive %
that intelligence and high moral tone So essen
tial to citizens of free nation and so pre-
8erqaiive Of free Institutions. We must throw
no obstacle in the way of those who bravnly
offer to fight for our government, even though
they 90 from our best schools, and leave us
with poor teachers or with no teachers at all.
And yet cannot conscientiously urge any
Ieacher to 60 unless he feels impclled by the
strong promptings of duty; in that case,
reluctantly, yet most unhesitatingly bid him
Godspeed. Every teacher must settle this
question for himself, giving the benefit of each
doubt TO the side of patriotism, and deliber-
ately following the course which conscience
points out | say the course which con-
science points out" because teachers are not
likely to 60 TO war thoughtlessly and without
good cause; they will go because they realize
The magnitude of the crisis and the majestic
character of the principles at stake. And
ior this very reason teachers will exert pow
efiGl influence by engaging in the war it
VIII be felt throughout the community that
such men fight for worthy cause, and that
uiey will struggle only for those principles
which are most dear to cultivated minds and
generous hearts In view of these facts, how
can the question, whether teachers should
20 to war, be answered? | see no other an
s~er than this: If they feel prompted tc go,
Iet them 20 with our manifest consent, and
may their brave efforts be rewarded by the
speedy restoration Of peace through the es
+aoishment Of justice and constitutional lib