Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-09-24
l59Q9A 6 QQll AL
Editedi'y A.smrn, County superintendent.
For the Educational column.
The New Campaign.

Ihe rest and relief of the summer vaca-
ton, must now give way to the duties and
cares OF new campaign against Ignorance
In this warfare there are constant VICTORIES
10 encourage, unceasing advances to stimu-
late hope and effort, and richest prizes to
reward toll and faithful endeavor. Fortu.
nateiy, Education is SO great and manifest
a. good that no one whose intelligence fits
mm to be ranked among civilized beings.
DOUBTS Its exceeding worth or requires to
be convinced of its desirableness. Yet We.
ry many think it is so good it can help it.
sell they have the friendliest regard for
1t, but do not seem to consider it as having
any claim upon them for aid tits not ex.
I aggeration, to say that probably majority
OF the people of this County actually sup
pose they have nothing to do with the pub
llc schools personally, that matter is eli en-
trusted to the wise and fatherly care of
Directors; the delicate responsibility of see
ing to the intellectual training of their
children and to the moral influences to
which they are subjected, is laid on others
shoulders, and they feel happily free.
This is common, yet most sad mistake.
You, parent cannot lay on another the mo-
mentous responsibility which Heaven has
imposed on you; you cannot innocently
neglect to interest yourself to secure for
your child the best possible mental and
moral training; Heaven will hold YOU to a
strict account in this important matter.
The condition of the country Just now
is not brightly auspioious for Education; it
IS easy to be despondent, if one has not
faith that out of seeming evil, real good
will be educed. 1t is natural that some
should think it almost useless to try to do
anything, at least to attempt any improve
ment, In educational affairs, when the coun-
try seems to be poised on the very verge
of anarchy. Let the fearful step aside
let the Respondent avoid the schools and
let the hopeful and courageous have room.
The children are as ready to be taught as
ever; and, certainly their need of wise in
struction has never been greater than now.
Though the oountry's present be dark, we
expect tranquil, sunny future at least
some sort OF a future, which will be rem
dered more endurable or more glorious by
the intelligence and moral yigor which the
present children shall carry with them into
that future from the good schools we labor
to secure now. So, the most far-sighted
patriotism comedies with the fondest pa
rental affection in urging the adoption of
measures to render our schools vet more
thorough and generous in their teachings
and influence than they have hitherto been
So the faithful teacher may justly feel that
he deserves we'll of his country, even though
he be not on the battlefield, nor at the post
Of lonely peril.
In the new campaign there is room for
considerable Improvement upon the last;
that was good, but this can quite easily be
better. It we're pitiful if years expert
encc could teach us nothing, unless we had
already attained perfection. Individual
teachers who succeeded well last year, now
feel that they are on the path to sure rep
utation and will naturally endeavor to add
to the good name they have hitherto won;
and those who had but moderate success now
have another opportunity to retrieve their
character as teachers; they know wherein
they failed before, what were the weak
points, the almost fatal errors in their man.
agement, and, having carefully studied
these over and learned well the important
lesson they teach, are desirous to make an
other attempt to bccove successful teachers.
To all such, hold out helping hand !; I
sympathize with them in the solicitude they
naturally feel, and cordially wish them the
glad success which generally crowns intel
lisent, faithful, persevering effort And
to those who are now commencing to teach,
before whom the session stretches as land
of promise not unmixed with vague fore
boding, l bid hearty welcome. You will
find plenty of work, not few unanticipa-
ted troubles, large variety of cares and
perplexities but you will not fail of reap
ing a rich reward, if you enter on the labor
with the right spirit and continue in it with
cheerful heart. 49,. .s
With this spirit in all the schools of the
County, the coming session will be more
prosperous than any that has preceded it,
and in spite of the nations calamities, the
vital, permanent interests of this commu-
nifty viii be surely promoted. s.