The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-01
Common school Education.

The idea of educating the masses-all
the children of the country at the ex-
pense Of the government, had its origin
in Scotland, in the year 1896. at the close
of the Orange and French war. OF the
effect Of iton those people, Lord MAcAULAY,
in his History of England, says:
The effect eou d not be Immediately felt
But before one generation had passed away, it
began to be evident that the common people
of Scotland were superior in intelligence to
the common people OF any other country in
Europe. To whatever land the ScOtcbman
might wander to whatever calling he might
betake himself in America. or in India, in
trade or in war; the advantage which he de-
rived from his carly training raised him above
his competitors. If he was taken into a ware
house as porter, he soon become foreman
Ii he enlisted in the army he soon became q
sergeant. Scotland, meanwhile, in spite OF
the barrenness of her soil and the severity OF
her climate, made such progress in agriculture
in commerce. in letters, in science. in all that
constitutes civilization, as the Old World had
never SEN equalled, and as even the New
World had scarcely seen surpassed.
But this admirable idea was not long
peculiar to Scotland Several of the Eu
ropean States have since taken it up, and
fully Incorporated it in their governments.
The early adoption of it by the New Eng
land States was the wsest measure of
their early policy; and from this, more
than any one cause, has resulted the gen.
eral elevation of the masses Of the Amer
lean people. 1t has become the Common
Law of all the Northern States; and the
State which is very far behind in it's devel-'
opment of this system, cannot maintain
status OF responsibility among the sister
States. The intelligent and sagacious
people of any part of the country, looking
for homes for themselves and children in
the Far West, will not fail to have an eye
to the common school system Of the State
to which they would emigrate.
A call has recently been made for an
essay on the inducements to emigration
into Minnesota. This is well; and it is to
he hoped that the noble endowment of
public schools by the generous liberality
of the Federal government, and the wise
forecast of our pioneer fathers, will have
prominent place in this essay No State
in the great West has started better in this
respect than has Minnesota and if wis
dom and SOUND discretion shall be brought
to bear on the subject, her common schools
must, at 10 distant day, compare favor
ably with those of Massachusetts, New
York, or any other States Of the Union.
But all experience has shown that the
educational system of a State must be the
subject of gradual development. 1t can
not be brought to perfection in a da! nor
in many years Though all will admit that
as the growth of our Western States is
more rapid than was that of the Eastern,
SO our educational system may be, and
should be, matured in much less tine than
were those of the East.
The public schools of St. Paul, as they
have been conducted for the last two or
three years, are the pride of the State,
and the admiration of all visitors fiom the
old States. A high order of teaching tall
ent has been engaged, and the city author
tiles have not been "penny wise' in the
erection of buildings and the nrnshing Of
facilities for carrying forward the work be-
fore them.
Just at this time, however, little sem
sation is being manifested on the subject
of I" graded schools" For some years
some parents have desired to have their
children instructed in sciences not named
in the early schedule defining our course