American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-08-31
educational department.
American Education.

should be decided in the mind of every
person aspiring to become an efficient in
structor of American youth.
Much has been said at various times,
and by various persons, in regard to an
"English Education" To us, the ex-
preston has ever seemed to be exceed
ingIy inappropriate. Taken in literal
sense, it can properly comprehend nothing
beyond knowledge of the English Ian
guage; and scarcely that, for one can
hardly conceive of an education being
literally English, French, German or
American. But in broader light, what
have we in America to do with an En-
gltsh education? A certain course of in
struction may be well suited to the sea-
girt isle, but very far from being adapted
to our land.
The education about which we should
talk, and at which we should aim, is an
American education. And we maintain
that the true design Of our schools is to
give such course Of training to our youth.
1t may be maintained with some ap-
parent force, that the proper sphere of
our public schools is simply to impart the
common rudiments of education, in as
much as it is impossible for the majority
Of persons to have more than very ordi-
nary literary requirements. This is a
truth useless to deny, though it is far from
sufficient to show that we ought not to
extend TO as many as possible that degree
and that kind of education requisite to
the formation Of worthy and capable
citizen. As it is not our present purpose
to discuss the negative points, we viii Of
fer few suggestions on,what We conceive
to be the true scope of our system of in
struction
Although in the usual hypothesis of
society and of the necessities for its for
nation and maintenance, the imparting Of
instruction to youth is not given as one of
its objects, yet among people like our
selves, it is difficult to understand how we
can look upon it as else, than one of the
most legitimate aims Of duly organized
State. 1t is the duty of State to per-
petuate its own existence, then. certainly,
it is its equal obligation to be chief in the
cause Of general education. For how
can a Free State be Porpetuated save by
the intelligence of its citizens And
how does it speak for State dependent
for its life on the virtue and wisdom Of.
its masses, 70 leave the instruction of youth
to the charity and enterprise of indiyidu-
ais or churches?
4hen should its first duty be to enable
every man and woman to read with ease
and write our noble English language
For the promotion Of business and fair
dealing in business, every man should
have a tolorablo accuracy in figures.
The Geography of America ought to
be more studied in our schools. The
Geography, descriptive and physical, of
our country in its minute detail should be
fastened on the mind of all youth, to i'm
press them with the extent power and
grandeur of their native or adopted land.
The study of our language as a science
that is to say, the study of its Gram
mer should be made to play an important
part. For after one has sweated in the
endeavor to obtain mastering of native
speech, he will likely have keen desire
to see, as also taste to appreciate, its
beauties as displayed in chaste, instruc-
tive literary efforts. Moreover, by sprca-
ding knowledge of the Grammerof our
language, we tend to make easy and cor
rect takers, and thus promote social in
tcrcourse.
The history Of our America abounds
with truth stranger than fiction, recital as
as true, lessons as instructive as
they are enlivening, aud yet it is but lit
tie studied in our schools.
These studies should be composed
among those pursued even in the hum
blest Of our schools. The privilege of
these should be laid before the least aspi-
ring of the land.
There are other studies scarcely less
important, that perhaps cannot be laid
before all, yet should be laid before as
many as possible. But of these we defer
to speak to a more convenient season.
While the art of reading and writing
should be impaired to all, and knowledge
of our history be disseminated as widely
as possible, and good Acquaintance with
the principles of our language be extern
ded to as many as could receive it, there
are other branches of higher range that
should not be forgotten. Mathematics
at least as high as surveying, should be
comprehended in any well digested, com