American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1865-12-16
E d uCation.

sent to US BY Col, Thos. NJ. Griffin, and vs.
have read it with interest. The auth?r is
evidently impressed with the importance Of
his subject, and has made a happy effort 10
Undue the Legislature with his own senti
ments. The immediate object was TO report
the condition of the University, and this in
volved the whole subject of education. W.
should like to lay the address in full before
our readers, but for want Of space, for the
present, we can only give a clipping. We
more important matter can now occupy our
minds. Formerly, we had no such thing
properly speaking, as classes OF society, but
this we fear can continue no longer. There
will be a higher and a lower class an edu-
Gated and an uneducated class, There will
be a class who will do the thinking, and An
other who will do the manual lobor. Such
being the case, it is not difficult to see who
will be the "hewers of wood and drawers Of
water y who will be the victims of craft and
cunning who will live by their wits, and
VINO Dy lHe sweat VI WE DIUh. W must
then, equalize as far as may be by general
education, In times past the possession Of
servants has operated as a substitute for edu-
cation it relieved from the necessity of men
tai cultivation. But in our new relations,
we shall be obliged to depend upon our own
indiyidus. energy and character for position
c,s,one- w nue. fhErafOra nIIRGta
We must educate in the true sense of the
term. The MASSES must be educated, and i
must be done by no humbug patent. There
must be some systematic plan executed by
the rule of plain commo sense. Progress
must be measured not by pages and books,
by solid requirements.
Dr.. Waddell complains of the difficulty Of
students prepared for the University
aud consequently the impossibility of giving
them a thorough education. Our own notion
are, that no matter what may be the ability
and fidelity at oxford, well educated young
men cannot go forth from there until there
. better system Of preparatory education. J.
5 not easy TO comprehend Tacitus, before W
IAN decline Domiuus. 1t is difficult TO un
Calculus, before knowing something
Of va gar fractions. On this point the Chan
,ellor says:
"But let me once more plead for an enlarg.
"a system Of Preparatory Education. 1t is
here ! plant myself As AT the very commence
nent Of Reform. We can never bring this
University to that point Of usefulness and
;redit which ought to be reached, and which
must be attained, before she fulfill her high
destiny as y Seminary of the Higher Learn
ng, unless we provide the f%acllitles for pre-
1aring young men to enter in such manner
s to profit by it's advantages. Without a
'eform 10 this particular, we shall never he
to send forth our young men from
Ter walls educated as they should ne. With.
,ut il, al The noble arrangements and ap.
for the mastery of Science will never
ullv avail For these are not the true glory
# an Institution, nor the noblest ornament
# the State. The living jewels, the radiant
uminaries Of Mississippi, are her educated
Gillren. We are compelled to devise the
means Of preparing young men for College,
n we never can communicate to them the
ull benefits of a College Curriculum, for The
reason llh' DtlNU uuhDit 70 dpDItCl
te or cor prehend them they will not apply
themselves to overcome their difficulties
have proposed 10 the Board a plan which
will, | trust, in due time, be brought before
our body. This will, in my judgment, Of
er to Us the most promising prospect Of
.meliorating our condition a. to Education
t contemp stes the combination of The higA
r and lower forms Of Education all under
ne general system, and we propose to maa
commencement by the establishment Of a
University High School at or near the Uni
ersity site, under the control OF the UnIver-
ty authorities.
/ cannot omit to notice q custom still prov
lent amoug M % some extent, which it was
ondly hoped had been brought 10 a perpe'-
al end. ! allude to the unpatriOtic and
uicidal policy Of sending Southern boys to
Colleges. would resr s%Ctfally ash
{ those who pursue this course. how II car !
yer be possible for US ~ elevate our Inst
ites to a proper point Of excellence While
men refuse TO contenanee and pa.
'onize tbem2 If you will prefer The North
n Institutions, do so openly, and do roi
isingenuously assign as the reason that orr 5
re inferior, while you so act as TO keep them
'rever interior, and declare ty your conduct
lat you never will do anything to elevate
II is had enough % send our Young