The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-02-22
Common School Education.

Common School Education.
The following excellent remarks on this
subject were recently delivered by DR.. preat.
ley. an eminent divine Of ri,,shurS, in ice.
turc bciorcn large concoursc OF the citizens
Of that city. We endorse every word Of what
he says:
lie observed that every individual in The
Republic il being educated in some way or
other. 1t is impossible thut any Que can exist
without being educated in good or in evil, and
it il VI pre.cminent Importance TINT We who
love orr country should secure the very best
education 20 our citizens in IN intellectual,
moral and physical point of view. III order to
secure the HiaXimu!n Of culture, and with cul-
ture, happiness.
1t does ny, 20 much matter in y monarchy,
if all its subjects are educated or not provid-
ell the rulers ure educated; but III republic
where all aro rulers, present or in prospect.
il is absolutely Indispensable that they be
educated, and educated too, in the mos, Gu
lighicncd manner.
Now, the only way in which this can be
doue, is by coercion, by law, and the cstah'
lishment aud the liberal support Of public
schools by State ,axes.
:hort sighted men grunblc Mt taxes for
schools, az indeed for NIL taxes. They would
rather pay money for jails, reform asylunIS,
police offices, &C.. ,han contribute to our pub
lie schools, where the evil is nippcd i'll the bud,
and the young citizen brought up III intcIli-
gcnce aud virtue.
No, only should there be coercion in Ia :,
bu; there should be coercion in attendance.
II is so on tho continent OF Europe, and,
since it is Of such primary Importance to the
State that the children be educated, it should
be enforced here. The selfish parent should
be compelled to send his child to school AT
present he takes him from school n, tender
years, places him in n Workshop, and for the
paltry sum he receives per week he will sac
rihce his child's future prospects and jeopar-
die tn. interests Of the State.
Make our schools what they should be.
Rnisr them. Spend your time and money
literally for them, and private. schools will
die Out. There is no limit to education that
MAY be impaired in our schools.
The child Of the poorest citizen in our land
may, in the future, Le called 10 I'LL the highest
Office in the land, and why should We BY n
mean parsiaony deprive him Of the means nj
the public expenses, Of securing the most lib
eral education. But, snys the rigid economist,
",his will cost money" and he is frightened
at the expense. "Ycs, but though it costs
much in the present, it will pay we'll in the
end. What is our money to the elevation OF
the children of our country. II is sordid,
M row-mipdcd economy.
We mus, make our schools embrace all
branches Of education from the lowest 10 the
highest, and then VIC must have the best
teachers, and BY best teacher mean n teacher
who has talent, aptncss TO teach, patient, gen.
tie, firm, able for every emergency, thorough
Is qualified men and women who will make
teaching profession, who will throw ali their
energies, all their talent into the work, who
will bring to the cause that ardent love Of ii
in which alone they Gun meet with success.
What then must be done? Pay teachers
that ratio Of salary that sholl command the
hiuhcs, talent in the land. "The dearest
thing on earth is cheap education" Many
poor lad is ruined and his prospects blight.
ed 10y bad teaching. How is our country 10
be raised 10 that position Of honor among the
nations Of the world, il We arc not willing
10 tax ourselves 10 procure the best schools
and the best teachers in the world. There
mus, be competition for the Office Of teacher.
It must be sought after by our choicest talent.
The sou Of tue poor man should no longer be
robbed. lilo should have the best teachers
tina, Gun be procured, and as citizens, it is our
duty to provide them. That they c"n be PRO,
cured at the present rate Of salnry is absurd
70 expect. 1t is true that teachers may be
had in abundance even ut these uretched sti-
pends bu, they can scarcely be worth having,
and these in turn can be superseded by other,
who will teach for . yet lower salary, until
the public schools 80 down, down, and cry
is raised TO do awny with them altogether.
Then We shall hove 10 start anew, and all the
work mus, be done over again.
Il is shame 10 Cypress the men and women
who educate our children. The result Of these
starvation salaries will be disastrous in the
end. |. will place the education Of the future
generation in the hands Of those, pho, being
incompetent, riH be only xorthy Of the salary
5lDSH.