American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-06-21
COMMUNICATIONS.


Mr.. EDITOR - While in my room to-
day, watching the rain descending in per-
feet torrents; my mind instinctively wan
dered upon the subject of Education
its benefits and defects; and while pom
deriug upon the various methods of pro
curing knowledge, and the duties of pa
rents and teachers toward the rising gene
ratioa. | resolved to speak word thro'
the medium of your paper:
Education is a subject worthy of our re-
gard and closest attention; in order that
the rising generation may be truly bene-
flied by the educational training which
they now receive at our hands
In the first place, one great error stands
out prominently before us, which we must
strive to remedy. 1t is simply this -
Many teachers, and and even parents, re-
gard literary education sufficient to meet
all demands in the future lives of their
pupils or children; not even giving them
selves the slightest thought with regard
to their moral or physical education.
How often do we hear the remark, that
such and such persons '' have finished
education, and can learn no more, to their
advantage in life" This certainly is
sad mistake, and here is where the error
is to be found, and the point which we
should labor earnestly to remedy. As a
proof of the utter fallacy of the assertion
that the education of an individual is
" finished, whose moral and physical
training has been neglected follow these
self-same individuals in their daily voca-
tions and walk, and you will notice plainly
the. necessity for improvement in the di-
rection indicated in the above remarks
The most learned intellectually have fail
ed to ascend the hill of science so far as to
become perfect.
The first and great starting point shonld
be moral education this should be re-
garded as the true foundation upon which
to build all our future hopes and prospects.
Now, the question arises who is to incul-
cate this moral training or education into
the mind of the chiId-th parent or
teacher? And here let me say, the pa
rent is in duty bound aud cannot avoid
the responsibility to ut least, lend help
ing hand, to roll on the car Of moral
training say. parents must assist the
teacher; not as a mere assertion, do | say
1t; not at random not as authority on
my part; but | have simply asserted
nothing more nor less than natural and
eternal law Of the All-wise Creator in
defining the moral obligations that pa
rents are under to their Maker in the
proper training Of their children-and
parents cannot therefore neglect this du-
ty without violation of the highest law
TO man-and this law of moral training.
is doubly binding upon parents for its
proper and Punctual performance toward
their children.
do not wish to be understood as en-.
deayoring to screen the teacher. Some
no doubt, are engaged in teaching, who
care but little for the moral or intelectu-
al training of their pupils but [ am glad
to say that 50 far as my knowledge goes
there are but few such in our county.
ltrequires moral, generous, full, deep
and profound cultivation to be fully quail
fed to assume the responsibilities of
teacher
Here is a broad field for the display Of
those better parts of the man.
How necessary is it then, that parents
and guardians should lend helping
hand to the teacher, and thus assist him
in the great and responsible duties of i'm
parting a moral as well as Intellectual edu-
cation to the rising generation and labor
diligently to instil into the minds of the
young, the true principles of education
that they may become useful and law
abiding citizens
Finally, it must not be supposed that
education ceases at the expiration of our
common, academical or collegiate school
days 1t is then, in reality just begun
and contiL ues until life becomes extinct.
Then let us as teachers and parents, la
Dor assiduously and theoretically in the
performance of the duties which arc bin
ding upon us in the different positions
which we occupy in relation to the rising
generation; knowing that, ''what is put
into'the first OF life, is put into the whole
Of life."
The wise man has said: "Train UP
child in the way he should go; and when
he is old, he will not depart from it.
The poet has sung:
'Tis education forms the common mind,
Just as the twig bent, tn tree sinclined"
w, g, b.