Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-09-29
SEND aHEm no SCHOOL,.

If there is anything that is valuable, we
may say Invaluable, to the young, it is edu-
cation. And by this we mean, that thorough
discipline and practical instruction, which
fits one for the duties of life, and more par
ticularly the profession Or business he is to
follow. But even an imperfect or partial ed
ucation, is worth great deal, when it is all
one can have, and every fragment of knowl.
edge is precious Happy would it be for ALL
II they could realize this, in time to make a
wise improvement of their opportunities
we have often been impressed with the
earnestness of manner, and the strong ex.
pressions of regret which have fallen from
those who in early life had enjoyed but lin
tied opportunities for an education. or had
through their own fault or that of their ma.
rents, failed to improve such as were offered.
ferhaps they had been successful in business.
and by their position in society frequently
called to places of responsibility and trust,
and being persons of natural good sense,
fine feelings, and an ambitious turn of mind,
had often had their pride mortified, and
their defects made evident to themselves if
not to others, by being placed in situations
where they had felt the need of more educa-
tion than they possessed
In consequence of this deficiency their
usefulness had been in measure circum.
seribed and their sources of enjoyment lin
itedi while it was now too late wholly to sup.
ply the defect.
Reading and observation may do much for
one, and person of natural good sense and
tact, will cover his deficiencies and get along
with surprising success. Yet nothing can
supply the want of thorough culture in youth
the period when it is most readily and
perfectly acquired, and makes the most abid
ing impression. Once ours at the right pc
Fiod Of life, it isthe most valuable possession
we can have. 1t is the most reliable riches
the best possible start in life. With dis
ciplined mind and correct habits, Young
man may start in his career, with the fairest
prospects of success, This is the best nher.
itance parent can leave his child Riches
may disappear, health be destroyed the
promises of friends kept to the eur and bro.
ken to the heart, prove worthless. But
good education will serve one in Sickness
and health, and stand by him in every time
of need.
In tree country like ours, where the sta
oility OF the government depends upon tn
virtue and intelligence of the people. ani
~nere the highest positions of profit an, trust
are 2nen to all,-education, and all that per
tainssto its prosperity, assumes an impor
tance which it is difficult to estimate, and
impossible to over-estimate Whatever else
we neglect, we must not, we cannot neglect
our schools. A democratic republican gov
ernment, cannot possibly stand for any
length of time, without high degree of in
telligence.
Thus it will be seen that for parents or
guardians to keep children at home, or allow
them to neglect their schools, is not only in
hlcting an irreparable wrong upon the child,
but depriving society and the State, of the
best part of the oitizen-his intelligence, and
Intelligent support-and it may be, cutting
oil the staff upon which they themselves
might lean IN Old age. The child will have
reason to blame the parent, and the parent
to reproach himself as long as he lives if he
fail to give those whom God has placed in his
care, the very best advantages Cor mental
culture, that are in his power to bestow. II
is something that should not be left to taEe
Its course with wrongs that cannot be righted
OF to furnish food for regrets when those re-
grets would be utterly useless. The best
way of curing ali evil, in this as in many
other cases, is to prevent it. 1t would be
poor consolation indeed, to one who had
oeen deprived of the priceless boon of edu-
cation, with its ten thousand benefits of util
ity and happiness, to be told that those who
mad been the occasion of his being deprived
OF what can never be made up, now regretted
it, mol this does not meet the case. The
wrong isnot righted in this way.
The parent should see to it that the chill.
dren are sent to school, the education OBJ.
tained. If he neglect so to do, he is recresnt
to his high trust, and the State should sten
In and set the matter right, not permitting
the young under any pretext, to be deprived
oi what can never be made up to them, and
which would be an irreparable loss to the
country and the world One State at least
does this now Whenever those having the
care of children, neglect to send them to
school, the officers of the law, whose dutv If
IS to see this, interpose and compel them to
20 IT. or IaSe the children from their care.