The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1866-03-17

/ the w est, has established at Bloomin oton
la Normal University on which she has Al.
ready expended more than quarter million
dollars. Of the number of its graduates
we may form some idea from the fact that
a regiment of volunteers was raised and off
tcerered from It's members, commanded bv
its first Principal, who for distinguished ser
vices was shortly afterwards made Briga-
der General. We are not at all unmind-
full of the vast disparity in point of fesour-
ces between the great State of Illinois and
our own Kansas, but still think we NAV
follow her example In this respect, though
of course keeping long distance behind.
We Rould be the last to advocate an in
tdiseriminate and lavish expenditure by the
State, but a wise liherality is not inconsistent
with the most rigid economy, and small
percentage of the money now wasted, as we
have shown for lack of qualified teachers,
will be amply sufficient to plaso the Nor
mai school in a condition to supply the
want at no distant day
We read in the sacred volume of inspira-
ton that "Ihere as that soATTERETH AND
get INCREAsETH; and that there IS that WITH
HoLDETH MORE THAN MEET, BUT IT TENDETH
TO POVERTY" The farmer who refuses to
must not complain that his fields are bar
rem, or overgrOwn with weeds; nor must
lawmakers who withhold the means of ed
ucating the people be surprised if ignorance
beget idleness, and idleness beget laWless-
ness, while ineficiency from lack of proper
mental stimulus to exertion, dries up the
sources of revenue, and furnishes work for
vagrant laws, courts, jurors and jails, which
the seasonable labors of the schoolmaster
would have rendered unnecessary.
We do well to guard carefully tie treas
ure of the State, but children of the State
are its greatest treasure, it's choices Jewels,
precious stones in the temple of it's pros
perity. Let US see to it that that greatest
treasure is not wasted, and those jewels do
not lack their appropriate setting.
While we justly and deeply mourn the
loss Of the thousands who for freedom and
country's sake have 80 nobly laid down
their lives, let US take heed that other thous
ands and tens of thousands ale not need
lessly left to the State by being left to use
aimless and useless lives, for lack of the
vitalizing and quickening influence of edu
cation; for by education we do not of course
mean simply the amount of knowledge, Gas
of Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic as far
as the rule of three.'') but the systematic
training and development which shall give
US sound minds in sound bodies, and lead
to the acquisition of those habits-o order,
industry and economy which shall fit the
whole man or woman for the active duties
and responsibilities of life.
Such an education may and should be
impaired in our common or district schools,
but will not be except by teachers trained
expressly and carefully for the work.
The GREAT TEACHER has told US that eff
the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into
the ditch" 1t is we'll for philanthropy to
lift up those who have fallen, but it is bet
ter for craftsmanship to provide means
whereby all may be so guided, warned and
strengthened, that they shall not fall. The
district schools are the peoples schools.
They belong to the masses, those who fight.
and pay and vote. They are nurseries of
that true democracy upon which our insti.
buttons are based; ignoring all caste, and
rendering class legislation impossible. Their
success is the success of the Republican
system, and hence no reasonable pains or
expense should be spared to render them
effective to that end.
The fact has been amply demonstrated
that professional schools, are of immense
advantage in fitting and preparing men for
usefulness in their respective professions.
Theological schools, medical schools law
schools, schools of engineering, military
schools, naval schools, and schools, of de-
sign, are everywhere established, and have
proved of the highest utility. In the me-
chanic arts the case is still stronger. No
man presumes to hold himself out to the
public as blacksmith. carpenter or shoe
maker, until he has spent years of appren-
fticeship, under careful and experienced in
structors, to qualify him for his vocation.
In fact those pursuits having to do with the
practical business of life in such a manner
that the results of good and bad workman
ship are Immediately apparent, that common
sense of mankind has not been slow to dis
criminate between them, and to patronize
only the skilled workman.
No man of sense about to undertake a
journey of hundred miles, would entrust
the shoeing OF his horse to person with
out actual experience in the business though
a man who has many times seen it done,
should offer to shoe them for half price.
Will he entfust the preparation of his
children for the Journey Of life, to teacher
without experience Thousands have al
ready done so, and their children are now
hObbling painfully along the highways and
byways-of life. mentally crippled, without
knowing, perhaps, by whose thoughtless-
ness they became SO.
The sculptor who proposes to embody
his ideal conceptions of sy mmetry and beau
ty in enduring marble, presumes not to en-
ter upon his work until by long years of pa
tent and earnest study. under the ablest
masters, he has imbued his mind with all
the 2knoWledgsl and traditional lore of his
profession, and filed his brain with ideal
forms of beauty till. they haunt his very
dreams. Then and not till then he seizes
the chisel, and perhaps gives to the world a