The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-12-23
LET the People be educated.

in regard to the Importance of Public
Schools Z '''s ~ ~ t.
This subject is too much ignored by all our
public men. Rail roads, insurance compa-
Mes town laws, militia, &C.. seem to engross
the attention of legislators, while the educa-
ton of the youth of the country seems to be
matter of secondary importance. fa ai.F
We are glad to learn, however, that the
legislature now in session win endeavor to
adopt wholesome school law before its
final adjournment. This is highly essential
This is of more real importance than any
other subject which has come before that
body. 'A*eii s'a
It is useless for us to speak and write so
much in regard to immigration, till We
establish good system of free Schools. -gi
The people of the Northern and Eastern
States have been accustomed for many years
to sending their children to the best of
Schools, and they are not going to locate
in a State where education is not fully
provided for. The Yankee must have his
School house or academy near him, or he
will not stay. The hardy son of the MID
die States must be SO situated as to send his
boys and girls to a good School or he will
not be satisfied. None of the intelligent
emigrants from their fatherland in Europe
will come to the South unless we adopt
healthy system of Free Schools.
1t has been said, Educate your children,
and the country is safe" We think there is
a volume of meaning in this single line.
Had the masses of the people in the South
been properly educated, they never could
have been dragged into rebellion against
their government. Thousands of the poor
men of the Save States had been taught TO
hate the people of the North-to believe
that they were set of sharpers and thieves,
and that to kill them would he doing God
and their country service. The leaders,
themselves men of culture, many of whom
had been educated by the Government for
its service, did not want to see the masses
intelligent. The same spirit which pro-
hibited the black man from learning to read
the Bible, operated against the elevation of
the poor white man. Slavery and general
intelligence can never exist together.
Teach man to read, Understandings, and
he will be independent.
Henry A Wise once thanked God that
there was not newspaper published in his
congressional district. Alas where is old
Virginia to days And how did she appear
to intelligent communities in the fall of
1859, when old John Brown and his twenty
followers scared the whole State, and Wise,
its governor. out of their wits2 Had the
people of the "old Dominion and the
"Old North State" been provided with
Schools by their rulers, instead of being
taught to hate every thing that came from
the North, they never could have been con-
scripted into rebel army, but would have
remained loyal to the United States.
The system existing in this State before
the war. was imperfect and unjust. The
public fund was distributed according to
federal population. This being the Case,
even the Yhlte children were not treated
alike. No colored child was allowed to at
tend free school, and no provision was
made for them to be educated Now all
classes will be equally taxed, and all classes
arc to have schools and are required to at
tend them. A brighter day is dawning.
We hope our lawmakers will act wisely
and promptly. The youth in many locali-
: ties are growing up in ignorance. Schools
should be opened in every neighborhood
during the coming year. Let the Legisa-
ture be as energetic aud determined as the
State Superintendent is, and all will be
well. ..f sF ...,.., a.....- ...-.s- q.