Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-05-07
Written for the Herald,
General Intelligence.

General Intelligence.
One thing has struck me as being
ratherpeculiar The unaccountable,
uncalled for and unnecessary lack
Of general intelligence among our
young people, right here in our on
terprising little county of Fayette.
l say uncalled for and unnecessary,
because there is no lack Of means
and other facilities, nor do we live
in land of poverty, anarchy, des-
potism and ignorance, where there
are no books, periodicals, tele-
graphs and railroads.&c. churches
and schools. Nevertheless, there
is a vast-and criminal-amount
of general ignorance; and very
few of our youth have any correct
knowledge Of general matters away
from the farm and home, outside
of the immediate neighborhood
or of the common text books in
school. To become satisfied that ]
am correct in this assertion, let any
one 90 into our Sabbath Schools,
and examine the Oldest scholars
and most advanced classes on BIZ
Bile facts and Bible history, and he
will be astonished at the ignorance
on these subjects, and be led to
conclude that three-fourths of the
families must be destitute Of that
book.
Again Let him enter our most
advanced Day Schools, and he will
ascertain, proper investigation,
that beyond a probability or a
doubt, the most advanced pupils
have scarcely any practical knowl-
edge and very little general infor-
nation. 1 have repeatedly been
chagrined aud mortified with this.
state of affairs. Eor instance, eX
anime them on Government-and
ours in particular. How many of
our youthdo you suppose can give
you any definite information on
these points? Not one in fifty
Ask them about the coordinate
Departments or branches of our
Government; the officers of each; ;
how chosen; how long they hold
Office; the peculiar duties-of eaclh
etc, and they will either "sing
num-, or give you most unsatistac-
tory, if not ridiculous, answers.
And so on through the whole cata-
logue, with similar results.
Now, as every effect must have a
cause, it becomes us to inquire what
is the cause of this disgraceful state
Of affairs; or rather, What are the
causes? This opens up too wide
a field for us to attempt to occupy
in a newspaper article; but a few
hints may proitably be given;
l. A great mistake on the part
of parents in refusing or neglocting
to furnish the family with,a liberal
supply Of newspapers. and other
valuable periodicals, mostly because
they cost few cents-forgetting
that ignorance is the most costly
"article" in any family. On this
point see Thoughts for|Parents. J
2. The almighty Dollar" being
the only God worshipped by the
majority Of parents, the great strug-
gle is to worship it acceptably
hence, every effort is in thar direc-
ton, and the special and constant
training of the child is to that sole
end. Any knowledge outside Of
how to make "thc dollar" is not
worth possessing, ugt
In this, as in many other things,
cupidity finally defeats its own OBJ
iect .hop, is easily seen by the close
observer But the unfortunate and
ruinous spirit thus engendered. has
entered into the Church and the
School, and become the controlling
element in both these vital institu-
tions. With the Church I shall
not meddle; but as sit is in my
line" l may be permitted to show
up some of its deleterious workings
in the School, and call attention to
the blighting effects it has produced
upon our youth; and in my next l