The Van Buren press., 1868-11-17
VAN buren,, ARK, Nov, 8, '6S.
To the citizens Of Cra,Jord Cosnty:

Friends of Education; to many of you
! am stranger. To some of your best
citizens l am known, and hope soon to
be better known. Not only to those with
whom | am already acquainted, but with
al of you who have an interest in advanc-
ing the great work of Education among
the masses of the people, and especially
among the children and youth of the
present age, upon whom must shortly
rest the future destiny of a great Nation.
To a great people in similar circum-
stances with ourselves, an inspired poet
once said: ..
"lnstead Of those, their Fathers dear.
Their children thou mayst take,
And in all places OF the earth
Them noble Princes make
The important question to you and me
is, How shall we best prepare our chill
dren to perform, intelligently and well,
their part in the great drama of life,
meeting manfully, aud graphing success
fully with those difficulties which our ex-
perience teaches us are hard to be borne !!
May we not adopt some system which
will enable them TO meet and master with
ali Educated Forttude the fearful re-
sponsibilities of the future, which have
proved so disastrous TO us in the past. In
answer to this important question, | can
say to you, that the Legislature of 1866
and wisely and judiciousIy enacted a
law providing q School Fund of one fifth
of one per cent on the taxable property
of the State, from which there is about
$1,000 due and ready to be paid for the
benefit of the children and youth of your
county The late Legislature of this
State devised plan and enacted a law by
which system of Free Common Schools
should be established and maintained
throughout the State This system, in
general, is similar to the School Laws Of
many of our sister States-under a iu-
dicious management of which they have
become noted for their intelligence pros
perity. and greatness, and with hearty
cooperation on your part, with an eco
nomical execution Of the law on the par
Of the school officers, this system must
and will become the safe guard and pride
Of the great State ofArkansas.
1t has been truthfulIy said, . The Sab
bath School is the hope of the Church"
Equally true is it that the Common
School is the hope Of the State. Then let
us encourage, cherish and cultivate each
branch of so important hope, until
Church and State Though separate and
distinct) alike shall be elevated far above
their present standard, through the intel
ligence of the people, primarily introduce
ed, fostered, cultivated and developed by
the system Of Free Common Schools
from which neither the children of the
rich or poor are excluded
The School Law will soon be in the
hands of the School Trustees of each Dis
trict, when / hope you each will investi-
gate for yourselves; and that which is
meritorious let MS adopt; that which is
not let us have amended through the
proper channel, so that the best interests
of oil may be subseryed, and the advan-
tages of a good education be placed with.
in the reach Of every child in the land.
Notices Of a Public Examination OF
Teachers, in this place, has been circu.
lated for some time hope to meet with
a sufficient number Of applicants at least
to teach the schools fthis county; as by
a provision Of the School Law, the Dis
trict that does not have school of three
months forfeits its appropriation for the
following school year ....-
aS.at.s f, +. HENDERSON,
Circuit Supt Pub Int. Sd Jud. Dist.
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