The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-07-01


ity are depending most intimately and essen
tally on the exertions of educated, liberal
minded men, who have the wisdom to ap-
prehend, and the steadIness to preserve those
great principles of intellectual cultivation
and moral guidance which have enlightened
the world, combating the scrutiny OF ages
In days gone 10y to he possessed of an or.li
nary common school education included only
some slight knowledge of reading and
writing, spelling and arithmetic, but in the
advancement OF the interests OF Education,
we find these to include only a small pro-
portion of the instruction now to be gained
in the best public schools of the Northern
States. In many of them we have noticed
q standard of learning, suitable to prepare
poor mans child to occupy no inferior posi-
tion in society. after having pursued the
whole course OF studies, which are consid-
cred requisite to the possession of good,
common school education in modern times.
We would not, however, presume tn advance
the idea of universal scholarship. This
would not suit the order of general, intelec-
tual faculties, but we do urge the i'm
por.ance of having in the common schools of
North Carolina as elaborated a standard of
education, rs any other State in the Union
may possess. Such, for instance, as will
create emulation, and incite the ambition of
pupils to attain the highest grade of schol-
arship. All will not reach it; but those,
who are so fortunate, will be honors to the
State and the best guardians of its liberties.
Experience has verified the axiom of Pope:
Gone science only can one genius fit,
So vast is art,-sO narrow human wit"
And perhaps no man, however good the
foundation, upon which he had reared his
superstrpcture of knowledge, has e9celled
in more' than one or two departments of
learning. Yet we must all admit, that the
better the standard of instruction, the high
er will be the grade of scholarship attain
able, and it is only poor compliment to any
man of limited means to attempt to furnish
his child with an education, and then give
it, instead, few lessons in the rudiments OF
learning, without any firm and lasting foun-
dation for it to build upon.
What the public most stand in need of at
this time is liberal, judiciOus, and univer-
sal system of education, which may be cal
culated to arouse the latent energies and
growing intellects of the young to greater
exertions in the pursuit of knowledge.
u uCCoIlpllSH tUc JCltCi otuiuu pan
exhibits model of republican equality and
harmonious arrangement which proposes
system for the diffusion OF knowledge
through the whole mass of the people, adj
mirably contrived by the wisdom OF one of
Americas greatest and hest statesmen. This
plan proposes "the division of the State into
districts, and the ub.distncts of these, into
wards, called Hundreds" of five or six miles
square, according to the population and the
size of the district. In each ward was to
be established an elementary school, in
which should be taught reading, writing
and common arithmetic All children, male
or female, resident in the ward or hundred,
were to be entitled to three years ins;rnc-
ton at the school, free ofany expenses. In
each district was to be established an Acad-
envy or Grammar school to be supported at
the public expense, in which should be
taught the classics, grammar, geography
and the higher branches of mathematics"
Even at this late clay the adoption of such
a plan as the foregoing, would be frsught
with the best and greatest advantages.
knowledge was considered by the illustri-
Gus author of the great Declaration of Inde-
pendence as the keystone of the politi-
cal arch " in popular governments, and the
surest basis for permanent freedom and
prosperity. Let US then consider, as para
mount to all other considerations. the estab-
lisnment of universal system of education,
which shall offer like advantages to all our
people, and place the means of knowledge
and improvement at the door of the hum
blest and poorest child in the land. Great
talents, great fortunes, great intellectual at
tainments are the lot of few, and great &C.
lebrity the lot of tswer still. But is there
nothing valuable and praiseworthy unless
surrounded by the blazonry of greatness
Why, for instance, should benevolent en-
thusiasm kindle with the mere mention of
the name of Howard2 1t is not that his
talents or his fortune were originally so much
superior to others; but because he applied
them to the advancement of benefcent pur-
poses,-tiat he lived, not for himself, but
for the good of others. With such an ex-
ample OF disinterested generosity and phi
lanthropy in one man for the relief OF hu-
man suffering, we would do we'll in these
times to look to the diffusion of knowledge
in our midst, and seek thereby to ameliorate
the condition of the uneducatetl masses of
our population. Ifsuch, happily, should be
our aim, we must show some liberality in our
system of education, and as political
economists, contriye for the advancement of
our country, as the public spirited citizen
contrives for the improvement of his town;
as the affecti0nate parent contrives for the
welfare of his family, SO must all the people
of North Carolina cOntrive for the improve
ment and advancement of the cause of pub
lie education. We are now soon to enter
upon new era of usefulness, and it is to he
hoped that we may not be hampered in the
outset with dead notions or exploded ideas
of intellectual prosperity. Our people need
instruction. How many cannot read or
write? The number is astonishing; but if
the few hints we have attempted to give
can be acted upon, in the future, we may
look for great improvement. Concentrated
and preserving efforts have accomplished
great deal for the good of the State already,
but still how vast is the scope for our gener-
osity how much ignorance there is to be
instructed how many sad errors to be cor
rected! Our noble and beloved State has
taken grand and dauntless stand in the
very front rank of the great Republican
army, and her citizens are marching in solid
phalanx in defence of freedoms principles
They are holy ; they are righteous; the same
in defence of which our revolutionary faith
ers fought and died, and let us endeavor
never to be unmindful of the great names
that deck the historic pages of our native
State Among the intellectual giants of the
past, are numbered the best and proudest
examples OF human greatness and patriotism.
We may mention her Davie, Stanly. Moore,
Haywood, Castor, Iredell, Henderson, be-
sides host of Others long since released
from earthly cares and ambitions; yet still,
as the eye of the lover of true greatness