The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-07-19

HIGHER Ed tATlON.--ReV. AIF. DuTuctlI
oftho Second Presbyterian church, last eve
ming devoted his discourse tothe necessity OF
establishing an Academy at our city where
the graduates Of our common schools" may
be polished up to the desired standard, and
rendered fit to move in the most exalted
society. The Rim falls into line, this morn.
ing, and supports the project, but doesn't
state who the parties are who desire TO es.
tabl!ah such an institution here. We have
no objection 10 seeing such an enterprise
placed on foot, but we object to the policy
Of depreciating the reputation Of our public
schools 10 the manner that that pape. has
chosen to do, 10 order to make room for the
coming concern. If any one wishes to open
an Academy here let him do 30 by all
means, but it does not follow that our pub.
lie schools should be represented as worth
less in order to guarantee the success Of the
other. We have excellent public schools,
and the young man or woman who has
| graduated from them, with little self cul.
| ture need not be ashamed Of the attain.
ments acquired there. The true policy is,
to elevate the standard ofour public schools.
To do this, we have but to increase the
salaries of our teachers, and thus be able to
command the services Of those who would
grace the halls of any Academy, if we have
not already secured them II our high
school has not yet reached that state Of eff
cheney which would euabeit to compare fay
orably with any private institution of learn
ing which could be sustained here, let
the matter be attended to at once.
! We ave aware OF the happy result
| which would follow the establish.
ment Of superior school at this ci:y,--a
school Of such character a. would form
an Involvement for parents to locate here
solely for the education Of their children,
| but to build up such school, il is not nee.
essary to abandon the public system. Let
| US rather place our public schools on such
footing that private institutions can
not over shadow them. Let US
place them on such footing that their
fame will extend throughout the state, and
form powerful auxiliary in drawing popu.
laton to this center. This is the true idea,
and the grandest conception Of the noble
men who originated the scheme Of making
education as free as water, and thus batter
ing down the barriers Of caste and assump.
ton. The Rim says:
Thepaintul, pressing want of such school
in the city, is everywhere apparent. Young
men of sixteen aud eighteen YEAR,, who have
gone through the limited course of our high
schools, are constantly seeking employment in
stores and elsewhere, or spending their precious
time lettering about the streets. No ambition
Is inspired in them for anything beyond the drudg-
cry OF every day lite-no thrstlng for that
higher knowledge, without which few men at this
day can hope to attain cminence. The same il
true OF the young ladies.
That our young men are constantly seek.
ing employment after graduating at our
public schools may be very vulgar, but it
shows that they appreciate the earnestness
Of the battle of life, and "eager for the
fray lose no time in commencing the con.
hict. The "drudgery of every day life"
may be very abhorrent to those fine sensi
tive organizations who find something heav.
emily in loIling in the shade and staring at
'the snowy clouds that float across the
azure main" but such nouentities are not
the victors in the struggles before them,
and are rarely of any use to themselves or
any body else. Four ffths of the merchants
of Rock Island event through common
schools, and were so matter of fact as to
seek employment in stores" Immediately |
thereafter,
If we are to have first class educational
institute at Rock Island, and we are in fay. |
or OF the project, let it not be built up by |
the disparagement of our public school sys.
TEN.