The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-01-20
EDUCATION. s
IS 9s5 sos 20 For the Standard.
Our Youth Their Education (.

4hESsfsS. I1D1TOhS - uuSe ". once speak
ing TO SOME youths who were pursuing an
education, said, ITO you, and sucl as you,
(. will be confided in deposit the institutions
y OF our renowned and beloved country This
is no less applicable now than thirty years
ago, when uttered at Chapel Hill. for her
interests at all times arc confided to those
who once were her children. How impor-
tant then for those who now hold the de
posit, and who desire to see her ever the
renowned of nations, leading the march of
man to mis- greatest mission to look faith
! fully to the proper training Of their success
sors.
We may build the proper institutions,
and wisely legislate for our conntry's future
greatness, but it will all be vain, unless her
future trustees are worthy Of. the trust com
mitted to them. One generation cannot
make country what she should be- A ma /;
tIons greatness is progressive, and hence
there must be advance not of one, but all and
every generation. The question with us
now should he, /" How can we act, what can
we do. that will most advance our countrys
greatness What does she claim at our
hands ?" 4
A moments reflection must force us To
feel the pressing duty of not only working
for her pressing good, but Of bending our
energies to fit those for duty who shall soon
= stand in our stead. Hence the work of
faithfully attending at onceto the education
of our youth. 55siss =
1t is cheering to one who loves his colin
try, and his State especially, to see wise
recommendations coming from the Superin-s
tendent of Public Schools to the General
Assembly, but especially so when he secs the
latter acting worthy of his cause Too much
importance cannot he attached tothe public
schools of a country For if we mistake not,
here is the clue to nations permanent
prosperity. s}s ss"' 'st
Schools, in which the public are taught are
country's strongest bulwarks, or by perver-
sion they may be her greatest enemies. And
this brings us to the thought we would sub
NIT to those who are laboring for our country's
good-her youth. The question has been
asked, and with just cause, in regard to the
Public Free Schools of our State, "What
have they in the main profted us 2" 1 am
glad such a question has sprung; it
is the harbinger of bright day. None
doubt the worth of an education, but manyE
have questioned in our State the profit of
free schools as we have had them. Have they
done this because they suspected. their. de-
sign9 By no means; but because they have
failed to meet the law of their creation, to
accomplish the object of their originators.
What desire of the patriot more noble than,
that of properly educating the youth of his
country9 What object more worthy the
wise legislation of her citizens Still are not
the barriers to nations prosperity and the
flood 7gates of her sadEefsity fonnd in the
improper education of her youth2 If SO,
wonder not then. that we as State, are
| still in the back ground, still laundering
amidst breakers of sailing on the
calm bosom of an unrufled prosperity.
What should be the chief design Of a
school9 Have we not missed it as educators?
Go to the Common Schools of our State,
where the corner-stones of our future great
ness are being laid Z; mark the course of our
teachers-lean who they are, what their
abilities with the patrons, and
thus see what we have madethe chief object
of such schools. Mirra6ite dictu Are they
not like " sounding brass and tinkling GYM
bals7 For instance, attend the close of our
common public schools. Parents relatives
and friends in numbers great" are there
to witness the proficiency of the children.
First, the examination (so-called) if there
be any, is hurried through, the pupils work.
ing the examples and answering the ques-
tions almost before the teacher can intelli-
gibly announce them Qor they know them
| 10y memory the teacher tells that the diffe
rent classes have gone through their hooks
| in very short time; then comes the. erhi-
| btion !! defamation and conpositieh, the
latter all borrowed by permission of the
teacher, as we'll as the former. Parents and
| spectators return home rejoicing at the fine
progress of the pupils, and greatly admiring
the teacher as a model man to educate
children This, Mr.. Editor, is no caricature,
we have it in our country. Now, sir, in
what consists the proficiency of the pupils 2
What, practically, is the object of 1such
teaching9 -Ostentation I and that bor7oaoed
too e. Sensible men see the tendency of
such, and why should they he censured for
| questioning thepropriety and benefit of such
schools In such may be found one, at
least very important key to unlock the cause
| of State and national calaniities a solution
| to the adversities of Republican govern
| ments. hlzqf5G aE 3li9iii!l1I m 4s--.S
The desire of schools should be twofold;
| the first and greatest Object shohld'be to
| train themind to particularize and to think
conseeutaeely The mind that can do this,
though unlettered, may be of great use to a
| country. And surely in our common schools
| where the children go, while their minds are
| assuming and forming their future caste, is
| the place and time for chtraining.a THE
second object of. a school should be to i'm
| part information, such as shall he available
to therhiid all through life. Such in theory
and practice should be the design of all
schools And that school, whose object is
not such, instead of blessing; is, almost, a
curse to our country Y5si 80 ~ s5lihe
And further, Mr. Editor, I sometimes
think that it would be better to have no
schools. than such as have been, and are be-
ing taught in some sections of our State.
Ample funds may he voted, and able super
intendents of schools may be elected, but an
efficient teachers willthwart a country great
ness. saii4i) a.aRjesd MORE ANON.
Davidson, N. G.. .esi-al
"a MONUMENT TO DR. CoLToN-Thc pupils
/ of the late Rev. Simeon Cotton, as an ,,eyi-
dence Of their appreciation of his character
and labors, propose to raise an amount suf-
ficient to erect suitable monument to mark
the place where his mortal remains repose.
Individual contributions are limited, SO
as not to exceed five dollars. ,sai sinnae ?
Rev. Messrs. Collin Shaw and N. Mckay,
with Capt. David RI lIu1ehison, of this city,
and Col. q. McKethan, of Fayetteville, will
received contributions and carry out the de
y sign of the contributors.
| This is indeed a most proper movement
| No men have contributed more to the real
and permanent welfare of the State. than