The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-01-26
VOLUME o---NO. 80.
From the NorkviAs- Enquirer.
Education.

From the YorkviAe- Enquirer;
Education.
In some respects the Southern people are
we'll educated; in others they are not: The
great defect in the education of most men is
that it is not practical: The system Of educa.
tion, which has been inaugurated and praeticed
in America, is q strange one. In our schools
and colleges, pupils are taught, or pretended to
be taught, everything in art and science. In
the short space of four years they are taken
through curriculum of studies embracing
Latin, Greek, and sometimes several moderH
languages; mathematics, from simple arithme.
tic up to the most intricate calculus natural
and moral philosophy; physiology and meta
physics, together with a great many other
things, useful and ornamental. Any man Of
sense knows that no boy can get even smas-
tering Of these things in four years: The truth
is, there is good deal of humbug about tho
whole thing. Our educational system needs to
with some object in view. AS it is, young men
leave school to enter upon the duties Of life
about as we'll prepared for one thing as anoths
er, and practically, unprepared for anything.
They leave college thinking themselves well
educated. but to their utter astonishment, they
soon learn that the course which they have
pursued was eminenty fitted to make them
jack of all professions and master of none.
1t not unfrequently occurs that when young
man, after having graduated in college Of
good standing, commences the study of pro-
tession, he has to commence at the very beginl
ming. He has to learn to read and write and
spell. To his amazement, he discovers that
he has not attained the fundamental principles
of common English education. Such things
reveal the fact that there is something wrong
in some place, and that reformation is needed.
Much is said in these days; about chemical
manures. Planters are liable to be swindled
by these preparations. Designing men-and
there are not a few of them-sre ready to take
take advantage of the ignorance of the tillers
of the soil. What safeguard have our plant
ers against the manufacturers of commercial
manures7 None, only the recommendations
of some interested person, or OF some one as
ignorant of chemical laws and chemical chang-
es as themselves. Ignorance begets prejudice.
1t exposes us to the trickery of some heartless
monster, and then we array ourselves against
every discovery of any and every kind.
In the South we need educated farmers and
mechanics. 1t is not necessary that the farm
ers and mechanics be graduated in some itera-
ry college but these men ought to be well
versed in those sciences which have immediate
reference to the practice of their profession,
That old and, We may say, foolish and absurd
notion that the laboring man has no need OF
education ought to be frowned out of existence.
That is q delusion as baseless as a phantom,
which leads any one to advocate she doctrine
that ignorant men make good enough farmers
and mechanics. Such ideas are silly. They
blockade the road to agricultural and meehah-
ical progress and development. Such notions
shut the door to all Improvements in these ayo-
cations of life.
We are not at present prepared to advocate
separate schools for impartiDg practical in.
struction in agriculture and mechanics; but
we do advocate that these sciences, together
with every other useful branch of learning, be
practically taught in all our schools. The
farmers in this country depend on their mus
cles and not on their brains. Physical strength
is everything with them scientific knowledge
is most frequently despiscd. The same is true
with the mechanics. Who needs any educa~
ton to be blacksmith is often asked. ANY
man, it is frequently said, and more frequently
thought, with good pair Of arms will make
good blacksmith. Such notions ara worse
than foolish. Their tendency is to consign one
Of the most useful men in any community, to
oblivion. Iron has an intrinsic value far
greater than gold. How could society exist
without it? Why, then, in the name of COM
mon sense, should not the blacksmith be
amongst the most learned, respectable and res
spected men of every community? He would,
were he educated. But as it is, men, until
their natures are changed, cannot respect mere
brute force. "It is the mind that makes the:
man." We are heartily sick of that system OF
education which inculcates the doctrine that
the idler and gentleman of leisure is more
honorable man than the individual who sings
the sledge or pushes the plane. Such system
is fatal to the best interests of society and will
forge the chains which lock the wheels of pro-
gress.