The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-04-06
For the Upton Advertiser.
A Few Thoughts on Education, or
An Address to Parents.


Ladies and Gentlemen: According to
the caption of this article, l propose, If
! can gain your attention, to occupy
it for n short time while l shall attempt
to present few thoughts upon the inn
portant and popular subject of educa-
ton. My intention is not to enter fully
into the length, breadth, hight and
depth, of this subject; for, had I the
ability 40 to do, time and space, at pres
ent, forbids.
In opening the subject, will ask the
question, is Education good thing?
TO answer in the affirmative would be
the response of vast majority but the
man of thought and experience would
be inclined to call such an answer in
question and rightly, for the term
Education embraces extensive grounds.
1t may embrace, or include, the training
pick pocket receives; for 1t is no diff
cult matter to imagine that to be an
adept in his line, he must undergo train
ing or teaching. Webster agrees with
this application, or, to give you his own
words, he says it is, "To prepare and
fit for any calling or business" Under
this definition we may correctly place
the counterfeiter, the highwayman, the
professional confidence man, ETC., be-
cause knowledge of the arts belonging
to each is requisite to success In either
of the 'callings or businesses"
We may next consider another class;
viz, that of artifcers. We have the
coach maker, blacksmith, house carpen-
ter, painter, glazier, potter, silversmith,
timer, &C., and we would all agree that
Education is necessary to these men-
that is, they must all have knowledge
and training necessary to pursue their
various "callings and businesses" sue
cessfully.
We shall present ore more class and
then proceed to business"
First on this list we place decevers,
then liars, profane swearers, obscene or
filthy takers, busy-boLies, gossipers or
go-betweens, slanderers, murderers-
and SO we might 90 on increasing the
horrible list, but we have enough of the
worthless noted down to answer the end
in view.
Having now completed our enumera-
ton, we shall proceed to answer, that
Education, to be good thing, must in
its design and ultimate completion,
have two objects, viz. {:
First, the information Of the head,
mind or judgement, aud heart or affec-
tons, il: correct, honest and useful
knowledge; and secondly, when acquir-
ed, to be applied to a correct, honorable
and useful purpose.
Our first proposition-"the informa-
ton of the head and heart"-brings US
to consider the human being in his ear
ly or infantile stage. AS soon as the
child's intelligence has dawned, when
its young mind, like the sensitizcd plate
in the camera obscura, begins to reflect
the word images of thought it hears
spoken by those around it, its education
begins. And what startling and aw-
full charge, in its consequences, do
now bring upon many unthinking and
careless parents! Nevertheless, l must
make the charge, unwelcome though
it be.
In this early and susceptible period,
a lesson is taught the unfortunate child
which is, i'll fact, the fruitful parent the
prolific fountain, from which and from
whence all other vices spring and flow
and that lesson is deception.
You answer, "show US how you make
this appear:"
Listen! did you ever see parent try
to dose his child with nauseous, bad
tasted drug:
Eyes"
Well, did the child at first, in limo.
ccnse and good faith, swallow the
dose?
"Tes."
Well, the first dose does not perform,
what was expected, and johnnie is to
take some more. But what now? The
medicine is offered to Johnnie and he
take it. The medicine is necessary for
him in order to cxpel disease. The
parent, after coaXinga short time, is
struck with new idea. With dose in
hand he leaves the child, and shortly
after returning, assaults his child with a
tic, manufactured for the occasion:
'IIere, Johnnie, I have something
good, nice and sweet for YOU"
johnnie toddles up.
"Now, pet, open your mouth"
Johnnie's countcnanee presents an
open appearance aud in goes the spoon.
full of nauseous stuff. Johnny begins
to spit and make wry faces, but pa or
ma grabs him and forces him to swal-
low.
Now, what have you done?
You answer, II have given Johnnie
necessary medicine"
I say you have taught lesson that, If
not counteracted, will lead his steps
down to ruin and misery and eternal
danlnation. You have given him a
lesson in deception. You have taught
him by ocular and practical demcnstra-
ton that he has been tricked, cheated
dcccircd.
You may talk about the monkey tribe
being imitators; but you need not 90 to
the monkey tribe. Let US see John
ME has not only recovered from his
sickness, but has added q few years to
his age.
Johnnie, come here this minute and
tell me what has gone with that fruit