The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-01-18
For the HrIzeE.
Educational Interests.

tHtHS PACP0~~ " 80 ~ ~
thoughts for your readers upon the
subject of Education. 1t is not un
usual for men to attach undue i'm
portance to their own peculiar call
ings. WhileI am willing to plead
guilty upon this point, yet, after
CAREFUL and deliberate survey of all
the circumstances. and surroundings
Of the question, I am forced to the
conclusion that it is our educational
policy chiefly that letters our
energies, hampers our progress, and
dooms orr loved sunny land to a
subordinate position among the ma
lions of the earth.
However much contempt we may
feel, and justly feel, for much of the
civilization Of the States lying
North Of Mason and Dixon's Line,
still every observant man who has
given the subject anything like
candid consideration, is compelled
TO admit that those States gre in
debted to their systems of public
education more than all else for
their rapid growth and unparalleled
prosperity. Possessing no advan-
ftage over the South in soil, climate
and resources, they have, neverthe-
less, far outstripped rs in the race
of progress; and to-day, despite the
grave errors of their pulpit and 70
rum, their unsound morals and un-
godly politics, are honorable monu-
ments Of the triumph Of mind over
matter, ola liberal system of pub
lie schools, devoted to the general
diffusion of knowledge, by the vital
izing influence of which upon their
wealth. strength, and teeming popu-
lations, they have been enabled to
place themselves ia the van Of great
and powerful States, and challenge
the admiration Of the world. Let
ms learn a lesson of wisdom from
their experience. Describing their
vices and errors, and adopting their
virtues, let US improve upon their
success, and repeat the brighter
pages Of their history.
There can be no dispute that a
good education, sound moral and
mental culture, pushed to the prop
er extent, develops in the highest
degree among the people every ca
pacity for honorable usefulness and
praiseworthy success in the race OF
life. The increase of knowledge
uniformly adds in a corresponding
ratio to the value Of labor, and in
the same proportion becomes a bles-
sing to the laborer. It would be an
easy task to cite large number OF
instances attesting the truth of this
statement. Let one suffice. The
intelligent and scientific individual
who surveys and locates a route fol
Il railroad or bed of canal, earns
and justly receives greatly higher
wages for his services than the un
instructed laborer who scoops out
the excavations and throws up tho
entertainments. 1t is also true, thai
in communities and countries where
education is general and all classes
alike made participants of its bene
fits, the average daily, monthly ant
yearly wages Of labor greatly ex
ceeds, sometimes even double, those
of people residing in communities
and States less favored in this re
spect, and neglecting the enlighten
ment OF the inhabitants. Any one
who viii take the trouble to run the
parallel at this point between the
Northern and Southern sections o
the United States, to say.nothing o
other counties, will find that thei
respective statistics fully sustain
the correctness of my position
The condition OF the mechanic
classes and laboring poor who con
stitute a large majority Of the popu
lation in every community, is vastl,
better than with us. While thei
intellectual, social and moral statu
is in every respect improved b,
knowledge, they are also bette
qualified for and enabled t
command renumerative employ
ments, thus bringing within thei
reach a larger share Of the necessa
ries and comforts of life.
Some Of the powerful nations o
Europe have for years attached s.
great importance to the general en-
ljghtenment Of the masses, tina
they have at public expense no
only sustained public schools 70
the benefit Of their entire popu
lation, but have also by force of la'
compelled the attendance upo'
these schools of all children O
scholastic age. If among monarch
les and aristocracies knowledge /
deemed so highly necessary to tn
happiness of the people and the sta
bility OF government how muc
greater must be this necessity in
country like ours, professedly re
publican, in which the people ar
the repositories ofan power2 HO'
best TO dispose Of this subject an
the paramount interests dependeu
upon it has severely taxed tn
wisest legislation and profouades
craftsmanship of modern times.
Every parent sufficiently euiighf
Gned to apprehend properly tn
present and future wants Of his so
or daughter rnust feel deeDlv maine