The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-12-11
. Importance OF Educatiop.
SHORT CREEK, w. VA, Dec, 7, '73.
Edifnra Raoister

those themes in which the community
is most deeply interested. As th'
American people can be no more deep
y interested in any subjec: than thai
OF education, / have selected this as q
topic. Ny object in sending you this
communication is to arouse your read
ers to q more vivid realization Of the
great importance Of the subject. The
education and consequent elevation oi
the great masses Of humanity, is SUBJ
iect the great importance of which is
too frequently unrealized, and upsppre'
cisted. 1t lays at the very bottom and
constitutes the very framework
and foundation OF civil so-
ciety and civil government
1t is education that must arouse the
human mind to a just appreciation oi
its nobleness, and a comprehension o.
its true nature, that must preserve and
promote the health and strength ofthe
body and cultivate and develop man &
moral nature. 1t is the influence oI
this precious boon that must relieve
the human race from the misery,
wretchedness and degradation conse-
quent upon their natural inclination
and proneness to vice and iniquity. The
church is indeed most potent institu-
ton in the development and exaltation
OF the human race. But great as is its
influence and indispensable as it is, the
school is even more so. The church
can only accomplish the best results
while following in the paths Of the
school. The schoo must precede and
prepare the way for the church. The
beat and most desirable results
can only be hoped for
when those three great agencies.
the echool, the church, and the State
can be brought to act In beautiful har-
mony and unison. When we speak OF
education" we DO not wish to be un-
derstood as using the term in that mar
row and restricted sense OF a mere smat-
tering in the elements and rudiments
OF the simplest forms OF knowledge.
II ia iq its larger and more comprenen.
sive sense that we would use it, in that
sense in which it comprehends the NOR.
al as we'll as the Intellectual. A oulti-
waited intellect without moral cultivs~
ton is q curse rather than blessing
The great drawback in modern educa-
ton is the want OF moral culture.
Morality is the great requirement and
should be the great watchword Of the
present age. We want il IN the family,
in the school, in the church, in the
affairs OF the State, in the council halls
OF the nation and throughout society in
general. We want higher sense OF
moral duty and obligation among the
teachers OF our country. We want
teachers OF morality bv precept and
by example. We want teachers
who realize that the fate OF the
human race and the destiny Of our na-
ton are wrapped in the results and in
fluences OF our school system. We
want teachers who appreciate the truth
OF that noble sentiment uttered by the
sage Aristotle; "All who have medi-
tated on the art OF governing mankind
have been convinced that the fate OF
empires depends on the education OF
the youth" II the fate Of empires
depends on the education OF the youth,
how much more does the fate OF repub-
lies depend upon the same thing. Then
while we are having our Evangelical
Alliances, our Masonic organizations
and our Grange associations, and while
every branch Of industry aud source Of
wealth is extending is power and in
cressipg it's influence, had we not bet.
ter make some effort in behalf OF the
promotion OF education ? The fret
great and essential requisite in this di-
rection is the elevation and diguifying
OF the occupation OF the teacher.
We must procure for our
schools teachers whose whole
lives are devoted 10 teaching. Our
schools OF to-day are principally in the
hspds OF teachers who are preparing
themselves for some other more conge-
NAL pursuit. Such persons, both for
want OF age and experience are wholly
unqualified for the business, We then
have persons preparing themselves for
other pursuits entirely al the expense
OF the funds provided for the educstion
Of the children OF eur land and return
ing no equivalent for the privileges they
are permitted TO enjoy. The extent TO
which this thing is practiced is frightful
to contemplate. OF all the teachers in
our county, including both the city aud
country schools, scarcely dozen are
e,3 and experienced, and scarcely hall
Of that number have adopted teaching
az lifetime employment. One Of the
indispensable requisites OF the day in
educational matters is the constituting
OF teaching as q permanent occupation.
Iu order to do this the calling must be
dignifed aud ennobled; must be made
both honorable and renunerative. The
teacher must be made independent and
enabled TO rely upon his employ
ment for support and sGstenance.
Then while We are advocating church
and State reforms, and urging the ne
cessitY OF national purity ssd freedom.
let Us for the sake sDl prosperity Of
our nation have an sducatioua!
reformation, q reformation that shall
sweep ike some vast tidal wave from
Maine TO California, and reactipg upon
the entire civilized world and peuetrst-
iog into the secret retreats apd obtcure
haunts OF ignorance hsn!sh iniqHity
besstisli,y s2d corruption from tb. fsee
NJ the sarlb