Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-10-18
EDUCATION PAYS.


herself s9, 900, 900 a year for the educa-
ton of her children in the common
schools and makes money by so doing.
The man who pays his school taxes
merely loans his money, and, II well
used, it will come back to him, or 10
those who shall inherit his property
True. even if education did not pay In
money, it would be worth all it costs,
for money can have no better use than
to lift men up to higher intellectual
and moral level but just now We want
TO emphasize the truth, that every dollar
iudiciously spent for educational pur-
poses brings back another dollar with
usury.
The bureau of education addressed to
a large number of intelligent employers
in ali parts of the Union !, series of ques-
tions as to the effect of education
mainly common school-upon each per-
son in their employ. The answers were
nearly unanimous ''that his value to the
community at large is positively lncreas-
ed, and his power as producer OF add
ing to the common stock of wealth IS
materially enhanced by the education
given him as a child in the common
school. The increase of wages he VIII
receive on account Of his knowledge Is
put at various figures, averaging nearly
twenty-five per cent That this increase
of value arises, lst, from the fact OF his
being more readily instructed in the du-
ties OF his work 2nd, that he needs
less supervision Sd, that he does his
work to better advantage 4th, that he
is less liable to join in unreasonable
strikes 5th, is more industrious 9th,
less dissipated and lastly, IS less liable
to become IN expense to the Common
wealth through poverty and crime.
If twenty-five per cent. is added TO
the value of the laborer from the posses
sion of the slender outfit given in the
common school. What will be the per
cent. of value if, in addition to this, he
receives a training, in part, which spe-
cialy fits him for his work The an
swers are given to such an inquiry in
the report alluded to. That knowl-
edge of the sciences that underlie the
occupation gives greatly increased value
TO their possessor is agreed on all hands.
1t does this : lst, by enabling him TO
avoid dangers, in mining, for instance,
to which ignorant men are exposed
2nd, by enabling him to detect and rem
edy difficulties which else would cause
expense and delay 81, by enabling
him to discover shorterand simple meth
DDS of work. thereby increasinghls pow
ers of production 4th, by stimulating
his qualities of contrivance, so that ne
adjusts and modities the tools or ma
chimes which he uses, and becomes
eventually an inventor Of simpler and
better machines, thus increasing the
wealth producing power Of his fellow
laborers. In this direction it is estima-
ted by these men, competent to Judge,
that his value is increased one hundred
per cent, while in certain exccptionable
cases, it is intellectually higher. Better
even than all this, it advances the we'll
being of its possessor. BY virtue of his
increased education he commands higher
wages for his services, and also adds
largely to the common production.
What convincing argument Is giy-
ell in this report for our common school
system. 1t pays, in the lowest as well
as in the highest sense to educate the
people. According 10 the last census,
1854, ,93l adult males were regarded as
illitcrate. If, now, according to the
opinions before given, these parties
should earn each one dollar per day in
their illiterate state, by learning to read
and write, twenty-five per cent would be
added yearly to the production of the
country, or S1lG,6l2,425, nearly twice
az much az is paid annually for public
instruction in the United States. If,
now, we take four fifths OF the s,2S7,-
043 engaged in various pursuits III the
United States in 1860, who received
their education in the common schools,
considering each one ~ capable OF earn
ing one dollar per day without such ed
ucation, and 1925 with it, we have
yearly addition to the production Of the
country of s523,740,l7S, nearly nine
times the amount paid annually for pub
lie school instruction. Then consider
what the increased production would be
if specific instructions were given to
these persons in the different branches
of industry represented by them, or if,
in early life, studies were pursued bear
ing directly upon their vocation. The
instruction that these men need, III the
main, is in the facts and truths of natu-
raj science, for these lie at the iounda-
ton of the life-work Of the vast majori-
ty of the producers of our countrys
wealth. These sciences mustbe studied
if orr nation would attain the exalted
destiny which clearly awaits it.-Psnn-
syivania School Journal
WHAT WAS HIS NAME The Lex
ineton Gazette says: Governor Letcher