Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-31

AmJliS buU tOibS utAfkAOA lhAoots~AAeo ~
the United States, there are from seven to
ten million of an age TO admit Of their be-
ing pupils In common schools. The proper
education and mental training Of so large
q number create an immense demand for
very perisbaDle school books, and The COM
pilation, printing, and selling Of these books
have grown into an extensive and profit
able business. Unfortunately it presents
great temptations to mutt ply school books
indefinitely on every possible branch ofcom-
mon school learning, DOT for the benefit of
pupils attending school, But for the profit
OF authors, publishers, dealers and specu-
lators in this kind OF printed paper.
Schools are run like country grist mills, for
the toll that may be taken ca books and sta
tlonery, with small regard 10 the quality of
the -four or meal turned oul by The miller.
Wherever dime can be made illegitimate
", an abuse is sure 10 creeprin to get the
small change, aud if neglected., the small
wrong viii grow TO prescriptivs right, and
ultimatsly to a perfect outrage Nothingis
easier abused than copy right monopoly of
good school book, TO, The owner can put
any prics hs piesses on bis property, and
in bis copyright, Congress gives him
a perfect command of tie whole market.
In this way few men have the power and
use it, to tax the education of the poor
children of the country n any extra mil
lions. 1t is time fer the people to study this
great wrong, and put stop TO it. The
rapid multiplication Of school books is
eat nuisance. Comm On schools need but
few text books, and great labor, learning,
and science should be employed for years
in bringing them to perfection, or as near it
as possible. 1t is shame that mental and
moral culture in our common schools costs
at least twice as much as it ought to cost,
and in consequence of this, our youth of
both sexes receive only half of the common
school discipline and culture which they
might hsve under more economical sys-
tenn. Rural population ia the South is
generally too sparse for full schools on the
Northern plan, which we are trying to fol-
low. There is limit to the distance at
which children can be sent daily to school
in all solts Of weather. Arrangements
should be made to board many students on
farm near the school house to avoid
this long walk which oft exposes
heal b and consumes much time.
The social, moral and MENTAL trsining at
this boarding FARM would aid the work of
thorough education in the school, aud Ten
nessee might soon produce in its sequester-
Ell country life, young men and women of
a higher and more cultivated type. This
increase of krowledge would add largely TO
the wealth and character of the State. Its
rural population is bound to be scattered
fsr several generations, and every county
should have at least one first-class boarding
school for common educational purposes,
1t is for our country friends to say whether
their children shall have the great and in
es'imable advantages of intellectual /
culture or not. If you, cherish the
icN you will be sure to find audy.
Children should eat the same food at these
boarding houses that they do at home, and |
their parents might furnis it ia part, Il |
lot altogether. Boarding at academies and |
colleges is the main expense of studying for |
years under good tuition. The best posi-.
bic economy should be brought to the relief
of this tax on mental culture in Tennessee. |
All know that the first cost of provisions |
for student for quarter is small, yet the
tum paid for board is comparatively large.
lis these little thought Of pfofss on books,
stationery, board, and many ct ceteras, that
literally starye SO many youthful minds in
our State when begging for mental food. |
It is ourselves that make this famine. |
Our most undesirable illferacy is the off
spring of mingled avarics and stupidity. |
II is many times more useful and profitable
to train the mind of a child properly than
it is to break and train young mule for
service. An uncultivsted biped thai laughs
and cries has lost Whist little value he once
had, because brutes, steam and water do
his work cheaper than he possibly can, aud
never strike for higher wages. Human ig-
norance is the most worthless thing mag
Unable. Mans flesh, blood and bones will
fertilize ths earth when they rot, but his
ignorance, which is so universally cherish
ed, has no value, whether he is dead or
alive. On the contrary, mans wisdom
may do good after he is dead for many
generations.
The reader VIII find In this paper al aru
Gle copied from the New YORK Tribune,
showing The abuses in the introduction of
school books in Indiana, which prevail
more or less in all other States. Common
school education is perhaps the largest sin
gle interest in the whole country affecting
ct once the present and future generations.
1t is susceptible ofgreat improvement, and
should receive more sympathy, care and
thought. No school is really free that
does not provide board without st as well
as tuition. Pupils should have a chance to
work and pay for their board. Eating and
working come naturally together.