The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-09
Education.

Education should include political prin-
ciples, morality, social duty. 1t should be
made compulsory. Every state should
provide for the education of its whole peo-
pie. Such provisions had been made, such
principles settled; but as farmers some-
times pillow up the old sod and SOW again,
so it BELTS us to deal with moral growths,
and it is time now to discuss this great mat
ter once more. The influence of foreign
elements in our population demands a
lively interest in the whole matter.
The state must educate its people,
and not the church. The state has
a right to make its own existence
secure and security to the state comes
only from the education of the whole peo-
Pile, which thus becomes self-defence. Dog
matte religion is not necessary to the exist
ence of the state intelligence IS. SCHOOL,
houses should be multiplied till they are
ample for the accommodation of all, and
the teacher should be among the most
honored of the land. No one stands so
near the father and mother, in influence
upon the future of the country, as the
school-teacher-not professors in colleges,
but the educators of the masses.
Our schools do not teach enough. They
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and evil inculcate truth, honesty, temper
ance, self-controI, fidelity, economy and
patriotism. 1t was not imperative that the
use of the Bible be insisted upon, for really
it was not the most felicitous school-book
but more truth should be taught. Every
man could improve in the use of truth. Is
there truth in the houses we build :? in the
goods we sell /? in the work we do? Are
there not as many untruths as mice in ar
old hotel? We grasp for more than we
deserve, and find ourselves cheated in the
quality. 1t is vain to teach the higher
branches and leave these more important
things untaught. Men should be SO taught
as to be patriotic, not when the drum beats
and cannon roar, but when they stand
alone. Dapper, dainty, delicate young
men, who are afraid of work, swarm in al
the cities and beg for soft positions undel
government and in fat offices. 1t is I
sin for any man to bring up boys thus
they should be taught to take care of thei
mouths and backs with their own hands
1t is shame to know all about Mars ant
Jupiter, and nothing of Massachusetts
The state schools should be mad
so good that no private schoo
can live in their vicinity and every poo
boy should look up to the state as his ricl
uncle. Compulsory education ought t
give no just person offense. The Law
gives no annoyance to the man who Away
keeps in advance of it. Self-interest nigh
demand education, but it could not be de
pended upon. Many foreigners come her
desiring education for their children 9th
ers who ought to be equally interested
come with far different motives. They ar
useless and dangerous class without intel
igence. We have 5000. 900 men in tn
country, who cannot make anything, an
these ali require education. The speake
hailed the coming of the Chinese to on
Western shores, for they brought thei
hands full of tools-brought intelligence
education and industry. He did not fea
their religion, for if their joss was stronge
than our Jehovah he ought to reign; br
the time was not distant when they woul
become valuable, God-serving citizens.-
III w. Beecher,