The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-11-19
Public schools.

According to announcement in the
papers of the city, State Superintendent
TrOusdale delivered an elaborate aG
dress at the Athen8um Hall on FRIDAY
night last, i'll the presence of an audi
ence composed of some of the county
schools, the pupils of the Athen8uu
and some citizens and teachers. The
burden of the address was taken up with
description of the advantages afforded
by the Southern peninsular of Italy and
Greece for educating people to the
highest standard Of citizeDship-in those
classic lands where the ancient Repub-
lies gave to the world such illustrious
examples of free citizenship-such mod
els of craftsmanship, philosophy and
heroism-Such miracles OF art. These
were objects for reflection and study,
historical associations, monuments OF
glory which ought TO move the stones
to speak and the mountains TO utter
voices. Yet in those countries, so crow
ded with illustrious subjects, there had
been, until recently, no teachers-the
schOolmaster was not abroad. The
minds of the children had not been
trained to perceive, to know, to compare
and to think. And the result has been,
that under the purest sky which smiles
upon the earth, and upon the most his
tOric ground where civilization extends
abound A strong contrast is presented
to this in the more Northern countries
of Europe, where free education is pro-
vided by the State. Germany, SwitZer-
land, France and England are energised
by populations alive with enterprise,
stimulated to the highest industrial &C
tivity, winning their bread by skill and
labor, and able to bear the burdens of
State and to sustain themselves in the
IF lTnr or Tcr1v Il
that education, such as is given in our
free schools makes a man more skilful
and more willing Iaborer. It teaches
him the relations of things. IL clothes
him with self~reliance. It shows him
that difficulties, within the domain of
science, are merely apparent, and may be
OY ercome by application of the proper
instrumentality at the proper time. 1t
opens up to view the possibilities before
him and points out to him the limits to
which he may aspire. Thus it gives him
a more intelligent view of what he has
in hand, and arms him with resolution
to attack and skill to overcome obstacles
which lie in his path.
The speaker insisted that the man of
property and the large tax payer is more
interested in supporting free schools
than the poor man. Besides his life and
person, he has his property to protect,
best body guard it has, is free, virtuous
and intelligent people. He drew the
contrast between such people and one
who do not understand his own rights or
the rights OF others, and to be surrOun-
ded by which is to endanger all the
rights of both the rich and the poor.
Thus intelligence-ani intelligent under
standing of the rights of all is the bulls
wark OF property-and the property of
80
the State to rear up such population by
taking care to educate them to the du-
ties of men and citizens. There is only
one way to support such schools, and
that is by adequate taxation. Such tax
alton is not like the taxes wrung from
an overburdened and oppressed people
which never comes back to them. The
taxes to support schools are like the
equality Of mercy" which is "twice
blessed" 1t blesses both him who
gives and him who receives. According
to the report of Supt. Wilkes, Maury
County has $50 schools, with an average
attendance of about 5000 pupils, at the
a cost to the County and State of $780, 900.
1t is to polish these "jewels" OF the
State that this money is appropriated.
But we need larger amount, and we
trust our Honorable County Court will,
at it's January session, make such levy
as will guarantee to every child in the
county the opportunity to attend the
schools tor five months at least. Old
Maury is a leading county, and she
should set the example of hberality
and justice in pressing forward this
great educational movement of our age
and country.
At the close of Col. Trousdale's re-
Supt. Wilkes, in a few appro~
pirate and encouraging remarks, dis
missed the audience.