The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1876-02-19
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.

RAYVILLE, rep. 0tn, 1910.
MeSsrs Editors :-"F. B. L., in his article
on parents and Children" has failed to tell
us what to do with children who have no par
ents, and children of parents who have no ed
ucation, that they may be enabled to read a
sign board andskeep their own accounts /; and
he has also failed to tell US what has enlight-
ened mankind, lift has not been education,
and who commit the majority of crimes, the
class that has been educated in the public
schools, or those having no educating, or, that
have been educated elsewhere?
l haven't the least objection to home educa-
tion if parents have the ability to educate their
children at home. Hesays one person in every
six, over ten years of age, is iliterate then if
the "widows who take in washing, with half
dozen children around them," and parents
who spend their time in drinking, never draw
Jog sober breath, and who send their children
on the streets to beg, and if they fail in beg
ging enough to satisfy the cravings of their ap-
petites, are beaten numerically; and emf
grants, who are focking to our shores, unable
to speak word of English, be added to the
number, he will see that considerable more
than one-sixth of the parents Of our country
are wholly incapable of teaching their chill
Gren at home Now what is to be done with
that class of children, if all schools are abol
ished? Make mechanics and plow-boy out of
them, or let them grow up in ignorance, to
''steal tallow candles and awl voters at the
pells?"
contend that it is necessary for everybody
to be educated. ltimproves all classes of socie-
ty, and mechanics and farmers need it as much
as the merchant, lawyer or clerk. Either one
without it is like ship without a rudder.-
The simple rules of arithmetic saves to the
mechanic many hours Of study and much use
less experiment, and the same to the farmer.
"F. B. L." says if some "sturdy and honest
mechanics are neglected, their own and their
country's interests will not suffer-" We are
much obliged to him for the compliment, but
we hope he will bear in mind that the greatest
men of our country have come up from that
class. Washington and Putnam, of Revolu-
tionary fame, were farmers; Burrit from the
Smiths forge Greeley from farmers boy to
the head of the Tribune; Wilson from the pillow
and shoemaker's bench Grant from the tan
ward Livingston from the loom, and hundreds
of others from the humblest walks of life and
last though not least Abraham Lincoln from
the log cabin in Kentucky, to the head of the
greatest nation on the globe. His parents had
no education, but they sent him to school with
an old spelling book, where he learned to read
and write. II he would have depended on his
parents for a home education would he have
ever been able to accept the highest Office in
the gift of the people? might mention scores
of others, who have made their mark in the
worlds history, whose parents had no educa-
ton and who never could have made their
mark had they not gone to school ; but these
suffice for the present. The public schools
have turned out great many smart men
There are in the present Congress one hundred
and thirteen members who were educated in
the common and public schools, among which
number are ffty-two Republicans, hfty-hve
Democrats, five Independents and one Anti
Monopoist. That speaks well for the schools
don't it?
School and home training should go togeth-
er. What is learned at school should net be
neglected at home, and home manners and
training should not be neglected atschool, and
the teacher should exercise constant watchful-
ness over the department and temper OF each
scholar. and call forth the affections as In the
most loving home circle, encourage acts Of
kindness and patience over difficult tasks alsc
the Improvement of manners, selt-respect ano
esteem for others, duties toward God and coun'
try &c. Every hour affords opportunity tor
such training. But unfortunately all MONIES
are not blessed with proper teachers, and II
NAV be the happy fortune of school teachers
IA he the means Of reconstructing in another
generation these unbalanced homes Then
1erhaps the time will come when home teach,
ing will answer every purpose, but until tna'
time arrives, say keep the schools nourlsn'
ing. And to parents would say, don't be sat
is6ed to see your children growing up into
9Sturdv mechanics and plow-boys," thinking
their "interests will not suffer" If they have
no education. If you are not able to educate
them Yourself send them to school, and some
day they may occupy the highest positions IL
life. IN
will "F. B. L." please be kind enough to tell
us in his next communication whether MS IN
terests would have suffered if he had never re-