Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-05-10
Communicated
Parents Against Education.

! Mr.. EDIToR-ls it nota very strange
and at the same time rather a peculiar
fact, that u people, blessed with the
| unprecedented opportunities for edu-
cation which our free school system af-
fords should treat with such d stolid in
difference, and attach so, little impor-
tance to these long coveted and dear
ly-bought privileges? Strange, be-
! cause of the extreme universaliiy and
accessibility of these opportunities; Pc
euliar, because many unwittingiy con-
tinue 10 fig mt against the very prlnei-
| pies they would viDdicate and uphold
if presented in any other manner to
their minds. s-rrr
| The opportunities for edueation are
now within the reach of all classes;and
neither sect nor color is sufficient eX-
cuse for ignorance; but the opportuni-
| ties are too apparent to be enlarged
upon. 1t is the peculiar and apparent
| ly Innocent manner in which parents
| deprive their children of the education
that is rightfully and justly theirs, that
engages our thought at this time.
When We compare, as class, the
children who are being educated in
our Union Schools with those being
educated in the country, we find our
selves wondering why it is that the
scholars of these graded schools are so
much further advanced than the 9TH
ers: and we almost invariably attribute
the cause-especially if We live in the
cOuntry-to the advantages that such
schools afford above those in the cOun-
try; but nve years close observation
and experience IN q country scnOol-
room leads us To assert (and we tnlnk
JUSTIFY, that such "a conclusion. IL very
iEueh at fault; aud although parity
right, tnat part Is paratively small.
While the children IN ourStowns en-.
JOY the privileges which a graded
school affords. they at the. same time
enjoy the snesfino0te privilege OF being
present every day. during the school
term, and every terniiiurtng the year;
but can we say the same o. our coun
try schools? Nay ,ysfilys II 10 foo-lof,
ten the opposite; and berel Is the point
10 question--why Is this the case? To
say that parents wiilfuliy deprive their
childrenOf the opportunities AN edu-
cation 1s. perhaps putting 1t rather
strong; out the effect certainly does
not lbeile the Cause. i5a - - -
That 'knowieoge ID power, ls the
firm belief OF every unbiased inlnd;
and yet simply because The application
OF that power is not SO apparent IN the
avoeations of country Lille as, in that
of town or city, the farmer and pa |
rent fnlls to appreciate the blessing, |
and consequently underrates the lm-
portance and necessity OF taking sd
vantage OF the opportunities tor edu-
cation which are offered his children.
He iuspects his stock and crops, too Of
ten with the same degree OF safisiae-
tion and avidity that miser does his
bags OF gold; and II they are intrusted
to the careof any one else in his EN-
ploy, his personal Inspection is often /
necessary to satisfy his mind IN regard
to their welfare; but his children, are
placed under the care offs stranger; ne
never once inquiries ss TO their pro-
gress; but eases his conscience IN, the
that they are being educated,
and that simple fact seems to satisfy
him; for he seldom asks Row or ic'hy 1t |
sdone. But this alone is compara-
lively insignificant error to the one ne
makes when he monopolizes his chlld's
line, for the graf: tications OF n own
desires. And this is not oy
my means AN uncommon error, ior
many the willing and ambitious youth,
Who being free from the schooi-rooM,
eeks his home with tne vain nope that
le VIII be allowed an hour or two Tor
he Investigation OF q difficult PROB
EN-, or the committing OF hard les
on, and even entertains the idea that
ather or mother will help him 10 nn. {
avel the tangled web OF thought. But I
las for his bright dreams; he scarcely S
nters beneath the parental roof TIL BE {
3 informed of the important work I
which awaits his dti1g. Hereluctant-
Y begins the never er-endlng round OF {
dds and ends that. keep him busiiy
mployed till the darkness OF night
nds his lahOrs, to be RI samed with the
irst peep of dawn; and it he should I
ave the audacity to ask for little ]
ime to prepare his lessons, the answer I
imost invariably comes-"DoD't you
% to school all day? why don't you !
ct your lessons there? you haven't
ime for it here;we will llnever get richht
his rate" Poor boy!-Or should say,
nisguided parent-has Mammon so
,linded your sight that you fail to see
he germ of genius which lurKs in the
lepths of those pleading eyes, or the
oOk of intelligence which causes the
,outhful face to glow with animation
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