The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-03-08
AN EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION.

The recent meeting at Washington of
various intelligent and practical educators
ought to produce some new facts in the
history of the art, some suggestions of real
advantage to the country. II should be
followed by the attention of all parents in
the nation, all the intelligent. 1t is con
ventinn that treats Of subjects interesting
TO every class IN the community. The care
OF the children is the supreme duty of the
family, church, State. 4 good system of
treatment for the children of the present
generation. an honest education, "a careful
training in the industrial arts. would do
more for the future prosperity of the nation
than any other measure that can be CON
ceiyed Of \ stringent education law is
required that should remove the intense
ignorance that has SD long clouded the
progress Of the Southern States; that would
convert Tensas Parish and Shreveport into
the abode of humane and civilized men;
that would teach to every child Of the
Northern cities some habits of cleanliness
and good order: that would introduce neat
ness into the crowded tenement house, self.
respect in the retired street There is no
doubt that the first aim of every educational
system should he moral one. almost a
political one. 1t is designed to fit the child
for his future duties in the community,
teach him purity III thought and conduct,
regard for the welfare Of others, neatness
in dress and person, obedience, order, gen
tleness, politeness, firmuess. The ideal
aim of good plan OF education is to pro.
duce industrious, modest, intelligent men
and women. There is, it Is true, little
hope at present Of doing much in the
crowded public school, of cflecting the ill.,
dividuai life, OF forming :. useful character,
until some more effective means shall be
found for personal instruction, until the
number allotted of New York and other
large cities the practice Of oyeriillrs the
rooms, overburdening the teacher, is too
often the cause Of very inferior instruction.
II j. asserted often with justice that the
scholars learn little. that cven their reading
and writing is indiilerentiy done, that the
personal influence 81 the teacher is scarcely
felt
Yet mo one vino has visited one Of these
public schools has failed to see their i'm
mcnsc value to the community. Even the
most imperfect are useful To degree that
is iuestimabe. They collect together a great
body of children. the greater part of whom
would otherwise have been left to utter
ignorance. complete neglect. They teach
them the elements of cleanliness dccency
decorum. form them into classes, regulate
their conduct. Some are extremely poor,
taken from miserable homes, or none at all;
in the school they hnd warmth, comfort,
Older good society. some are we'll of,
and are 81 ought - be taught 10 aid " it'll
friendly attention their poorer companions.
All are obliged To observe the common
rules. to obey generally cultivated teacher.
|; Is said that in the German public schools,
where princes and peasants sit side ny side
on the same benches. instructed 10y the
same master, "fIrn the friendships formed
a. -'''''l -4tN'l pass anu AA' s4>NbClA-
tions OF early youth soften the divisions Of
society. Germany is intensely feudal and
arlstocra'ic; with us public instruction
should he made To teach republicanism and
human equality. Parents and strangers,
citizens. sincere friends of progress, can
not visit To" often the public schools. -
They should make 1t part OF their duty
Is men. citizens. Mothers should watch
with cos" over the progress OF their chill
dreu, and see that they are well instructed
and ca!e,, for. The whole city should
watch over It's public schools aud visit them
There can he no more pleasing spectacle.
The children. however poor, arc prepared
for school with some attention to ueatnesS;
the more fortunate are perhaps more care
fully tended. The classes form with reEu-
larIty: the animation Of youth Is excited
by music. singing. The Great rooms are
filled with tEcir busy throu-s, aud an army
Of fifteen hundred scholars may sometimes
be fouad gathered IN 4 single school house
Moic than i hundred thousand children.
about onc-tcnth II its population. assem-
bic every ialr morning IN ;he public
schools of New York: more than two hum
dIed thousand ATE enrolled upon the list OF
scholars. Many schools are ~ crowded
that they can receive 10 more. The Sys-
TEN is rising IN popularity. Il is the cheap
est, the most effective, for the people Il
has grown up with the country; 1t Is the
foundation Of lis :epublcanism.
Bat what are its defects They are 50
great, 50 numerous, that the labors of
generations of educational lcfurmers may
be- required Ia correct them. The first is
the fact thar tie system Is wholly ineiicc.
tive, irregular, diSoIdcrc,i tha, j. fails
perfectly to educate large masses of chill
dreu: that its enemies every whore are per
mitied to impair its utility, it's friends too
often dull aud cold in It's defense Ia all
partS of the southern States education is
yet only name: whites and blacks grow
up IA common ignorance; Ihc teachers
ATE Starved; he Schup. houses, where they
exist, .nE-cahnS OF worthless huts. The
recent reports from all this section of the
country show that the majority OF It's
people are growing up savage ami un.
trained. Blu; still more dangerous is the
class OF uneducated persons in our large
cities who never hear of school. They
are found II tenement, houses, close streets.
untidy corners; they are numbered by hun
dieds Of thousands; they form dangerous
class that in the next generation may prove
the source OF infinite trouble TO the nation;
they axe the chief source Of crime, III poll
tics OF corruption; they become thieves,
murdelers burglars. What IS to be done
with the uueducatcd III all parts of the
Union? how can they be brought under
the influence OF moral training? are uucs-
lions oar educational conventions may well
labor 10 answer. In Prussia they would
he arrested ana sent to school: III England
tho parent who refused TO educate his
chill * fined. IA fI.. IrritcI ST.. 100.