Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-01-01
Far the Journal.
Tpteliigence the Strength of the
Nation.

For the journal.
intelligence the Strength OF the
Nation.
Every true student of history must
recounize the fact that the vitality ana
strength of every free nation lie IN the
universal intelligence of its citlzens.
This. too. is the conviction of men
world renowned as historians and states
men. Dean Stanley, the keeper OF that
vast mausoleum of English history and
craftsmanship, Westminster, said on ms
recent visit to America, "If America
can only keep educating her cltizens,
she has nothing to fear"
In a free country the people govern
themselves, and their government OF
themselves will be good just IN proper
tion as Ii is intelligent. Again, that
government only is good that satisfies
the wants of an intelligent people, and
the demands made upon that people by
the Ruler of all nations. Then we con-
clude that no ignorant man can be a
oood citizen. The trainers of our great
Constitution realized this. Fhe ordi-
nance which was intended for the gov
ernment of the North West Territory,
of which our State was formerly q
part recognizes this when it declares,
ssSchools and meaRs of knowledge shall
ever be encouraged.ss Why? Because
intelligence is essential to good citizen
ship, and good citizenship is essential to
good government. And the man that
refuses or neglects from any causes
whatever to educate his child defrauds
the nation of good citizen, and fur
nishes, in nine cases out Of ten, can
didate for crime; and the neighbor who
stands by and calmly looks on is party
to the wrong. Some may think the Ian
guage / have used pretty strong. In
reply have only to say that dangerous
diseases need to be treated herOically.'
Let us look briefly at the condition OF
our sister State, Kentucky. The histo-
~ of crime in that State is without par
allel, at least since we assumed the form
of republic. The report Of her schools
shows that nearly two-thirds of the
children of school age do not attend one
day in u year, and the reports of her
penal and reformatory institutions show
that nearly all of their inmates can nelth-
er read nor write. Is there nothing sug-
gestiye in this? The majority of Grim
inals convicted in our own State are OF
the most ignorant class of people. We
have only TO look around in our own
neighhorhood to be convinced that the
most vicious are the most Ignorant. On
the other hand personal observation
shows that education renders men more
industrious, more eonsiderate in every
relation, 1t renders them more active
and systematic in any pursuit, and con-
seauently contributes largely 10 success.
Again, ii renders them more careful iu
acquiring, preserving and using the
things necessary to his personal welfare.
But is our case as desperate as You
would have US believe? From all
have been able to ascertain, our schools
have been retrograding for the last three
or four years, this with the perceptible
growing lack of interest on the part of
parents and the deplorable condition of
the most of our school houses, is surely
cause enough for alarm. In some Of
our districts, 1 am told, over one-third
of those of school age never think OF
attending, and most of those that do at
tend, do so only On wet days, or when
they have nothing else to do. In very
few districts is any effort made by eth
er directors or parents to secure good
teacher, but the one that demands the
least wages is one that is engaged. 1t
is one of the official duties of directors,
and should be one of the unofficial du-
ties of every parent to visit the school.
But neither ever go near. If some one
were performing some labor for you,
YOU would undoubtedly endeavOr to as
certain how near right he was doing 1t.
Here only money is at stake, in the 9TH
er, the future welfare of your Child is
concerned, and this should be dearer to
you than all the wealth of the Indies.
The good that would be done by care
fully selecting teachers and then doing
your duty as officers and parents, can
not be calculated, and until you do this
the progress of our schools must be i'm
peded.
Another prolific cause of our trouble
is the situation and condition of some
of our school houses. 1t makes me shud-
der for both pupil and teacher to pass
! by the school-houses that now have in
my mind. Built on hillside, one side
two or three feet higher than the other,
and upon foundation so slender that
it suggests 4 scarcity of material, or of
place to put it, and stone peeping out
of the ground all around; built, too,
where no mortal would have eyer
thought of putting anything but I
school-house. But the condition is
worse, if possible than the situation; !;
perhaps half dozen weather-boards
gone from the front or sides, or both !;
halt the shutters gone; the missing
panes as numerous as a leopard's spots;
the chimney demolished; and the fence
there never was any; the door knob
gone; every thing outside seems pos
sessed of the spirit of ruin. A glance
through the half open door, minus q
fastening of any kind, and you have a
scene that beggars description. Now
this is not as it should be. OF all build
Ings, the school house should be pleas
antly situated, neatly constructed, and
should have well arranged grounds and
out-buildings. The house should be
roomy; its furniture should be, not
costly, but neat and convenient, and
should include every thing really neces-
sary to the personal comfort of teacher
and pupil-saying nothing about appa-
ratus and reference library. The pa
rent who lives where this is the condi-
ton knows how much better his chill
dren love to attend school. The teach
er who has taught amid such surround
ings knows how much more orderly his
pupils are, and how much greater his
success in instruction. We all know
from experience that early impressions
are lasting. The great Joseph Henry
says the impressions made upon the
youthful mind survive amid all the vi
cissitudes of life--amid all the influ-
ences to which the individual may be
subjected, and which will outcrOp when
the additions made to his character in
later years have been entirely swept
away. How necessary, then, is it that
the school house and every thing apper-
tanning to it should be pleasant, that
corresponding impression may be made
on the youthful mind.
: Another very prolific cause of mis-
chief is allowing children to stay at
home when they please, and keeping
them away when you have something
for them to do. This is injurious to the
school, and is extremely so to the pupil.
For by this he loses the connection be-
tween lessons, and of course this makes