The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-02-08
Hon. J. L. n. Curry's Address.

invited by the Legislature to address then
on the subject of education, complied wit
that request last night, in the Hall Of tn
House of Representatives.
He was introduced to his audience in
graceful and appropriate manner BY Sen
ator Mitchell, of the 10th District.
After expressing his appreciation of tn
compliment, he said he was honored il
having all departments of the government il
his audience. The Office of legislator is t
look ahead and adopt sagacious measures
not mere temporary expedients, in order t
promote the material, intellectual anC
moral interests of the people.
The new South, after the civil and socia
revolution through which the country hat
passed, needed the infusion of new idea
and the gathering upofall that was valuable
in the past for Incorporation into the new
civilization.
In the struggle for the recovery of los
fortunes, the creation of wealth, intelligence
was the grand condition. To CONVEX
consumers into producers and increase thu
producers power was the problem, and fol
fits solution intelligence and education are
indispensable. Ignorance creates nothing anC
is never an element of good or usefulness
Public schools are potent factors in the pro
ddction of wealth. The money expended
in their maintenance will be more than re
paid in increased skill and productiveness Of
labor. Free schools are true economy, and
are the wisest measure of practical states
manship. What is withheld will be paid
in crime and poverty. The speaker enfrced
the thought that nothing pays better than
free schools
The physical resources of Mississippi,
soil, timber, water power, ETC., are surpass-
ed by her intellectual treasures, but those
treasures for their development must have
the stimulus of State aid and State con-
troll. In the use of the brain-power of a
nation lies the secret of progress, of wealth,
of civilization.
Ours is government of the people our
institutions open the prizes of life to the
completion of all, and it is treason to the
man, to the State, to humanity, to God, toI
allow them to grow up in ignorance. The
prosperity of the Republic is dependent on
the intelligence and integrity of the citi-
izens who are charged with responsible pub
lie functions. The ballot-box may be the
instrument of despotism if the voter
is ignorant or venal. In Mississippi the
census of 1880 shows 315,e12 persons
over ten years of age who cannot read. It'll
is suicide to have this fearful mass Of litter
acy neglected and unremedied.
By argument and historical example, the
speaker showed that in the history of ma
tions the public school is the only instru-
mentality for securing universal education
without it the majority will be left inI1
hopeless ignorance. All civilized and pros
porous nations have found it necessary toI /
adopt general public school system in Or
er debatable question. The State should,
therefore, maintain well-defned educa-It
tional policy, and not be too impatient of
results. By taxation your child shoulde
have the privilege of rudimentary educa- )
ton. The schools should be free, we'll p
graded and efficiently superintendent q
What our schools most needed was
improved teaching; a good teacher
was the one vital condition of alt
good school, The State does little +
or nothing for popular education if it does !
not see that those who teach are well pre- \
pared for their work. Every pursuit, de :
handing skill and knowledge, demands q,
special preparation.
The establishment of Normal Schools forl
preparing and training teachers was en-
forced by variety of suggestions. These Z
schools should not be mere attachments,
appendices to colleges, but distinct and .,
separate institutions for specific and most 10
important work. Teaching is a high ID
art, involving matter, method and mind, =
and the State in establishing schools
should see that they are the best Prac- lsE
ically the people are compelled to ed Ith
Icate in public schools, and theliIss
State is bound by every consideration ofIsl
ustice and usefulness to save the children IN
rom the hands of the incompetent.
The speaker dwelt on the Importance of
eaching,. and showed how teachers moulded :; =
bought and character. The trustees of theIer
Peabody Education Fund have decided in pc
he disbursement of the money committed
o their charge to aid in training teachersin
or public schools, and the States whichIco
rganize and maintain Normal Schools will
e cheerfully aided.
The eloquent speaker was listened to withlwl
marked attention by the Legislature and|th
many Others, embracing a large and ap-
reciatiye audience.
- no
IT Is said that ID ten years nearly all theItir
Il - y. - ~ =