The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-06-29

lauuaDl6 amDlIlOn 10 De ~ WOlA IOOn
them away until all were gone, and
these maidens were left thus forlOrn. l
speak of this not in the spirit of fault
finding, but as a matter to be regretted
1t shows that the labor of our male
youth is in demands; and that the hrst
consideration is a livelihood. wen,
would il be if labor arrangements and
school arrangements were so adjusted
that both could be attended to and go on
happily together.
A learned gentleman lately said In a
lecture in New York: we shoulu teacn
our children to use their hands, and we
should be fitting them much more
nationally than at present. l would
have in every school good workshop,
where, for one hour in the day, the pu-
pills should be taught some of these
simple decorative arts, working IN
metal, clay or wood, and we may be
quite sure that that hour would be the
golden hour of that schOOlboy's day
There children would learn morals In
the most practical school OF morals IN
the yyOrld-the school of utility and art. y
1t is proper to add that the Kinder
garten schools are conducted upon this
idea. Occupation is the souls guardian
angel; and the body needs rational at
tention with a view to health and de-
VelOpment.
1t has been claimed that each of us
has time to become good English and
classical scholar, and also to become
skilled in some handicraft before we
reach adult age. This presumes that
time shall be improved and not ldled
away. and that proper help be given by
Way of instruction. This is the idea of
our public schools as at present estab-
lished.
Some good people think our public
schools attempt too much. lido not think
that. They have been termed the peO-
pies colleges, meaning that the youth
whose parents are unable to give them
better, should have the most favorable
advantages our public schools can give.
Equality of opportunity. equality OF
school advantages, is the aim OF our sys.
tenn. The great regret Is that more OF
our youth do not continue in school,
reap these benefits, and better prepare
themselves for citizenship. We sadly
need reform in this particular, and
many parents need revival in this re-
spect, that their children may be better
educated and kept from "evil cOmmuni-
cations that corrupt good manners"
No friend of the public school system
Will claim that there is not room for i'm
pTOvement; and | know that none are
more sOlicitOus for that improvement
than the teachers themselves. 1t is their
thought by night, and their work by
day. know of no occupation more try
ing and exhaustive than that of the
teacher, and more deserving of sym
pathetic consideration.
We need only compare civilized cOun-
tries to see what the peoples colleges
have done. In elevating the standard of
general intelligence material progress
has been made; the means of securing
livelihood increased through useful in
ventiOns,
And arts that make fire, food and earth
The vassals Of mans will.
1 attribute then, to general education,
the wonderful progress OF the age: The
benefactOrs of mankind have not, as
rule, belonged to the rich and we'll born,
but rather to those dependent upon their
own exertiOns. Says great author:
Sweet are the uses of adversely,
Which, like the toad ugly and venOnOus,
Wears yet precious jewel in its head
And So such life secure from public haunt
Finds tongues in books in the running brooks
Sermons in stOnes-and good in everything!
Let all citizens then, who wish well
to the race, stand by and encourage our
public schools. They are common
common sense principles. l would say,
dispense with all unnecessary circumlO-
cutiOn-all unnecessary expenditure of
time. Let essentials engrOss the atten-
tiOn of teachers and pupils, and beStOW
not unnecessary labor upon nOn-esSen-
tials. John Quincy Adams, in his ad
dress last simmer at Chatauqua, upon
the Quincy schools, said there was moth
ing really new in their management.
They had made a change some years
ago, and had brought their schools with
in the pale of common sense, and the
results were highly satisfactory. In fact
Our needful knowledge. like our needful food
Unhedged, lies open in life's common field,
And bids all welcome to the vital feast
Reading, being the most important |
branch, should receive attention and |
lrill accordingly. That drill should |
continue to the end of the course, so |
hat pupils might be accomplished in |
,he art. AS a help in other branches it |
8 important, being, as it were, the key |
hat unlOcks the stOrehOuse of thought |
md knowledge. Remember the English J
world and spreading rapidly in all |
quarters of the globe. 1t is language, |
100, combining power as well as ele- |
gance, and in all respects is worthy of |
)ur attention, not to say admiration.
In the hands of those masters whose |
are classical and immortal, our
English will compare with languages of |
lncient or modern times. 1t is |
'reighted with the aggregated knOwl- |
,dge and experience of the enteTprising |
peoples who speak the tongue. In it the |
mighty works Of genius are preserved |
n Immortal words of beauty and of art. |
70 so cultivate the reading voice as to |
)ring out the meaning and shades of |
hought, is surely Of the first impor- |
ance in acquiring an education. l say
hen, neglect not in our public schools |
his English tongue. The best service the |
eaeher can render is to send pupils |
torth good and beautiful readers. Let |
ne say in this connection that reading |
circle at home may be great help. |
Great results are only got by persistent
iaily, lOng-continued effort. There is
no excellence without labor.
Application, say writers on the mind,
Is the chief difference among men. Con-
tinuity of thought is necessary to a
production or invention. Re-
then, the secret of making
good scholar Of the child is to be doing
} little every day. II this is attended
10 judiciously at home, as well as at
school, success is more certain. Here
may be seen the Importance of educating
rxirlo fhau IN ha he