Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-09-05
Che freemau.
Why So Few :?


merically larger than usual. Evidently
the public sense is becoming enlightened
as to the advantages which they afford
and vet how few, comparatively, OF school
age in our rural districts and country
villages are enrolled as scholars with any
view to connected and thorough course
of study.
In this age of the world the parent who
sends his son or daughter out into life
uneducated. inspired by no high and pure
ambition to excellence in what is worthy
of them, commits a crime which augh'
not to 20 unpunished.
"E lucation is one of the guarantees oi
liberty and an inalienable birthright te
all. The apathy of many parents with
regard to this duty of educating their
children ows often, not out of penuri-
business s,-unwillingness to sacrifice for
their children it is largely due to
misapprehension as to what education
means, ana what is its objective aim.
They would not allow their children to go
out from their homes unclad or hungry
and yet they consent to send them forth
into this world of temptation and SELF
seeking with no self control or proper
sense of right and wrong an easy prey to
any and every malevolent influence that
roams this lower world TO deceive and to
DESTROY. We know of those, and how
many they are, who mourn over the loss
of their children. They have turned out
badly in life. The daughter of noble
parentage and of many fond hopes and
prayers married low.lived specimen Of
humanity who had never been educated
in anything but animal passions. They
try to endure the disappointment as best
they can, but their hearts are pierced
through with sword; they complain
bitterly and cry out against God. And
the son who has been petted and indulged,
all his life, in all the wild growths of his
natural inclination at length becomes of
age, and undisicplined in mind or morals.
goes to the bad and finds his boon com.
panions among those of whose common
practice it would be shame to speak.
Now who is responsible for this3 Be-
fore the father and mother sit down TO
indulge the sentiment of regret and throw
the blame on God let them ask themselves
whether they did their duty to that boy or
girl. What safeguards did they throw
around them? They lived in fanciful
and unreal world. They were unacquainted
with the paths that took hold on death and
if they did know them they had no expe'
rience in these woful consequences nor
had they the mind or will to choose and
act wisely for themselves. They were
impelled by an ever active life energy
shut up within and they needed that these
mysterious forces within should be direct
ed by higher laws than their own unedu.
Gated and capricious wills.
Suppose the child does not like study,
and needs to be urged to it; suppose he
complains of the restrictions that compel
him to remain in the schoolroom when he
prefers to run in the streets, the parent is
to consult his own experience and not the
chila's whim as to what is best for him to
do.
1t was the duty of these natural guar
dans above mentioned TO be experience
and mind to them who were not yet
proper law unto themselves. 1t was their
I,,t,, to oil fn chair oil
and mental habits and tastes. To bring
their entire nature with all its language
and passions up upon the higher plain
where they would of their own choice
come to seek their partnerships both in
thought and life among the pure and
good. This is their only safety, their only
hope of successfully resisting the tempta-
tions of this world.
The habits formed in early life are apt
10 remain longest with US. The affections.
manners and habits all need to he kept
under control during the school age, until
they are capable of becoming the founda-
tion of a course of "liberal and virtuous
self culture "Human creatures says
Il learned mar, 'lrom the constitution of
their nature and the circumstances in
wh ch they are placed, cannot but acquire
habits during their childhood by the
Impressions which are given them and
their own customary actions and long
before they arrive at mature age these
habits form Il general settled character"
That these youths grow up into forms of
character which can withstand the temp
tations to evil in life physically and men
tally and morally is sacred trust imposed
upon their natural guardians, and not to
fulfill this truth we repeat is cruelty, it is
a crime.
The common notion that education Is
the mere acquisition of knowledge is
Misrepresentation that darkens the minds
of many parents to their duty. This is
hardly considerable part; it is in an
important sense to preoccupy the child's
mind with right ideas; to give direction
to his thought and all ,he powers Of life
until these higher and right habits of
thought and lite with him are become
fixed and unalterabe laws. 1t is sad
b1yond expression 10 see in our villages
young men and even boys wasting their
time lounging around the public houses,
shops and stores, the atmosphere thick
with profani and low, poisonous insinu
atoms against God, Christianity and any
and every form of truth and purity.
Parents if you do not educate your chill
dren somebody will educate them and at
a fearful cost to you, TO them and to the
world. 1t costs less to educate your chill
dren at the best educational institutions of
the land than 10 have them educated in
these schools of bell. Where in these
days they become familiar with all the
lower vices of the world before they are
eight years old. 1t is your duty 10 keep