Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-02-20
FROM LAFAYETTE.
The Blair Bill for Schools.

~ AhN ChisoNANAN
Education, from time immemoral,
has been the truest indication OF success
and prosperity. In Greece and Italy
the natives fostered education to nm UNI
limited degree; all that was necessary
to secure increased funds in those an
cient Kingdoms was to let it be known
that IL was needed, and Immediately the
appropriations were made In those
schools were reared some of the bright
est intellects that the world has ever
known. England has, together with
other European states, made culture It's
standard. We have many brilliant ex-
ampes in British proficiency to which
we can point with honor, and tremhlo
because we have not emulated them.
The master-work OF the translation of
the Bible into English was accomplish
ed in this gigantic nation OF sayants.
The code and laws on which our proud
government stands, were promulgated
there Her maps and charts atan early
age indicated her unbounded training
even in her infamy. And some of the
ablest navigators and explorers were Of
English descent. BY increased facilities
in culture, she at length has more Of
the carth's surface, than any other ma
ton in the world, and it is addicted to
devotion to the cause Of education.
At length "mania" spread through
the world, but the interest manifested
in waking up the dead faculties OF the
soul, never reached us, and early in the
history of the United States education
had Il restriction put on it, by Gov
Berkeley, OF Virginia. Soon deplorable
ignorance was the result, and he was
driven by the power which WAS vested
in him, to remove the shackes from
what was in the future to be the SAVIOR
OF this grand old commonwealth. The
rights Of citizens were restored and the
State wheeled into line, and is now one
OF the leading States in education.
In the sixteenth century M4ssachu-
sets witnessed the establishments Of
Harvard College. john Harvard, after
whom it WAS named, did all that lie pos
sibly could to make it a repository OF
knowledge for future generations. 1t
was heavily endowed, and later on the
government projected It, O,her State
mele strenuous efforts towards the cu,-
ture of the youth. Lands were given
in the interest of education and dillu-
sion Of knowledge. Thus we see what
interest has been manifested, and prop
erty donated to chartered Institutions Of
learning, and the nation was in its in
fancy science was poorly developed
but our ancestors did not relax their
spirit for college in which America
might figure prominently in contribu-
ting to the world of lore a monument
of fame as durable as the pyramids OF
Egypt. While the politicians, dema-
gogues and office seekers are fussing for
the largest loaf, they should be actively
engaged in trying to render a more
efficient mode of instruction; and in
stead of pensiOning old soldiers, they
had better appropriate the money for
public schools, and thereby pension the
young heroes, who are in the majority.
and who have no experience in the
broad battle of life.
The writer favors Bhir's bill. The
boards OF money in the treasury are
detrimental to our interests and should
be dispensed with. | know of no other
way that would be of more benefit than
to be expended according to the ratio
OF illiteracy. Illiteracy has grown to
an appalling state in the South. We
ought to have ten months of school
every year; if there be not a sufficiency
OF public money to teach ten mouths,
teach as long as we can, then supply the
deficiency with cheaper teachers. We
must have compulsory law that will
necessarily force parents and guardians
to patronze the public schools. We
need new books in Tennessee. We
teach geology, and it is OF no practical
benefit to the average pupil We should
dispense with geology, and substitute
physiology-it is nature, and we ought
to know it. Other important changes
could be suggested. We can modify
our system, should we getan apprcpria-
ton from either Bhir's or Caldwell's
bill. The CHRONICLE, an able organ,
always espousing what is right, favors
this, and we should instruct our repre-
sentatlves in Congress to use their ut
most ability in endeavoring to secure its
passage. We also hope that these Jack
leck renegades will no longer protest
against its passage. They think it might
be unconstitutional; well, we think it is
not, and we have Kent in one hand and
NI,,, l.. IL a