The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-02-16
Educational Associations.
BY GEO. NJ. COLE.

any people. 1t is important because it affects
the human mind. ''the brightest display of the
powers and skill of the Infinite mind with
which we are acquainted Our common
schools are about the only educational nstitu-
ton that is maintained throughout our land.
And they do not receive the attention that their
Importance would warrant. A subject of so
much importance should be thoroughly ex-
amined and discussed by the best intellects of
every community.
The great mass of your scholars are going
through the common branches of study at Il
rate which renders it impossible for them ever
to get a very extensive idea of the world of
literature or the universe of God. In many of
the older settled districts any attempt to change
the sentiments and customs of our ancestors is
viewed with a suspicious eye. Hence those
who desire the good will and praise of men are
found studying public sentiment and striving
to comply herewith for the attainment of their
ends. Many common school teacher could
testify to the truth of this statement if he had
the franknos> TO do so. We find our scholars
searching out the location and history of Il
thousand little towns on this earth, which they
never expect to or hear of after their school
days. when their minds might be improved to
Il far greater extent by learning something of
the laws which govern all the planets, of which
our earth is only one. We sometimes find
them initiating their teachers in the solution of
mathematical problems when they ought to
be studying the principles which underie all
4
mar until their school days are ended and GO
ing out into the world wholly ignorant of the
principles of any language.
The mass of people have not yet learned
thu; the beauty of modern language can lie
best appreciated, and it, principles compro-
hended most ecctuaily, by first studying an
cient language. from which all modern Lam
gua.e> have been developed. Our common
schools are affected by the ignorance and
proiudcc> of the masses that many of the best
educated people in our land will not allow
their children to attend the common school fer
fear thai habits will he formed that will retard
their future progress. our schools being thus
of the utmost Importance that some ctiucatioH-
al a>sociat"n call the people together that they
may he enlightened rs to the true nature of cd
ucltion aud the best means of obtaining it. The
very fact tha: man is wholly creature of de-
Ec.opnent proves concu>iyely that every hu-
man faculty should be developed to the great
est extent consistent with the general health of
the individual. Conceive if you can the case of
child existing in the world for many years
far removed from any circumstances favorable
to mental culture. How much do you think
such a creature would tend to the glory of
God. which i avowcd in Scripture to be the OBJ
iect> Of mans creation: If the knowledge
gained by aS>ociating with civilized people and
arunentary education produce such a change
in the condition of man. why is not a higher
education worth striving for:
How can man better spend what time is not
nece>sar! in caring for the wants of the body
than iii mastering one mathematical relation
after another and discovering one law of nature
after another until his earthly nature is ripe
for the harvest: 1t is the work of education
to develop one of the most innocent and help
less beings of earth into one of the mighte>t
and most noble of Gods creation. And how
impossible for the common school to perform
this high and noble work without the co-opera-
ton of the home circle The magnitude of
the enterprise demands that every community
should unite all classes of society in the prose-
cuton of this noble cause. If we will but
profit by the experience Of those who have
played well their part in the great drama of
life before us, we may acquire far greater de-
gree Of mental culture than was possible for
the antdeuNian who lived to ten times the
short period allotted TO human life at the pres
ent day.
What privilege to live in such an age of
the world. and how few realize their privileges
We may to-day view the creative process as
still going on in the heavens. We may see
Saturn surrounded by the material from which
the Almighty apparently intends to form satel
ite> during the ages to come In the most dis
tint parts of the universe of which we are per-
mitted 70 Get a glimpse. We behold huge masses
of gas revolving in space. From the views we
get of worlds during the different stages of the
creative process. We conclude that our solar
system once existed as huge mass of gas re-
volving in space and that planet after planet
was thrown oil from the great centre during
the cooling process. That great centre still re-
mains a fiery molten mass to furnish lis with
light and heat. We see the chips of the great
workshop of creation, flying through space in
the form of comets and meteorS. Here are
the Great >uhiectS for our contemplation, placed
before IL by an all-wi>e Creator that we NAV
develop those mighty energies of the human
soul which are 10 bear il forward to unending
ages.
five would awaken an interest in the sub
iect and bring our common schools up to the
highest point OF usefulness Of which they are
susceptible. we must notice how an interest is
awakened in other subjects. We see il in poll
tic. We see il in temperance. We see it in
religion. But what do we in education!
We see The average state paying about 81 ,00o.-
"oo ahinally for the support of cur common
schools and that j. the last We hear OF il. How
few parents realize that they are PAWN. for
he support of the common school enough TO
>cc that their scholars make the most of il !:
Even of those parents who are DESTROYS of their
children bcin. educated. how few have any in
tcro>, in he work for themselves: Ifcluca-
ton j. worth anything to nyhody, il is worth
>Omrthln. To every body Prof. Wayand very
properly remarks that parents should follow
their children throughout the various steps of
their education that they may ever he equal to
or superior TO their children in intelligence.
Every scholar j. aware that il is a serious
draw back to education 10 he surrounded by
those who are wholly interested in other sub
Ilcci>. IL j. the work Of educational associa-
tlUn> TO awaken the entire community to a
sense of the responsibility resting upon them
a. rational. intelligent beings. larger pro-
portion of the people would become interested
in the work. Their attention would be called
TO a wider range of subjects. An increased in
tere>t would he awakened and improved meth
od> would be introduced into our common
schools. Thus the association of the people in
literary capacity might prove greater bless
ing to the country than the millions of dollars
which are now being spent for common schools.
Monango, OAK, Jan. 16, 1888.
1t is reported in New York that the heirs of
the late John Roach are about to sue the Gov
eminent for S25OO,O00 for alleged damages
caused by the action of the Government in re-
gard to vessels built by Mr.. Roach.
A pressed glass tumbler, nine inches tall,
with capacity of so ounces, said to be the
largest in existence, was made at Rochester,