The Newtown bee., 1898-07-08
Education, Our Country
Safeguard"

GRAFTON BY FREDERICK F. DODD, DE-
LIvERED AT THE GRADUATION ExER.
CIsEs OF THE CENTER SCHOOL, NKw
MILFORD.
One Of our prominent educators has
said: "Whatever fits man to see clearly,
TO think soundly, to reason accurately
and swiftly, to feel purely, to choose
rightly, is accomplishing and fitting him
to accomplish the most practical things
in this most practical world" This is
exactly the primary end in education.
Whatever accomplishes this end Ia edu-
eating. Education should draw out
and develop the best qualities Of an in.
dividual, bring him to better under
standing of himself, teach him, discrimi-
nation, accustom him to the rapid use OF
his reasoning powers, impue him with
good principles, and raise the plane OF
his moral nature, for without high
standard of morals no man is true
man. Men who are educated in this way
from the best type of citizenship at the
present day,-those that form the
bulwark Of our national life.
This country's position at the present
day is due in large measure to its edu.
nists came to this country they sought
one of two objects; religious freedom OF
the acquisition of gold. The religious
sect predominated. And, as education
and religion have always been closely
allied, the result was that they not only
provided for their religion, but began
Immediately to educate the youth. Each
succeeding generation has improved mp
on the facilities for education until, at
the present day, not child in all these
vast United States need go out into the
world uneducated.
Other countries, England and Ger
many for instance, may possibly have
provided better for the education of the
upper classes; but none offer as good ad-
vantages as this country for the eduea-
tion of the masses. The result Ia that
to-day, in the United States, there Is q
large PERCENTAGE of people who read and
write and are educated in higher branch
es than in any other country.
We have always been nation of II ao-
ers. In this way the educational stand
ing of the country has been noticeably
raised. Reading is to-day the most i'm
portant element In bringing information
and culture to the masses. They are
brought into contact with the great
minds Of the feast, and their moral ns~
lures is largely benefited !; they read Of
the achievements of renowned men and
an ambition TO emulate their example is
aroused. Thus the individual ID inspired
TO nobler living, and through him the
state is raised to higher standard of
civilization.
II the present form of republican gov
eminent Ia to be maintained, we must
earnestly set ourselves to the task OF
educating the people. Washington fore
saw this need when he said, promote
then, as an object OF primary Importance
institutions for the general diffusion
Of knowledge. In proportion ~ the
structure Of government gives
force public opiRion, it Is essential that
public opinion should be enlightened. p
That statement was madesover century
ago, but it's caution il equally as forcible
to-day. If this government Is TO be q
true government by the people, We must
educate the people. For of all things an
Ignorant, uneducated republic 10 the
most dangerous to libert and Justice.
The more we do toward, educating the
young, the more we do towards breeding
! higher type Of citizenship. And il y
DC the utmost importance that the great
sst possible care be taken to properly
educate the men and women to whom the
future of this grand nation II intrustad.
Teach each citizen to think honestly and
d use good sound judgment In the pres
mt conscienceless primaries of the land,
md Boss Ruie, 2 that great enemy 81