Year: 1859

Notwithstanding the number and va
riety OF class books that have sough, and
gained adni.,auce into our public
schools, the study of our civil policy has
not been favored with many treatise on
this importan. science. To secure the
blessings of liberty 70 themselves and
and their postcrity was the leading object
Of the people Of the United States in or
dsning and establishing the Consttu
tion. This constitution has been salts
faetorily proved by the experience Of
more than half a century.


Whether the blessings of civil and re-
ligious freedom which our system of gov.
ernment is so happily adapted to secure,
shall be enjoyed by cur postcrity de-
pends, in no small degree, upon what is
done to qualify the rising generation of
American youth for the dnties, and re.
sponsibiltiss which as frecmen, :hcy are
shortly to assume. In few years the
destiny of this great and growing rcpub-
lie will be committed to those who are
receiving instruction in our public
schools. How important that the course
of education pursued in these insti:u-
tions should include the principles of
Republican government, and especially
as that government in which our youth
are soon to take part. A thorough
knowledge of our constitutional and civil
Jurisprudence cannot well be too highly.
! appreciated. Without it we may hope
in vain to pcrpetuate our free institu-
tons


! The very idea of free government pre-
supposes a knowledge Of such govern.
ment; and how is it to be obtained with
out study AS well ght we suppose
that our youth could without study ac.
quire a knowledge of any other science
now taught in our schools.


The study Of political science should
be commenced carly. Children should
grow up in the knowledge Of our p1litic.
al institutions. The provisions Of cur
constitutions should be to them az fumil-
lar as any branch Of their common school
education, aud yet thousands % cur
young men reach their majority snd pre-
su,ue to exercise their political franchis
who have never so much as gi'en the
constitution single reading.


| Political equality is a Fundamental
principle Of republican government
The rich and the poor possess an equal
amount OF political power, How impor-
tant, then, that all should be equally Ca
pable Of exercising this power with wis,
dom and effect. It is by the exercise of
! political power that the evils of bad
administration are TO be corrected but
if the people do not exercise this power
inte!lieently, they may only increase
these evils in attempting to correct them.
If ever the great body of the people are
to be qualified for the business Of self
government, our common schools must be
relied on as the principal means. In
these institutions probably four fifths of
our citizens receive all their education
\ science therefore, the knowledge Of
which is so essential to our political pros
perty should be taught in every common
school. Influenced BY these con@idera
tions, the writer Of this short essay wou'd
say to school teachers, the occupation Of
an Instructor of youth is NOS. honora
bic and responsible one. The persons
who are in a few, years to become our
legislators, judges, and governors, are
now in process Of training 10 our public
schools Teachers should therefore real
ize the magnitude Of their trust since
the future character and destiny of the
nation depends SO essentially upon the
degree of ability and fidelity with which
this trust shall be discharged. La our
common schools chiefly must the founda-
ton be laid for our future statesmen. A
teacher who wishes to be in the highest
degree useful, will cheerfully undertake
the instruction Of class in civil govern
ment. The exercise may be made inter-
csting to both teacher and scholar. The
interest of the latter may be increased by
showing them the inseperable connection
between good government and public and
individual prosperity.


The writer would further say to teach
ers that from some experience in teach
ing civil government in the State Of
Ohio, he is fully satisfied tina, teaching
it in common school is practicable, also
pleasant aud interes ting to both teacher
and scholar.


If the Foregoing imperfect sketch
should be the means of bringing the sub
jcct in its true light aud character before
the public, or arousing some competent
person to write more extensively and
clearly on it, and thereby awaken the
public to its intrinsic merit, he will feel
himself amply compensated.