Year: 1879

|


Teachers, s. Institute @ of Jackson County, Ohio


August 25, 1879.


HIGHER EDUCATION.


Fellow Teachers:-I have deemed
this ubject appropriate for your con-
slderatlOn from two reasons, first for
your own sake, secondly for the sake
OF your pupils. For your own sake
because | doubt not some of you as
pire to it. Some of you no doubt are
looking for broader culture than our
common schools afford, and have high
er educational aspirations than to take
out twelve or eighteen months GER
tlticate from your county examiners.
Perhaps also some of you may be
tending toward the course taken bv a
Gallla county teacher who stated re-
Gently in conversation that in youth
he had the opportunity Of obtaining a
collegiate education but was successful
as teacher and allowed himself to be
''over persuaded" from one school to
another until he concluded he was too
old to think Of liberal education for
himself. This course he now regrets
as he sees clearly that he could accom-





his profession, if he had taken more
time in his youth for mental culture
and discipline. This case is instanced
because the experience is a common
one. 1t may be profitable to consider
this subject for the sake of your pupils
because often it is a teachers privilege
to assist in lifting others up toward
the level which he himself occupies
but also to push others to higher
level than his own. frequently
teacher has much to do with the sub
sequent educational career of some of
his pupils.


By Higher Education | mean all
school education beyond what is af-
forded by our common schools. Near
ly all the arguments which can be ad-
duced in favor of any education could
be adduced i'll favor of higher educa-
ton. Nearly all the arguments which
can be presented in favor of any foun-
dation for an important structure can
pc presented IN favor of making that
foundation solid and secure.


Higher education is advantageous as
an assistance to the proper perform
ance of our duties as American citi-
zens. Even where d campaign is con-
Quoted like the one in which we are
now engaging-by the best talent of
the nation, still it is difficult for the
unprejudiced voter to determine what
IS the real underlying truth. Our two
great parties to-day stand squarely op-
posed to each other in reference to the
enforcement of the Federal election
laws and yet each claims to be work
ing for the purity of the ballot! And
so plausibly are those issues stated
and argued on both sides, and so inter-
woven are argument and sophistry,
that every voters final resort is his
own Judgment and intelligence. Up
on these the voter must finally depend
to determine for himself in what way
his vote and his influence will best
serve the interest of his country, and
higher education and the highest in
telligence in the land can be profta-
bly, used in this direction. Our State
Constitution declares that knowledge
is essential to good government" and
the higher degree Of knowledge and
intelligence we have among the peo-
pie the safer we are as a nation.


Therefore | contend it will be bad
and dangerous policy to discontinue
our high schools. 1t is perhaps un-
necessary at this time to enter into
any extended discussion Of this high
school question as the signs Of the
times seem to indicate that the oppo-
sition has already done its worst. 1t
has swept over the land somewhat like
an epidemic but the American people
have sufficient mental and moral
health to survive its effects and shake
it off, in spite of the rough element in
California and Gov. Robinson of New
York and Gov Garcelon of Maine. |
happened at one time to live in close
proximity to Gov Garcelon and will
relate an incident which was then told
me concerning his practice as a sur
geon. 1t was said that on one occa-
sion Il man within the limits Of his
practice sneezed and Immediately af-
forwards missed his false teeth. At
once the horrifying thought struck
the individual that his teeth had been
displaced by the -sneeze and were in
his throat choking him to death! The
alarm was given DIR. Gareelon was
summoned. He decided an incision
would be necessary but advised the
patient to first make his will A
member of his family while looking
Il 1