North Carolina compared with other states. If we can not do as much as New Eng do something. which prevails, with very few exceptions over all the rural parts of the State? It is a melancholy fact, that many of our farmers of wealth and character, nay, even many of our instructors and clergy, are notoriously deficient in Orthography, and Reading and Writing, and the commonest rules of vulgar Arithmetic. How much the influence of such men is diminished in society by this deficiency, it is needless here to enquire. It is indeed greatly to be lamented, that persons of vigorous natural powers, strong common sense, and sufficient experience, should be unable decently to exhibit their ideas and assert their talents. merely because they possess not the cultivation which, in carlier life they might have obtained, under a skilful preceptor, in a few months. In the Northern States, one never meets a native adult who cannot both read and write; we might extend this remark to all persons of fourteen years of age. Is it not desirable that our population he equally well instructed? and what is wanting to effect this but the disposition to make a fair experiment? At the Free Schools, in the States of New England, "the land, we can still rich and the poor meet together." There is no respect of persons. The rudiments of useful knowledge are accessible to all; and all avail themselves of the invaluable privilege. In North-Carolina, on account of the less density of our population, it might not be at present, practicable, even should it be thought expedient, to accomplish so much. But, because we cannot effect every thing, shall we attempt nothing? "Half a loaf is better than no bread." If the present legislature would, with a seriousness and zeal becoming the prodigious importance of the subject, but make a beginning;-if they could be persuaded to make even a parsimonious appropriation; or lay even a small tax, which would never alarm their constituents-this would be something and something worth while too. In future sessions, when the nature and utility of the object should Legislature urged to make a beginning. legislative aid would undoubtedly be given; and more, and more-till the end were obtained. member of Legis the elementary We presume not, Messrs. Editors, to prescribe to the It is hoped no Honorable Assembly, either the means or the manner, by lature will oppose which so vast an object as the Elementary Education of education of youth all youth is to be brought about. That Assembly, we are happy to say, enrolls among its members several, of high respectability, who are known to be favorable to the design; and we charitably hope, that, in a body so wise and patriotic, there is not one member opposed to it. tion defined. Lest any misunderstanding should arise, it may be neces Elementary educasary to define the phrase Elementary Instruction. We mean by it the common branches of English learning, viz. Spelling, Reading, Writing, Cyphering and English Grammar. These are the only studies which it is indispensably requisite generally to spread amongst all the people. By the assistance of these, the student of genius may with fa cility carry himself on to higher and more intricate speculations; the student who has no extraordinary mental powers will desire to advance no further. This course of edu· cation is what is exactly adapted to the wants and business of life. More than this, few are desirous to obtain. So much, every person should be taught. The dead languages, and the abstruser sciences, as they have ever been, so they will probably ever continue to be, cultivated by the few instead of the many; and for their accommodation, numerous private institutions of more or less merit, are already provided. tion of the people means to church and state. The middle class of society, conjunctly with the poor, what the educaconstitutes the great mass, which we denominate emphati cally THE PEOPLE. They are our husbandmen, our mechanics, and our militia. To animate this important mass-to infuse into this great body a SOUL-to breathe into it the breath of life-is to multiply the means, and facilitate the acquisition of USEFUL LEARNING. Are we republicans? Would we perpetuate those principles Education promotes happiness of individuals. which gave us independence, and for which our intrepid ancestors expended their treasures, and shed their blood? -and are we attached to our State and confederative Constitutions? There are among us hundreds of brave and worthy patriots to whom these sacred principles are unknown; hundreds who are not able to read a word in our excellent constitutions; and unless something be done to change materially the aspect of things in this respect, this evil will continue, and perhaps increase, till it MAY bring about the subversion of our liberties.-Are we christians? From many of our neighbors, and friends, and relatives, the BOOK OF LIFE is shut! To them it speaks no language neither of terror or of consolation! and may they not some day, like Montezuma, when the sacred Volume was handed him by a Spanish Priest-because he could not read and know its contents-dash it with contempt to the earth? But, finally, setting aside both considerations of a political and religious nature, we ought to encourage a more extensive propagation of the means of knowledge among all classes, because such a course will reflect back upon us, more light and more happiness than we bestow. It will be bread cast upon the waters and found after many days. Among those who have been only tolerably instructed in literature, &c., there ever subsists a species of genteel and honorable emulation; a polite and friendly intercourse. They who can read, will read, and they who read will be prone to communicate to others what has given pleasure or instruction to themselves. By this means, conversation will assume a more elevated cast, the affections of the heart will be exalted and improved, and instead of the rawness, the awkwardness and the uncouth manners which give offence, and repress sociability, we shall participate in the advantages which result from a refined and reciprocal interchange of the courtesics of life. Our wildernesses and Edgecombe to petidivision of purpose. Considerable exertions have recently been made in sev- Meeting held in eral counties in this State, to effect the object of this com- tion Legislature; munication. In Edgecombe, a meeting was held, a few months ago, with a view, ultimately to petition the Legislature. But the novelty of the matter prevented the requisite degree of unanimity. In Pitt, Martin, and elsewhere, are many individuals, whose favorable opinion is known. I shall, Messrs. Editors, have ralized my present expectations, and have accomplished my present object, when some gentleman of more leisure and ability than myself, shall have placed this topic before the public in a better dressed or a more attractive form. It is one of immense importance, and I shall envy the man his fame and honor, both with this age and with posterity, through whose talents and influence the blessing of FREE SCHOOLS shall be established upon whatever plan, and rendered accessible to every class of the people, in the State of North-Carolina. Edgecombe County, Nov., 1824. -Raleigh Register, Dec. 3, 1824. |