



Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, JoAnn Greenwood,
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    THE KNICKERBOCKER.

    VOL. X.      NOVEMBER, 1837.       NO. 5.




'NURSERIES OF AMERICAN FREEMEN.'

NUMBER ONE.


GENERAL EDUCATION is the attribute and glory of republican America.
It constitutes one of the strongest pledges of the success of
that interesting experiment in politics, which has astonished and
enlightened the nations of the eastern continent, and which promises,
in future times, to be the grand means of extending the blessings
of freedom to the civilized world. Education, in some of the most
enlightened European countries, is like the sun rising in majesty,
and gilding with surpassing brightness a few mountain tops. Education
in the United States is like the sun pouring his cheering radiance
over every hill, and into every valley.

The peculiar importance of universal and well-conducted education,
in a republican government, must be evident from the slightest
consideration. Every American citizen is a juror, before whom each
officer of the government is on trial, in regard to his capacity and
fidelity. The public prints are the pleaders, oftentimes very artful,
and sometimes not altogether honest; and these jurors need to be well
furnished with an enlightened understanding, that they may not be
imposed upon by misrepresentation and sophistry. Universal suffrage
can never be safely trusted but in the hands of an intelligent and
virtuous population. And it is questionable whether another country
can now be found, beside the United States, where education is
sufficiently general, and conducted upon such principles, as to form
a sufficient basis on which to rest the structure of a republican
government.

The want of a well-educated population has been the occasion of
most of the difficulties and disorders which have agitated the
South American republics, where one stormy revolution has succeeded
another, and where a strong tendency has been evinced to return to
the death-like calm of despotism. This is a great reason why France,
with all her aspirations after freedom, and all her toil, and sweat,
and blood, to obtain it, has had no more success in securing its
substantial blessings. This is one reason why reform in the English
government is a work of such immense difficulty, and why it cannot be
obtained but by a severe struggle, and, as it were, by inches. Some
master-spirits in that country, in which there is much to admire, and
to approve, and to imitate, have recently engaged in a noble effort
to advance the cause of popular education. These men, whether they
may be aware of it or not, are firing a train that may eventually
produce an explosion, which will shake the lordly aristocracy of
that country to its base. There is reason, however, to hope, that
in England arbitrary power will gradually give way to liberal
principles, and that the desired end may be at length attained,
without violent convulsion. This may be hoped for with greater
confidence, since intelligence is always friendly to order.

But aside from its political bearing, a general and well-conducted
education is a matter of vast importance. Every man has a mind, which
can never take its proper rank, and secure its highest enjoyment,
without being enlightened; without a proper development of its power,
and a suitable direction in applying them to practical purposes. A
fire-side in Iceland, a land of frost and of poverty, becomes a scene
of contentment and happiness, because it is surrounded by a reading
population; and the long and dreary winter's nights pass pleasantly
away, in the entertainment afforded by historical narration, or
native poetry, or other means of mental cultivation. Every family is
a school, and every child receives the rudiments of an education by
his own fire-side. In civilized countries, valuable books constitute
one of the cheapest, most domestic, and noblest amusements, for the
enjoyment of which, however, a good education is an indispensable
requisite.

But leaving this strain of general remark, it is proposed to give the
subject a practical bearing, by a brief consideration, in the present
number, of the importance of a legislative provision for the support
of schools, and for the qualification and preparation of teachers.

A legislative provision for the support of schools is a matter of
great importance. Every free government is bound by the principle
of self-preservation to afford every necessary facility for the
education of its whole population. And the most substantial aid which
it has in its power to afford is, to furnish pecuniary assistance,
by setting apart adequate funds, to bring the means of instruction
alike within the reach of the poor and the rich. Schools, and
especially common schools, are