TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1845-47. 408 



and arts,' 7 and that it contemplates the education of young 

 persons as teachers of common schools. It looks to the 

 education of the people to the increase and diffusion of 

 knowledge among the great mass. Of course this aid to 

 the cause of popular education can. only be of the most 

 genera^ kind. No direct application of the means of the 

 institution to that purpose could be expected. But while 

 this provision is one of high generality, it is, nevertheless, 

 one also of controlling efficiency, calculated to be highly 

 beneficial in its directory influence. If a number of the 

 best teachers, imbued with all the useful science of the age, 

 arid thoroughly qualified for imparting knowledge to the 

 young mind, by the most improved modes, can be sent 

 abroad to all parts of the country, doubtless a great point 

 will have been gained. No business is so imperfectly un- 

 derstood, and so badly conducted, in some parts of the 

 Union as that of teaching. An institution which will have 

 the effect of improving and elevating the standard of in- 

 struction generally, will be a great national blessing. 



Does any one doubt that the scheme proposed in this bill 

 can be made to produce that result ? Even though teachers 

 may not be generally furnished for all sections, an immense 

 advantage will be obtained by the diffusion of correct infor- 

 mation, as to the proper mode of organizing schools, and 

 the best plans for instruction. The most important kinds 

 of knowledge are too frequently altogether neglected in our 

 primary schools. Let the members of this House look 

 back to their school-boy days, and compare the instruction 

 they received, with that which is now dispensed in the best 

 public schools. We were fortunate, sir, very fortunate, if 

 we were taught anything more than words; if physical 

 science constituted any part of our early instruction ; if our 

 attention was directed for a moment to the things around 

 us, among which, and with which, we were bound to accom- 

 plish our destiny. Important changes have now taken 

 place. And not among the least important is that of teach- 

 ing the outlines of physical science at the very earliest 

 period to make the child acquainted with the nature of 

 the ten thousand natural objects around him to give him 

 some idea of the structure of the globe he inhabits, and of 

 the system of which this planet is a part. This is knowl- 

 edge which the child can comprehend, and which the man 

 can never fail to use with advantage. It is properly the 

 first knowledge to be imparted, lying obviously at the very 

 foundation of all good education. 



How much has been accomplished of late in this respect 



