annual report—Convention. 67 
this number received all the instruction they ever were blessed 
with, at the “people’s colleges,” the common schools. 
Our education is good as far as it goes, but it does not go far 
enough. We all ought to know howto read and write; it is 
questionable if we do. We ought to know how to cipher, and 
something of geography. When we have gone as far as that, we 
nearly all have said, that is far enough for our common schools to 
go with us. I am glad they have gone so far, and I am here to¬ 
night to bear witness to the great value of the little that has been 
acquired in these public schools. 
I have just been perusing with intense interest the report of the 
bureau of education, on the relation of education to labor. A 
series of questions was addressed to a large number of intelligent 
employers in all parts of the Union as to the effect of education— 
mainly common school, upon each person in their employ. The 
answers were nearly unanimous, 11 that his value to the commu¬ 
nity at large is positively increased, and his power as a producer 
of adding to the common stock of wealth is materially enhanced 
by the education given him as a child in the common school. The 
increase of wages he will receive on account of his knowledge is 
put at various figures, averaging nearly twenty-five per cent. 
That this increase of value arises, 1st, from the fact of his being 
more readily instructed in the duties of his work ; 2d, that he 
needs less supervision; 3d, that he does his work to better advan¬ 
tage; 4th, that he is less liable to join in unreasonable strikes; 
5th, is more industrious; 6th, less dissipated; and lastly, is less 
liable to become an expense to the commonwealth through poverty 
or crime.” 
Now, remember, gentlemen, that twenty-five per cent, is added 
to the value of the laborer from the possession of the slender out¬ 
fit given in the common school. What will be the per cent, of 
value, if, in addition to this, he receives a training in part, which 
specially fits him for his work. The answers are given to such an 
inquiry in the report alluded to. That a knowledge of the sci¬ 
ences that underlie the occupation gives greatly increased value 
to their possessor, is agreed on all hands. It does this : 1st, by 
enabling him to avoid dangers, in mining for instance, to which 
ignorant men are exposed; 2d, by enabling him to detect and 
