The Duty of American Women to Their Country by Catharine Esther Beecher, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . From the Hon. Thomas Burrowes, late Secretary of State in Pennsylvania. here FROM THE HON. THOMAS BURROWES, LATE SECRETARY OF STATE IN PENNSYLVANIA. I have long been of opinion that the of our age and country, in reference to the sound instruction of the coming generation, is the . great deficiency want of teachers I am now fully convinced that this want supplied any other step can be safely or usefully taken. Nay, I believe that, until this indispensable preliminary measure is accomplished, money, and effort, and legislation will be, , money, and effort, and legislation thrown away. Since 1834, this state has expended more than for the support of her common schools, and, at the end of ten years, I see but little improvement. must be before as they have been nearly five millions In this immense expenditure, not a dollar has been spent to secure this great prerequisite— ; and hence the system has not only failed to obtain general favour, but is in danger of becoming more and more unacceptable the longer it is tried. It is sad to think that we have thus wasted of dollars, and of time, to say nothing of the labour expended and obloquy encountered, and must now re-commence from the foundation; but so it is. good teachers five millions ten years I know of no cause which so much needs a as this. Let not its friends shrink from the undertaking because they may not be able to operate in all, or even in many of the states. Let it be remembered that if a commencement is made in one state, and a report of results sent forth, it will serve to start the good work in all the rest. general movement The necessities, the crying necessities of this cause, are far and away before those of the Temperance Reform, or of Colleges, or of Foreign Missions. He who, being fit, should devote himself to this cause, would confer a greater benefit on his fellow-man than he could possibly do by any other use of his time and talents. The missionary to a heathen land opens to his fellow-man; the missionary in this cause opens of his fellow-citizens, not only to the Book of Life, but to a knowledge of all those rights and duties, without which our free institutions cannot stand to encourage and reform the world. the Book of Life the mind If my gifts and domestic relations permitted, I should devote myself to a mission in this and other states for the purpose of impressing on Legislatures, philanthropists, and teachers, the . necessity of Teachers’ Seminaries A gentleman, supported to operate in this cause, might be employed in this way. He could visit different states one after another, and address the citizens of each county in the county town, after long and full notice. Besides addressing the people publicly, he could appeal to leading individuals privately, and engage them to act with him for this object. Meantime, he could be obtaining educational statistics for future use, and ere long he could make such a report as would set the people to work in earnest, and for their own sakes. While thus proceeding, he could also obtain the promise of one or more intelligent persons in each county, to write on the subject every week in each of the county newspapers. Articles thus addressed to the reason, the patriotism, and the of the people, would have a powerful effect, and cost nothing. economy If funds could be provided from private benevolence to establish proper in two or three states, they would set the matter far ahead in a few years. They would serve as and to the public, and would not long continue to need the support of private philanthropy. They would really be , or establishments. Teachers’ Institutions models inducements normal pattern Beyond a doubt, the plan ought to embrace institutions for the preparation of teachers. The gentleness, self-devotion, and untiring humanity of women eminently qualify them to be the instructers of the more youthful pupils of both sexes, and of their own of all ages. There is not a show of any reason why male teachers only should be provided for at the public charge, when female teachers are as necessary, as useful, and as much confided in by the public. female About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Catharine Esther Beecher (2016). The Duty of American Women to Their Country. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/53739/pg53739-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

From the Hon. Thomas Burrowes, late Secretary of State in Pennsylvania.

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