Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

UNITED STATES.

NEW-YORK, March 7.

The State of Pennsylvania, by its liberal encouragement of every species of improvement, sets an excellent example for her sister states. The legislature of New York have set a similar example in respect to public education; but the business of the Lock Navigation in this state meets with difficulties, perhaps not very honorable to the state.

Is it not surprising that there can be such a thing as PARTY, about improvements that must confessedly be beneficial in a high degree, to every class of citizens?

Prejudice is removed only by slow degrees. Five years ago a bill for the establishment of public schools could scarcely obtain a reading in the assembly of this state. Now a similar bill passes by a great majority. But perhaps two or three times five years will be necessary to destroy a prejudice of another kind; which is, the public opinion that the business of teaching schools is disreputable. This is a monarchical prejudice, which took root in those colonies which were formerly royal governments; and is more hostile to good public education, than all other causes.

In some of the Eastern states, this prejudice has never existed to any considerable degree. So far from it, that the best characters are generally elected as instructors of schools. Students of the most respectable families are taken from the graduates of the universities to teach the first rudiments of learning and morals; and a great proportion of those characters, who now fill the highest seats of government, as Senators and Representatives, both in the National and State Legislatures, were employed as instructors of schools, on their first leaving the Colleges where they were educated.

To destroy the prejudices existing against the reputation of this business, will be a great point gained in this state; and it is a point that demands the attention of all liberal minded-men.