The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-07-04

ledge Of the nature and niOR Of the properties OF
things around them, with juisnes Of aye in regard
in execution. which facilitates The acquiring of all the
arts"
Exs,s4, frss account efs5e Nr-vHs Of si4esiiss
Of Psesk.si.
Peaalozzi has given the name of {" method" to
the fysm of education of which he is the author,
and winch he iabors TO improve with zeal which
proniies TO eniure il fuccefs.
The end which he propofes to himfsi is to deve-
ope in the infant, that principle of perfe which
is inherent in human nature, and which only needs
cultivation acquire in the earlef age degree
Of ffrength which can fearcsly be conceived. He
~iihes TO profit of the rt years of infancy, hitherto
70 neglected, and TO induce mothers in the midi of
their daily occupations to become the fra nttruors
Of their children, and in the cradle opeu their
Understandings to juf conceptions, by directing the
attention proper obie9s and furnifhing the
ry with clear and Ineligible ideas. BY thefe means
he propoes to fnppy that deficiency which has hither
TO been found in every fyhem of education, either
public or private-or in other Words he wihes be-
fore commencing any fyaem of inllru&ion, to pre-
pare his pupil to be inRrue.ed.
The BATS OF his elementary nfrudon is Infuiiias,
which he regards as the general foundation Of our
knowledge, aud the moi proper means Of unfolding
the powers of the human mind in the moi natural
manner. He feeks to convey inftruaion rather thro
the eyes than ears; fynem mutt not confouud
with that found in the elementary books which every
day appear under new forms, and in which authors
undertake to give by plates, accompanied with deni-
tions, explanations absolutely beyond the undernand-
ings of thofe for whom they deigned. Penalozzi
whes the progrefs of inru&on to be always proporti-
oned to the intellectual powers of ais pupil; he COM
mences with the moi fmple and ineligible IDEAS
and his fundamental principle conlias in at firR choo-
ling the mot eafy and familiar obea, and in gi-
~ she IN oc =
fore he prefents new idea and by regular and pro-
greiiive iteps prefentng facis, only after the
youthful mind has perfectly comprehended thofe al
! ready received. When new idea 10 prerented, il
naturally ares from that already inculcated and pains
are taken that the knowledge of the thing hould al
ways be connected with true aceep;ation of the
word which is meant to deignate il.
I" A child, thus educated will perhaps not appear
to advantage, when compared with enc taught in the
common manner he will not be able to repeat 70
many phraies from memory, TO talk on 70 many
lubes; bur whatever he does fpeak about, h. will
fully comprehend. This habit acquired in infancy
viii be found of the greatef advantage ia his flu
ture ftudes; and any employed in the tuition of
children, will be aonihed the fubRauta fuperio-
rity which the pupil acquires by this habit over one
who is taughtin the common rapid and fuPer6cial
| manner.
This, and this nsR particularly is the end which
Pelaozzi propoGes to himfef and which he believes
he has attained. So hort time yet has eapfed
inee sideas have been put in practice that we can
not judge absseriri of his yfem, except his ini-
tu:e /; blu, the mon favorable prefumption. may be
entertained, in repe the olidty Of its principles
and of the happy eeas it viii have future gene
rltions, If we form Judgment from the e6siaIre-
port Preiented to the Helvete government in 1902
by men deferving of the hghef confidence from tn.
opinion ofa great number of learned who on their
Wits to Ber:houd, have been aaoniffed at the fur
prifing refults they wnehedand by the general in
| sersf, which the fira experiments and the GrRs
works of this extraordinary have excited through
out Germany.
propofe giving ny readers an account of this
new fyitem, which has been 70 far tried as to enable
US TO form, tho not complete yet an adeqsate idea
ofit, in order to appreciate its utility.
The frequent vilirs have made to Rer,houa
the attention with which have examined this era
biihment, TO which no parent can be indifferent, the
full confidence with which have placed my fon I'M
de. the care of Pefaozzi, altogether induce me to
hope, however imperfect this tract may othervite
be, thar it will lean not be devoid of nter.h par
tieularly for my fellow ctize1s Of the Canton de vaud
at period when branch of this institute has lust
been fixed among them.
ihal hrG give lone account of Peffalozzi; 2dIy
of hisfytfem in general, sdy, of fome of It's deren,
branches, and hai terminate by fon,e details CONCERN
ing the existing state of the institute.