The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-23

round the school in procession, holding the pri-
yes IN their hands, and an herald proclaiming be-
fore them, these boys have obtained prizes for
gong into another class" The honor Of this has
an effect as powerful, if not more SO, than the
prizes themselves"
large collection of toys, bats, balls, pictures,
kites, is suspended above the masters head,
beaming glory and pleasure upon the school be-.
meath. Mr.. Lancaster has also. as another incen-
tive, an order ofmerit. No boys are admitted to
this order but those who distinguish themselves
ny attention to their studies, and by their endea
vors to check vice. The distinguished badge is
silver medal and plated chain hanging from the
neck.-The superior class has fixed place in the
school any class that can excel it, may eject
them from this place, and occupy it themselves
Every member, both ofthe attacking and defend.
ing classes, feels, of course, the most lively inter-
est in the issue of the contest.
Mr.. Lancaster Furnishes by shame rather than
pain; varying the means Of exciting shame, be-
cause, as he justly observes, any mode of pun
ishment long continued loses its effect.
The boys in the school appointed to teach o.
theirs are called monitors, they are in the proper
ton OF about one monitor to ten boys. So that,
TOR the whole school of 1000 boys, there is only
one master; the rest of the teaching is all done
by the boys themselves. Besides the teaching
monitors, there are general monitors, snch
&c. &c.
IN what Mr. Lancaster says upon the subject
of religion, 1t is clear that he has no desire to
convert, and no intention to be converted Ell
ther let the religion of quakers be taught, If
quaker school is founded upon this method of
teaching writing and reading or l will confine
myself to those general practical principles
winch are suitable to all sects, if you chuse to
found general school for the instruction of indi
gence or will meddle only with the temporal
instruction ofmy pupils, and you may con6de
their religious instruction to whom you please"
so says the member Ofthe religious Sect which,
OF all other religious sects, has showed itself the
| least DESTROYS of making converts. This is SO
moderate, and so reasonable, that, five are
rightly informed, MIR Lancaster has 1T last not
| only succeeded in aliaying the jealousy of
some OF the rulers ofthe English church, but has
even raised himself up some patrons out of their
| numbers.
| These we believe to be the leading features of
this establishment. For the many interesting
| particulars which, III short an abstract we
have been compelled to omit, we refer TO the
book itself. 1t is not badly written, though some
what quaint and yquakersh but we have no OBJ
lection to the Obadiah flavor, and do not wish
that quakers should write books like other peo.
pie there is something interesting and pictu
| rescue in their singularities
1 The improvements which Mr.. Lancaster has
made IN education, are, in the cheapness of
SCHOOLS, their activity, their order, s. their emu.
iau0h' Inc reading, cyphering, and spelling
4
4Oo boys; the employment of sand and slate in
| stead OF pen and ink, and particularly of m,n,
tors instead OF ushers, must, in large seminaries.
constitute an immense saving. The introduction
OF monitors, AN extremely important part of the
~noie scheme, Is as great an improvement in
schools, as the introduction of non commissioned
officers would be in an army which had before
been governed only by captains, majors, & colo
neis they add that constant and minute atten
ton 10 the operations OF the mass, without which
the general and occasional superintendent of SUI
periors IS wholly useless. An usher hates mis-
task, and is often ashamed of it; monitor ;s
honored by 1t, and therefore loves it he is pla-
ced over those who, if their exertions had been
/ superior, would have been placed over him his
once Is the proof OF his excellence. Power il
new to him and trust makes him trust. worthy
la very common effect of confidence, and ex
emPihed IN the most striking manner in Mr..
Lancasters school. Nor is the monitor at all de.
tanned by teaching the others what he has alrea.
dy learnt at least not unpro6tably detained ::
Tor, If a boy be at the head of the fret sneino
class, it is clear that delay of six or eight weeks
III teaching to others what he has ALREADY learnt.
WIZ perfect INN in his new requirements, and ri
vet them in his memory. After this. he is made
private IN some superior regiment, and his
post becomes an object of honor and competition
to the lads whom he has taught He il very
wisely allowed to have common interest with
| the boys whom he instructs and to receive a
prize equal in Value with any prize obtained by
any individual among them. In some instances
the monitor teaches and learns at the same time
for, in debating the sum as in paragraph &c !,
the monitor is furnished with KEY and there.
fore, in debating, only reads what others have
written tor him but in so doing, it is plain his
attention must be exercised, and his memory i'm
pressed as mnch, fnOt more than those of any
boy In the class; and, whatever good is preduc.
ed IN others by that mode of instruction. must he
produced in him in an equal, or superior degree
The extraordinary discipline, progress & ccono.
! my OF tn school, are therefore in great mea-
sure produced by extraordinary number of non.
commissioned officers, serving without nav. and
learning while they teach.
When we consider the very dull and distant
motives tor improvement which have hitherto
| neen presented TO children, it is not surprising
| that education should be often so unsuccessful
always SO tedious The day is fine, the sun shines
| brightly through the window, and fine youp,,
ANIMAL with his veins quivering with health and
ACTIVITY, IS not only forbidden to trundle newly
purchased hoop, but set down before a black
STATE TO DO sum in tare and tret or in greater
SCHOOLS, to make copy of latin verses about Troy
ana 1neas What are his motives for under
gong the present misery Has he a wife and
family to support, like the thresher who goes TO
ms daily task Is he refreshed by immediate
iees' IKE the accomplished 6iiiulist who drives
from hst'iia to fever, and from apue to atropbv
is ne certain, like author, of losing his dinner.
Tor the ensuing week, if his task is incomplete /,
The only motives held before him are. that he
VIII please his father, and be a great man in
after lie and that Latin and Greek are neces