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

~'J~e ~"V@se16e' ~ L0sef" A>oHeosteF.
Though it fellto our lot to defend Mr.. ancas.
Ger against the, cruel and unfounded clamor to
which he was exposed-partly because he had
abe misfortune not to be member Of the church
of England, principally on sScount Of his great
merit-our observatioh3, at that period, were
more calculated to repel the aggressions of his
enemies, than to explain the nature, and to en-
force the importance Of his improvements in edu-
cation.
3 We premise that we are going to saya great
deal about slate pencils, primmers and spelling
hooks. We are aware such details must lie very
dull, and would be objectionable, if they were
not eminently useful. We would not, however,
load our pages with them, ifthe object were to
recommend an ingenious theory for trial, rather
than to explain an invention which has been al.
ready attended with the most perfect success.
II an artist comes with tiresome and compiled
Ted machine, and boasts of its extraordinary
powers, we have right to say, go to work,
and give US some proof But when he accepts
che challenge. and in practice out does his own
ooastings, it is necessary to look over every rack
and pinion OF his Instrumental speak Of it no.
morally, that it may be studied-and to describe
ut persPicuously, that it may be initiated.
We shall state the methods of MIR. Lancaster
IN the branches of education which his school
comPrehends-pont out the leading principles
on which he appears to have conducted his insti.
tuton--discuss, shortly, the question of his orr
lew remarks on the much and lately agitated
question, OF the education of the poor.
The first or lowest class of children, are taught
10 write the printed alphabet, and to name the let
tiers when they sec them. The same with the
hgures used in arithmetic. One day the boy ira
ces the form OF the letter or figure; the next day
ne tells the name when he sees the letter. These
Two methods assist each other When he is re.
CURED to write Fl, for example, the shape of the
setter which he saw yesterday assists his manu-.
al execution-when he is required to say how
ahatietteris named, the shape of the letter re.
minds him OF his manual execution and the ma.
nuai execution has associated itself with the
name. .
In the same manner he learns syllables and
words; writing them one day--readng them the
next
The same process for writing the common e.
pistoiaTy character, and for readiagil it.
tA) This progress made, the class go up to the
master to read--a class, consisting perhaps of 80
While one boy is reading the word, ex. gy. Abb
SOLUTION, rs given out with loud voice by the
monitor, and written down by all the other 2e
boys, who are provided with states for that pur
pose which writing is looked over by the moni
tors, and then another word called, and SO on
whoever writes word, spells it of course at the
same time, and spells it with much more attenti
on than IN the common way. So that there is al
ways one boy reading, and twenty nine writing
and spelling at the same time whereas, in TIE
ancient method, the other twenty mine did no
thing.
lB9 The first and second classes write i'm sand
1.-The middle classes on states only few of the
upper boys onpaper with ink. This is erca,
SAVING IN point of expense in books the saving
Is sud. greater. Twenty thirty boys stand round
card suspended on nail making a semi lie
Cnthis card are printed the letters IN a very large
character; these letters the boys are To name, a,
the request of the monitor. When one spelling
class nave said their lessons in this manner they
are dispatched OFT to some other occupation, aac
another spelling class succeeds. In this manner
one book or card may serve for 200 boys, who
WOULD, according to the common method, have
had a book each. In the same manner, syllable,
and reading lessons are printed cards, and uset
with the same beneficial economy.
co In arithmetic, the monitor dictates sum
es. gy. in addition which all the bows write dow1
on their states. For example,