The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-06-11

known story OF the son of Priam Venus OF th'
Bath, Venus de Mediei, the Gladiator. &c. ex
tending TO No. 4Sl
CLASS VIII. Miscellaneous --eonsistinr o
9ytscles Of Synwin8, paix,ing. and stotuayy, to-
iasefev me frss arrange sacn, sstend;ag to No
In our next We shsll offer come remarks OF
particular subjects in the exhibition, calculates
To convey ideas of the character of the origins
productions and state Of the arts. -Awo,a.
sEEF's SYSTEM OF TEACHING.
A LETTER
From a gentleman in PHILADELPHIA, 10 anothey IL
PIocidesce. r. I. dated April %, 1911.
DEAR SIp,
+. have 5ust received yours Of the 24th
Every thing have said, or which the power OF
language could express, would fall very far
snort of an adequate description of the effects
already produced by Nesf,s Sysfe.n,. which
will not have been two years in operation till
the; 9Th of June. Such indeed are the effects,
that many who go there, and see and hear, aud
are amazed. become incredulous only because
fhey cannot coHeeioe how it is produced ], WIZ
nave been constant visitor, have had an oppor-
tunity to mark the manner of the method, as
wen as to note the astonishing ease, simplicity
and Certainty Of the process. The school is fiji.
ing and will I'll, and I felicitate myself with
the hope OF finding in it future security for the
hoernes OF our country; as when once ests
blished, that is, when one class has passed thro'
course, which may be accomplished in six
years from the time of beginning, it will then
carry with it such evidence of it's efficacy .od
superiority, and of its utility, as TO render ;,s
access into general use easy and certain. Infleed
me course once gone through it will be such nc
suy one may teach. =
could refer to hundreds who have seen the
school and Witnessed the examinations on oil
ana ten times more of the subjects concern;no
winch you have seen the publications bur W.
must oe aware that to judge of any thing, WOW
must compare it with something else NJ,
NE usual visitor an have no idea of the stat.
OF me mind OF child who went to this scbooj
Twelve or eighteen months ago, vet without
TINS kno wieige he can form no convention of
tne effects produced on that ciild's mind. On
the other hand, nave been intimate and g..
m'i,ar with them all. and find children whom
! oahosed on my knee, were able in ten
nonths to puzzle me with abstract propos
Lions and astonishing calculations. Strangers
VINO have no, studied, nor had an opportun-
y OF seeing the course of instruction. have
great difficulties and prejuiices TO surmo,,nt
before they Can enter into any estimate of ;ts
utiiity' For instance, take the following ps.
rallel: 's pa
BY the old system, children have a rr,rn,..
begin 10 lsarn the arbitrary and unmean.
ing names OF certain signs called an AInhs.
bet. 'A'P"S'
BY keefs Systenn. they begin to learn the
names OF all ths,r Limos, members, and differ
en' relations add uses Of all parts of he hu
man 2ooy' Nearly two years elapse before
they hear OF an alphabet or a book in short
they never touch book, nor pen and nix. nm
til they are able to read and write. This ia
an apparent paradox, but it is nevertheless
true.
The second stage ofthe old system is to spell
single syliables.
Ihe second stage of Meets, is to put slate
ana pencil before the boy, and to bring his hand
20 the habit Of drawing a straipb, line ,y;,bon,
the aid of rule, and to draw the line TO anu
gwen number of inches as called for. bv The
eye only, and without any rule TO measure nv
excepting sitter 1t is done, to exhibit It's nc
curaSy.
TIE third stage in the old school, by words of 9
syliables, 10 spell.
The third stag in the new, is to divide the
straight line mo any required number of parts
by the eye, and instantly and with AN e,actnsss
that shall stand re test OF the compass and
rule. ANU
The fourth stage ofthe old schoo, is word. of
four syilsbles. "
The fourth stage of the new school ia to dis.
criminate between the properties of lnes--ho.
fI|oh'ais feiucai ana ODifque--- 81 80 he pro-
ceehs TO ferres ct visibie oojects Thus bow
beng able TO draw .orizontai line, and YER.
teal line, and an oblique line descending from
the left TO the right, 10 the contrary. & who
can by his eye draw it e1sctly Of the length -
qulred, is competent to describe any figure
composed on It's exterior of straight lines and
by the same process the child is carried to form
any figure, for curved lines curve in their turn
with all their diversites.
Strange as it may appear, these very lessons
ieao 70 the art oil alphabetical writing, and the
alphabet after this course is not matter of
mere rote, but matter established in the mind
with precise ideas Of its uses, as an aprnt for
convenience to the memory, not as the Essential
object Of learning.
The lessons are conducted like sports. and
they are rarely more than an hour at any time
IN the schooi-room +; uor do The lessons proceed
IN an arbitrary rotation. There is a certain
order, but 1T Is the teachers mind. and is al
ways calculated like the lines to writing. The
preceding lesson invariably leads -. and aids
that which is to follow. The lesson of the morn.
ing, Tor example, may be straight lines, or fri.
angles the lesson after breakfast NAV be the
table vi computation, which of itself produces
elects tbat are inconceiv able, but upon expe.
renee: Inc lessons may vary to fifty differ
ent suoJec's ia the course of the day blu, all
are SO coniriyed as to depend upon, or To- aid
each o,her----and like the Peripatetics, their
morning rambies over hils and vallies, rocks and