The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-05-15

PrODide nee american, We have bccu re-
uuested 10 insert In the Refu6fean OF TO-
day. II will, we doubt MT, prove highly
interesting to such Of our readers WIZ
give il careful perusal Any information
relative 20 She writer, or Ia whom commu-
nicated may be obtained by applying TO the
Editor
n Letter. from, a gentleman in PhlodeAhhia, 10
0nother in thiS State dated 4fyai 2S, 1911.
DEAR SIR,
have ust received yours of the oath.
Every thing ! hayc said, or which the pow er
Of language could express, would fall very
far short OF an adequate description Of the ei-
iects already produced by NEEr's system,
which will not have been two years in opera
ton ill the 9th June. Such indeed are the ef-
fects, that many who go there, and see and
hear, and are amazed, bccome incredulous
only because Mey cannot conceive how il is
produced. |, who have been constant visi-
tor, have had an opportunity 10 mark the
manner OF the method, as well as 10 note the
astonishing ease, simplicity and certainty OF
the process. The school Is filling and will hil
and feicitate myself with the hope Of hna-
lug In 1t a future security tor the liberties OF
our country, as when once established, that
is, after one class has passedthn ough course,
which may be accomplished IN siX years from
the time OF beginning, IL Will then carry with
il such evidence of its efficacy and ,upcrior-
ty, and of its utility, 10 Gender its access
into general use easy and certain. Indeed,
the course once gone through, il will be such
as any one may teach.
| could refer TO hundreds who have seen
the school and wtnesscdt the examInal ons on
ALL and ten times more ot the subject con-
cerning which you have seen the publications
but yoa must be aware that To Judge oi any
thing, you must compare II with something
else Now the casual vsitorcan have no idea
of the state of the mind Of child who went
TO this school twelve or eighteen months ago.
yet withodt this knowledge he can form no
conception of the effects produced on that
child's mind. On the other hand, | have
been intimate and familiar with them all, and
find children whom handled on my knee,
were able in ten months 10 puzzle me with
abstract propositions and astonishing calcutta
lions. Strangers who have not studied, nor
had an opportunity Of seeing the course of
instruction, have great difficulties and pre- ju-
dicies to sirmouul before they can enter into
any estimate of its utility For instance take
the following parallel
BY the old system, children have primer
or horn-book put into their hands, and they
begin to learn the arbitrary and unmeaning
names of certain signs called an alphabet.
BY NEEF's system, they begin to learn the
names Of all their limbs, members, and diff
fereni relations and uses of all parts of the
h,>I oil, hpfn
they hear of an alphabet or a book (; Ill short,
they never touch book, nor pen AMI ink,
until they are able TO read and write. This
is an apparent paradox, but 1t is, neverIhe-
less, true.
The second, stage of the old system is to
spell single sylabes.
The second stage OF NEEFs is to put
slate and pencil before the boy, and 10 bring
his haDd 10 the habit of drawing a straight
line without the aid of a rule, and TO draw the
line TO any given number of inches as called
for, by the eve only, and without any rule to
measure by, excepting after II Is done, TO
exhibit its accuracy.
The third stage in the old is. by words Of
three syllablcs, to spell
The tlird stage in the new, is 10 divide
the straight line into any required number of
parts Ivy the eye, and instantly, and with an
exacth, So that shall stand the test of the COM
pass and rule.
The fourth stage of the school is words Of
four syilabes.
The fourth stage OF the new school is to
discriminate between the properties al hines
--ho.izontal, vertical gnd oblique--and 80 he
proceeds to fgHrcs of Uisibie o.jrefs. Thus a
boy being able TO draw u horizontal line, and
vertical line, and an oblique line descend
ing from the left 10 the right, or the contra
~, and who can by his eye draw it exactly OF
the length required, is competent to describe
any figure composed on its extcriour OF
straight lines and BY The same process the
child is Carried to form any figure, FOR curved
lines curve In their turn with ail their diver