Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-05-27
Z For tie .1Lerandria Daily Gazette.
L.ANCAsTRIAN SCHOOL.

ness with which they nave CONTRIBUTES. tliO = g
onisite funds for its establishment, and their
ACTIVITY IN making every other preparation Tor
its introduction complete and liberal plan,
are very honorable testimonies OF their huma-
anity and public spirit, and will De recompensed,
we doubt lot, by all the success anticipated
from the experiment. In their endeavours to
this end, they are under important obligations
10 the citizens. of George Town, whose enter
prize aas given the first start to the system In
THIS country, and to the principal OF the George
Town School, Mr.. Old, whois extremely yea
lous in this ptaise-wofthy cause, and has pro-
missed every assistance In his power towards
erecting The school in Alexandria on the COM
plete and genuine Lancastrian plan.
we are disposed to consider the invention
of this system of instruction as circumstance
very honorable TO the originator himself, and
very important to the world in general, and
conceive that all virtuous men and good clti-
zens must take an especial interest in Its sue
cess. When we consider that It's operation is
on that very grade in society who most require
instruction because all those principles, which
render other men good citizens, have precise
" least influence with them, and recoliect, at
the same time, how effectually it is adapted
for distributing this instruction into the obscu-
rest channels, we may be excused Tor esteem
ing It's Invention as remarkable epoch In the
progress of human improvement and human
happiness. The discovery of printing was
happy and important discovery, because It
difused the influence of knowledge over
much larger compass than before, and the sys-
tenn of Joseph Lancaster is admirable for the
same reason: it extends this illumination and
ITS attendant blessings still farther, shares 1t
with the obscure and the INDECENT, who were
formerly beyond its reach, and thus gives a
more sensible and extensive operation to edu-
cation, the benign nature of which IS to dlml-
nish the evils of society by reducing the num-
Der of those who are ignorant how to make
use of its advantages. We anticipate with en-
ira cnn6denco tho vieibIe extensIon OF mora
lity, and consequent increase OF social order
and Individual happiness as the results OF Its
Introduction amongst us,
This difilencs with which we receive inno-
vatioa or long established systems ought to be
no oostructien In This instance, since the in
yention, though comparatively recent, is still
old enough to have had every requisite trial OF
It's merits, the result Of which has been inva-
riably and enllnentA honorable to the system
and its author. The Lancastrian Schools are
now generally disseminated through England,
are daily introduced aud extensively patronIZ-
cd in Scotland Sud Mr. Lancaster, we under
stand, IS himself employed IN promoting their
establlshalent In Ireland. There Is IN London
one school alone of thousand scholars, all un
der the superiatendauce OF one person who,
notwithstanding the seeming impracticahllty
of one elan's CONDUCTING the tuition OF so nu-
noerous boldly oi pupils, employs no other
assistants or tutfrs than the monitors selected
from the children themselves, and has added
.l;,. tc The. aan AZ ezl ;lAit-i
~ 1t George Town, but telegraphs for COM
mnnication with the distant parts OF the school.
/, The Duke of Kent has likewise introduced it
into that part of bis Malesty's forces under his
command, and with his flying Camp has also a
flying Lahcastri4n School.
We are not qualified by a particular ac-
ouaintance with the System to state distinctly
Its various improvements on the old mode of
education, or to explain In what manner they
are produced: we speak from a visit of a few
hours ~ the school, the impressions from
which were extremely favorable, and from the
Information of those who have given it more
attention, and whose appreciation we have al
WAYS found TO increase with their knowledge
of Several striking features of improve
ment arr however quite obvious to the mere
visitor, and we recommend it to all who are
sceptical as to its probable success to visit the
institution atsGeorgetown, as we conceive it
impossible for any one who observes the sur
prising economy In the materials of instruc-
ton the regular .subordination which per-
vades the who's the admirable art with
which the attachments Of every little individu-
al are rendered subservient to the improve
ment OF others, and unceasing occupation is
combined with unceaslng amusement; the
almost entire disuse of corporal puuishments,
and the singularity of finding SO bulky ma