Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-05-18
EFrom The Charleston fal,T0f ]
Nir. Oo1LyIr's PAN of Educator.

WI O"iL'''.o pun " f>HWCtN1oh.
On the forenoon of Friday, the 18th UT res
pecable audience 81 ladies' aud gentlemen attended
the examination in Geography and Grammar, and
the class of Dung ladies Who had heen for short
time under the Instruction OF Mr.. Osiiyic. When
Mr. .. first announced MS tention of oruii such
a GLASS; and promised that from his method OF
teaching, the, should learn ore in one ununth
than they could learn in the usual methods in SIX
months considerable curiosity excr ed TO know
III what ~ amer this promise woIid be performed.
The experiment has now heen fairly MADE, aud il
certa, must be hi hly interesting to the public To
knoa the result. ID that result hear any proportion
TO the undertaking, aud tive principles, by which it
has been attained. be easily communicated md. cas-
NY applicable, the Introduction Of th.se princiules
into the education oty ou,l wurid be comforting an
inesumab'e giitopon pOsteiity, AID eutle The inaa
by whom they were first employed To The ia.tn.g
gratitude society. la lis metoi nj teaching T.
ogTaphy, MIR. o. Las uuQUesiionsbly been triumph
aaly successful Some Of the young ladies ney ef mad
studied before, and by att ndmg him SIR only r. few
hnors during the space Of month, they hal acaui-
red more knowledge OF the scicuce, than can be &C.
quired by the usual methods u; teaching it. not in
one north onl bul, il is couhdent believed in one
year. L he kYOvirdge acquired hy I is method
too, IS much more firmly Impressed upon the mem
CRY, and associated with chain oi ideas which can
scarcely be etiaeed. The plan which he hssulcpt.
ed is in IN" highest degree simple and persnieuous.
easily applied and undoabed in ito efficacy Ii de-
ponds upOn the ciearest principles oil the under
standing, and could be completely explained anil
communicated Ia an intelligent mind in less than
an hour. The writer caunot now enter it's y
full exposition OF the subject Bat it is GER
t"in'y very Desirable that the enlightened in-
strugtOrs OF youth in Charleston should make
Themselves acquainted with this metho,l--and
there can be but little doubt that we're they 10 make
any application 10 Mr.. o. respecting l. that gentle
mans known philanthropy would induce hiin to
aifsrd every information which they might re-
q'.ire.
in Grammar, the improvement made BY the pu
pills ol Mr.. Ogllvie, though much beyond expecta-
ton, was not SO striking as i'll Geography The rae-
thod OF teschug il which he mas adopted, is the
writer believes, entirely original. There is nerhavs
no part OF education so perseveringy and univer-
sally cultivated, ia which progress is so slowly
made, rs IN Grammar. Few studies have more eX-
ereised the faculties, and sked the abilities of men,
What woud TO super fetal observer, seem level to
the capacity ofall men, q thorough knowledge Of
their Veraclar language, is only to be aeau ed by
tse most discriminating ntelieet-and it is question
abe whether one IN ten OF the youths who leave our
schools, or graduate az our colleges, has acquired a
complete knowledge OK this important branch Of @.
ducation. 1t may indeed be doubted. whether the
modes at present employedin attempting TO com
munisate this knowledge, are at all a. egusfe 10 The
task, AMI it is surely worthy of enquiry whether ac
ter te lights which have been within ihese few wears
thrown upon it---scme more eff atual method of
teaching If, mishtrot BE adopted. Under this view If
the subj CT, the writer is decidedly OF opinion thai
great AS the merit nf Mr. o. IS IN tie ,Ian wbi,h
he usesin teaching Geography, hi -,e;iol of teach
Ing Grammar > much mot geniJus, and requi. s
much more ipti.uas scquai tancs with ub;lotophy
to amply II with suee ss--sHi lie ,as scarcely doubt
but tha IN lair expert TIVE advai,ta gel ii. s ii,n
~ teaching Grammar, would he rs evident rs ~ re
the advantages Of his plan in tcachios Geography.
He IN great measure, dsregards the technical de.
In'nSuon OF words, and much Of th iargon of the
schools, entir' ~ derived from the e. iued laurnaps
Il much Of which Is in ali probability unnecess5r,,
IN them, and most certainly is cumbroug and wor;.
than useless in our lasguage. The elaborate appa-
ratus OF syntaeica rules, which some have thoiebt
so indIspensaiei IN teaching Grammar, he deems tn
be, so for as respects the English language almost
wholly unnee ssay, AMI ihat they ~ her loaI the
memory OF the pupil With accumulation OF words
than convey any clear ineligible IDEAS Ills is a
point ON which there will - ssihly be p consider
able difference Of OPT ION. What e have our
selves acquired with much abo us and 10, severarce
we are unwilling to believe OF little imporiance-and
we can scarcely be brought 10 thips opinions prrone
GUS which We have long considered as founded nnop
inconiroverubie arguments. no physician OF the
age OF 40, alive when Harvcy published his theory
oi the bond ever became an aekuOwle < d onvcf,
Ia hs system. Abstract reasoning alone land This
IS te only proper mole ofin,estigatng it y The very
nature Of our language, nearly destitute OF concord
aud inH SOn, would perhaps settle this o4edion ia
favor OF Mr.. Bu he isaso supported IN his g.,
pr'ons Nv thc very h'g authority Of Picsuy and
q D
langn &c, "tbat its construction nri er requires nor
qdmiis Of many rules" and accordingly four are an
that he gives.
Mr. OGftvrE applies The lu'oinous o nd profound
5pscu'ations Of Smt and the discovedss ol f'nelc
tot 2 expanation e The rrinc pies OF grammar
and his method is entitled 10 great consideration rs
The frst at MP, 10 make th sb iurs NJ ines piitod
and rinent men, dire cty sul.e Went tpfhe pnr
p SEES OF toitoo. By tliis means he pu ! acquires
oorrect view ~ ME origin aDd progressiv. improve
mont % Language. Many 81 the most intlirat.
pa siO"s IL mcfaphysrs--as, for example. The Dis
Put" p tween che rcalis's. Tie oofcepual, is and
tn" nofnins'ss, are incidentally inir 9daced To the
pierfioD of he learnrr. and really settled vnLo,t
i' -inE segra'nsr. wilh even tn existence o. srv
'ont"v frs. The mind T. trained IN habits Of re-
lr"iou aud oralesisl anil & study Of graDma H.
l"' wriho',i renderci j. the bigh,si degree ter
Sing, aod prepares ibe pupil by he brsf r.s.ibi.
lr pln. H'rthe snAf ~ iasc ani faeiarl s.es.
81, r,'s' prog ar Nth male ~ b,th eiGmn
-.r names Deiss even meaA ,ned. Unto tunsie'y