The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-11-04

struet0r furnish I'll The sid which thpy receive
N this part "A their education.
: Not one word need be saia as 70 the evil in
lfuence Of this coarse upon the literature al our
state With the exception ~ those scholars
J VINO possess uncommon native powers 81 mind
no We'll hiisacd superslfuctsge Is ever raised On
% ifail and weak a foundation.
II = There ere however few Academies IN our
4 state which, i may Nv justly said, stand on
higher and sirer ground thaathose already de-
lscnbed. In these. permanent instructors arr
iempl0yeds and II j. believed able men aud "a art
10 teach But still II " feared that The beueh-
cial influence Of tile talents and experience VI
these instructors Is IN great degree lost from
\ he course pursued IN these Institutions The
attention II the instructor i distspcted by the
number OF his scholars and their different pur.
shIts Part Of the year, indeed, the number NJ
bis scholars is not perhaps too great TO profit by
\ ms instructions hat in the winter srason, the
/ Academy il inundated with those Nj an ages und
characters, and III every different standing NY
scholars and the complaint is oiteq made hy
sach instructors, that but small portion Of their
time can b. devoted to those, who afF In
course Of prcparsti0n for College. The 'consr-
5nenco : thpt even IN this higher class Of Mad
es'.i-.-..ks=s,s ~. t7avoidabie neglerf ih-
straciors, there Is dedc5esos ~ sl.s s'sssa.
ed p those who are In pursuit 81 liberal edu-
cation.
These three classes. Il is believed, include
most if not all Of the Academies in this state.
Let me now mention some Of the remedies 70
these evils. Let the number 81 our Academies
be diminished
would not be thought by this remark to *
press wish, that the number Of schools which
afford opportunities to the English scholar for
making further progress in his studies, than what
hn I'D
I could wish them more numerous. The know
ledge which they furnish, does much towards
Qualifying our citizens for important stations IN
life. Especially are such schools Of value, as
they send forth many wen qualified instructors,
OF our common schools But / would have them
lconfned to this object, and perhaps they might
lreceivethe name II English classical Schools, or
some equivalent title.
/ While then wouldnot diminish the number
Of our English Classical Schools. butwould even
increase them, / wonld recommend, that our
Academies be few. The following are my rca-
sons
i I. If there were out two Academies in our
Estate, the Legislature might with safety extend
towards them fostering care, without fearing
from every quarter complaints OF partially.
Such patronage either from the State or from
individuals is essential that our Academies may
rank with those, which contribute 50 much 70
the literary reputation or our sister States.
@ II would collect az the same place large
numbers ofthose who are engaged in the same
pursuit This ii is obvious would aid the funds
! OF the Institution, and thus resources would re
found for the support OF an able instructor
Quintan also says that the hocklng Of many
to the same school IS powerful stimulus 70 the
nrecepter and we know that emulation burns
hieh in orr large public seminaries-
II NAV be necessary here TO remark that Il is
Inot DESIGNED to exclude English studies entirely
from our Academies. This IS an error Int
which. Il * thought. some Of the most distin-
guished Academies IN New EnglaDdhave fallen
aud the consequence is, that some Of our learn
ed men are miserable readers, incorrect spoilers
land ignorant ofthe geography oftheir own and
lother countries. Let by all means a due share
Of attention. be devoted ia ENGLISH studies. and
in the plan Of an Academy here proposed, IN
instructor, devoted TO these branches Of study,
should be employed.
II Another remedy "a sie bad state III onr Acad-
mics, which would mention, IS that those IN
stitutions which pretend 70 this name should
furnish = regular course Of instruction Let 2
definite time for is pursuit Ne fixed; and lei
II those. who do not commence this course at the
institution, be examined for advanced standing
Let this course extend beyond what is required
for admission to our Colleges, (but not antici-
pating the College studies,l 50 that employment
may be furnished FOR those, who have passed
Through the course Of preparation for College,
but are too Young for the studies and tempta-
tons Of College life.
The advantages az this plan are various. Ev-
cry one knows, that bows in large class feel an
excitement from the relation which they bear 70
AZ others. An instructors efforts may also be bet
ter concentrated in this way. and the hurried
manner, in which many books are now passed
, over be prevented.
TITS hoped that these few remarks may at ieas
\ call the attention OF the public, particularly Y
our Legislators and Of the Trustees of our Acsd
emies, TO this important subject. They are as
sured. thai Il is intimately connected with the
literary reputation ar our rising State. Who
there that has studied with any degree If atten
ton the opening mind OF man, or read ans
Thought even specifically on the subject Of edu
, cation, and knows not the value Of FIRST impress
Y Sons, and the character which il given To th'
a intellectual habits, BY The manner in which thi
e hrst rudiments Of knowledge arc implanted II
!, the mind And il should be remembered, that
i IN many branches of study, the first rudiment
i are taught in our Academies Many, II II brlirr
: ed, are the youth, who frcm deficiency Of IN
o struction in the early part OF their education
] have found their studies drudgerv. whicl
I otherwise might have been their Fleasurc ani
z n the completion Of their education have mel
= Their done justice 70 their own powers, nor az
e sWered the expectations Of their friends.
+ The writer Of this communication i aware
r that the evils OF which he complains are no
confined 10 this State Still il il his opinion tia
r they exist here in GREATER degree. than IN an
q ineighbOFing State. Besides, as Maine has shewi
her wisdom and liherality in the regulation q
Z hercommon schools, and the endowment III he
: Colleges, he would have her exhibit The sam,
2 wisdom and liberality towards hitherto Beglec
/, ted class Of our public institutions,
!, In fne-Let there ~ two Or three well en.
[ dowed Academies IN our Stair Let able arr
Experienced instructors preside over them. Be
there be pursued IN them a regular course o.
study a in our Colleges and We may hope
that the NotheFn Star win shine with still bright
y er rays-even with the light 81 Science.
II AUTUMNAL REFLECTIONS
II NV PROFESSOR AITsDT