Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-11-18

Oct IA. 3w
This is a neat and cheap compend, en-
bodying a popular view of its subject with
notes and illustrations, adapted to the minds
of the young. 1t forms one of those ele-
mentary treatises of useful science, which
tend at once to enlarge the mind and pre-
pare it for more extensive reading at a pc
riod when knowledge may be rendered more
complete by consulting the original sources
of information.
An acquaintance with the elements of po-
litlcal science is of great moment of the
whole community, and especially in a coun-
try like this, where popular sentiment is so
immediately and extensively felt in its in
fluence on national affairs. The inhabitants
of other countries may deride the idea of the
people at large becoming political econo-
mists, but such is literally and of necessity
the case among us; and, as far as the influence
of education is concerned, the question sim
ply IS, whether it is better to inspire All ear
ly taste for decent knowledge of science
so important, or to leave the subject I'M
touched till the period of mature years and
active life.
But there is no science which we deem
important to man that we do not prefer to
have associated, at least in its elements, with
the growth and progress of the mind trust
ing that the early impulse thus communicate
ed will best produce an effect on the mental
habits and character.
ASIDE nom the importance Cnlng
itself, however, there are reasons connected
with education, which would render it de-
sirable to have this branch of knowledge in
troduced into the course of study in COM
bo 80 No,1, Tn
if not of other parts of this country, are al
lowed, by the narrow plan of popular in
struction, to resort to these schools from
year to year, during a long and important
period of life, without carrying their atten-
ton much beyond the round of reading,
writing, and arithmetick. The older schol-
ars have no inducement held out to them, by
which they might be melted to extend their
education, and the younger Of course have
none to stimulate them to more rapid pro-
Jress. The period of school-going, however,
is sufficiently long to admit of the introduce
ton and study of the elements of most de-
partments of useful knowledge; and it is
one of the most decided features of recent
improvement in education, that the neglect
of which we speak is beginning to be felt
as a serious evil, and that the spirit of re-
formation is efecting a revolution which, as
it advances, bids fair to carry along with it
the benefits an enlarged and liberal course
of education to every member of the commu-
nifty. Geography and history, in addition to
grammar, are now taught in many of our
schools. Political economy will prove a
valuable accession to the list of branches
and we are happy to see, in the publication
before us, a book well adapted for this pur-
pose.
The work is on the plan of the popular
school books of the Rev. David Blair OF
England the prominent ideas expressed in
large type, attended-when necessary
with examples and illustrations in smaller
type. Questions are annexed at the foot OF
every page, for the convenience OF the IN
structer and the direction of the pupil.
Journal of Education.