Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1829-04-07

, IN irving putcity TO the notice for the examination Of
the Coioed Infant School, Of this place, few days snce'
venured from knowledge OF the lnstltutoh'
promise those who might attend an interesting spec
taclethe remarks ola SPECTATOR. annexed show that
| we did not venture too much.
| FoR THE DELAWARE JOURNAL.
.1essra Enthusiastically attended the examination
of the infant school of this place, in the Town Hall was
surprised at the proficiency of the pupils These it'e
coloured children who, but few months ago, were cor
eced from streets and are of the poorest OF our
coonred population, passeda better examinaton ah INC
scholars any school in this State would pass In
| this do not mean to speak disparagngly OF common
schools. The extent of the useful knowledge, which
these children have acquired matter OF astonismen 20
who reflects upon what is acquired in common schools
and the length OF time consumed They answered Win
perfect readiness and accuracy questions which two
thirds of the people of this State could not answer OUT
upon matters useful, connected with our duties anu
with institutions that it ought to be source OF com
regret that any citizen should not be able toanswer
them
How has this effect been produced How has SO much
knowledge been communicated to these niue coloued
Children SO as place their examination upon footing OF
equality with schools OF children OF sure:ci
ages but with the best taught schools All mas been &C
complished by the mode - instruction. Here are little
chdren co,ourc young to work, taught princpai-
~ by female and who have been instructed but few
months WHO answer at once questions, upon use
full points, which every ought to be able to answer,
and which could not be answered bya great portion OF
the community. This is the eft ctapd it has been pro-.
duced by adopting mode of instruction. which, has
mingled useful knowledge with what might pc termed
childish sports. They have been amuset and instruction
has been attached to what has amused Them hey nave
| had the recreaon, and they have the knowledge.
Some precise and astous persons might at hst sheer at
this mode OF instruction it appears childish but wheh
they attend to the substance when they consider Wat Is
the eul knowledge, exhibited in the answers; hcy VIII
feel themselves obliged confess, that the elect IS great
The truth is that Of children instead OF coming
down the ages of the children, and teaching them as
children by adapted TO their feelings and capacities
Children have taken themselves as the standard and IN
structed the children precisely they were their
The have not giving instruction. looked TO tiiose,Whom
they to instruct, and used means adapted 10 mem
out they have looked themselves and used means suited
to their own capacities and ncnatons 1t the instructor
of the age Of orty he means sued TO instruct per-
sons forty. .
President Wayiand of Brown University, has probably
considered the SUI iect of education as attic ntvey as any
man this country and he has had the best opportunities
of witnessing effects of the school systems OF New Eng
land and New York. He says---" the best examples
o instruction aud the perfect models OF the art may
be fon think they in the infant schools SO lately
enthusiastically this method, which necessity, SUPPOSE
first suggested the minds Of children four years Old are
much naured as those generally without H. OF eight or
| ten"
Il has been said, that this schoolh received little en-
corap and that te as is required tor ITS support
that little has been contributed. Let this be SAID no
longer Let support this school, that we may see and
shew what be done in the way OF communicating use
in knowledge to the young--tla we may send ne cup
of blessing ronnd We trust, that the subject OF tree
schools is be given up by the people OF tins State
when it is how easy is to communicate knowledge
TO the young; knowledge, to make them useful ami res
mert will be addict those that heretofore could be urg-
| cd IN this most interesting subject -
| nington, Aprl4.