State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-11-15
COMM UNIC CATION S .
REMARKS ON THE STATE or A
For the State Journal

REMARKS ON THE STATE or A
MEXICAN EDUCATlON.--No. 8.
However indcfatigiblc and successful the
student may have been during tho periods
of infancy and childhood, yet, he can have
stepped but upon the Threshold of this
theatre of wonders whose clements have
defied the scrutiny of six thousand years,
and whose philosophy bcckons, alike, the
most eminent and insignificant to i'll high
or acquisitions
Little more can the child have accom-
plishGd, even, during the protractcd period
which is, by this arrangement, allotted him,
than TO have accumulated stock of mate
rials for the employment of future reflec
ton. Physical curiosity and an aptitude
to imitation, SO peculiar to early life, and
so happily adapted to its cultivation, still
continues to predominant over the mature
faculties of reason and invention.
TIE period of youth may, not nconven-
iently, be supposed to extend from the
period of childhood to that of the seven
teenth and nineteenth years, respectively,
for the two sexes, including a new era in
the progress of human life, and new de-
ve!opement of physical and moral char
acter. The commencement Of this period
accords with that Of puberty whose rada-
ton is indeliby impressed upon the physi-
ology and metaphysics of the race; calling
forth, as by the power of magic, passions,
sentiments, feelings, and imagnations,
equally marked by novelty and impeluos-
~. AS a counter impulse to the dclcrium
of this period, we have the development
of personal consideration, associate sympa.
tlcs and love of northumberland
ces whose judcious culture is indispcnsa-
bile to the acquisition of moral excellence.
It's government and its education should be
modified by its peculiorities; and whatever
he ;..ausibility of arguments in favor of
coercion, during the antccedent periods,
its exercise is pa|pably prcposterous during
that ofyoulh. Would you prepare your
offspring for the adoption OF the most m
worthy sentiments, and for the practice Of
the most contemplate vices? your object
is inlalIibly accomplished by suppressng
that nspient selfesteem whose perpetual
admontion, to avoid the inevitable penalty
of conscious mcanness, should eficctualy
prevent its preparation.
Persuasion is the only weapon which we
may hope to WELD, successfully, against
the waywardncss of youth IN improved
state of intellect justifes the suggestion
while experience ubundantIy demonstrates
lis accuracy. The period ofyouth should
be employed as an apprenticeship to the
more important occupations Of manhood
The mind should be engaged in contem-
plating tic relationship Of things, and in
arranging tic elements Of science in;o
comprehensive systems, reducible TO prac-
,ical utility. Andwilateveri essential to the
construction of the future man, should be
mnsticated, digeslcd and as,imiated TO the
very element of mind, uudistinguishabIe
from its own primitive suggestions That,
which is recollected as having been acquir.
cd, las scarcely become SO essentially ours
as to Justify us in It's appropriation. Let
the memory be charged with principles
rather than formulas, since the former may
be supposed capable Oh suggesting the lat
ter ms convenience may require. In autici
patton Of an inquiry relative to the particu
lar branches of science which should con
slitute the maximum of common schoo
education, offer the following explanatory
remarks:
Etiquette reg!ires that catalogue adup
ted to the female sex should be first pre-
son.c,!!, 10 which ] submit without hesta
ton. Those which consider indisEensa
bic, are the following, viz; Spelling, read
ing, writing, English grammar, common
arilhemelic, mathematical, physical, AM
statistical geography, history, biography
chemistry, natural and moral philosophy, t.
which ! would add, as no unworthy ap
pendage, logic, rhetoric, music, drawing
and the French language, The first ten o
these branches should, not only, be stude
and regularly disposed of by daily o
weekly recitations, but they should b
efIectually acquired and susceptible ofrea
dy adaptation to the interests of mankinC
1t will, perhaps, be asked by those VIII
are acquainted with the present uninlellec
tual mode of education, and its almost en-