Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-01-11
EDUCATION.
Farther Extracts from YIELDS Report on
o.. $500 Manual Labor.
OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED.


I. "Tae manual labor system ,ciH hare
. tcndcney 10 destroy a graceful carriage,
and make the student HifJotnted and
dtokDGrd in his morcmcntS.' The OBJ
jectOr probably inferred this from the fact
that the muscles Of farmers and mechanics
sometim s lack that kind OF fexibiIity in
dispensable TO graceful motion. But let
him nuke the case parallel before draw
ing parallel differences. The manual la
Dor student exercises his muscles three
holrs per dav; the farmer and mechanic
ten or twelve. The exercise Of the for
nier supplies the demand of the system :.
that Of the latter eree.ds them, and par.
tai muscular rigidity is the consequence.
Three hours Of exercise each day, is
indispe nsable to the full deveIopement Of
the body, and the perfection Of manly pro-
portion. Instead Of making the student
stiff Jointed, 1t is the very thing 10 Iubricate
his POINTS. Instead Of making him awk-
ward in his movements, it subjects his
muscles to the control Of volition, and en-
ablcs him perfectly 10 govern their move
ments. Instead Of destroying easy, natu-
raj motions. it legitimateiy produces them.
Awkwardness Of motion results from i'm
perfect control Of the muscles this state
ofthe system is p'o lucel mainly by two
causes: First, too much muscular exer.
ton; AMI Second, too little. Day labor
ers illustrate the former, and literary men
in general the latter.
The first overwork their muscles, and
the consequence is, degree Of infexibli-
ty. The second exercises them so little
that they become relaxed and faccid, and
their arms and legs loosely bag about as
the law of gravity dictates The day la
borer takes on board so large acargo, and
sinks his vessel so deep, that it p;oughs
straight ahead, little needing the rudder.
The literary man neglects to take even
enough for ballast, and consequently his
vessel makes most ungainly lunges. If
the objector had been a psychologist, in
stead Of opening such battery upon the
manual labor system, he would have turn
ed il point blank against the mOn- manual
labor sytlem, assured that every shot would
tell. For the fact is notorious that lite
rary men as a body. can most coHscien-
tiously plead not guilty TO the charge Of
gracefuIness Of motion, and natural,
commanding, manly carriage. A single
glance at the present system Of educa-
ton unraveIs the mystery of the fact, and
explains its philosophy
2. The manual labor system 1oould
haze q tendency to make the student a
sLorcn." Even If it were so, the advo-
Gates Of manual labor would not be left
utterly comfortless. The reflection that
the system would not infict upon the world
generation Of handles, would be no
sm1ll solace
Better. infinitely, that the bar, the bench,
the hall Of Legislation. and the pulpit,
should be filled with men careless Of their
appearance, and slovenly in their dress,
but whose firm set frames and brawny
muscles IN t;cGte their ser. AMI whose
original minds poise themselves upon
their own centre, rather than be desecrGted
by mincing things Of power and perfume,
Ty, nluseous- specimens Of diluted man,
hoo l.. scribbhng senlimentaIly in albums
and lisping insipidity. Let 1.-The sacra
mental host be led on to victory by stur
dy 81, yns in shaggy homespun. but oil
overmastering intellect and lofty daring
rather tnan be differed by knights Of the
reticule, valorous in unset upon coIogn.
bottles. AMI prodigies Of prowess among
sprigs Of rosemary.
But let US examine the objection
The manual labor system will max,
the student slovenly in his dress" How
rWhy. when he labors, he will put on ,
leather apron, a working frock, sIoucbe,
hat, cIouted shoes, &c. What next
Will he fall in love with them2 WHY
he will become accustomed to them. an
Of course careless about clean CLOTHING
and quite contented with dirt" Answer
q man who is occasionally sick. will lear
how to prize health; and not only so, b.
,""Itis by exercise alone that we acquiu
afnll and easy control Of the various mu