Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-01-11
WHAT is EDUCATION?
BY w. D. CHARMING, d. d.

The great end of education is not 10
train man to get living. This is plain,
because life was given for higher end
than simply TO toll for its own prolongation.
A comfortable subsistence is indeed very
important to the purposes Of life, be this
what it may. A man half fed, half cloth.
ed, and fearing to perish from famine or
cold, will be too crushed in spirit to do the
proper work of man. He must be set
free from the iron grasp of want. from the
constant pressure Of painful sensations,
from grinding, ill.requited toll. Unless a
man be trained to get comfortable sup.
port, his prospects of improvement and
happiness are poor. But if his education
aims at nothing more his life will turn to
little account.
TO educate man is to unfold his facul-
ties, to give him the free and full use of his
powers, and especially of his best powers.
1t is first to train the intellect, to give him a
love of truth, and to instruct him in the pro-
cess by which it may be acquired. t is to
train him to soundness of judgement, TO
teach him to weigh evidence, and to give
him thirst for knowledge, which will keep
his faculties in action through life. 1t is 10
aid him in the study of the outward world,
to initiate him into the physical sciences,
so that he will understand the principles of
his trade or business, and will be able to
comprehend the phenomena which are con.
tnually passing before his eyes. 1t is
to make him acquainted with his own
nature, to give him the most important
means of improvement, self.comprehen.
sion.
In the next place, to educate man is to
train the conscience, to teach him duty in
its great principles and minute applications,
to establish in him immovable principles OF
action. 1t is to show him his true position
in the world, his true relation to God and
his fellow-beings, and immutable obligations
laid on him by these. his to inspire him
with the idea of perfection, to give him q
high moral aim, and to show him how this
may be maintained in the commonest tolls,
and how every thing may be made to con-
tribute TO its accomplishment
Further, TO educate a man in this coun.
try, is to train him to be a good citizen, to
establish him in the principles of political
science, 10 make him acquainted with ouI
history, government and laws; to teach
him our great interests as nation, anc
the policy by which they were advanced
and to impress him deeply with his respon
sibilIty, his great trust, his obligations to dis
interested patriotism as the citizen Of {
free state.
Again, to educate a man is to cultivate
his imagination and taste, to awaken hi
sensibity to the beautiful in nature and ar
TO give him the capacity of enjoying tn,
writings of men of genius, 20 prepare hin
for The innocent and refined pleasures o
literature.
will only add, that to educate man j
TO cultivate his powers Of expression, 81
that he can bring out his thoughts wit
clearness and stregth, and exert mora
influence over his fellow creatures. Thi
is essential to the true enjoyment and i'm
provement Of social life.
! According to these views, the laborinI
classes may be said to have as yet but fe,
means of education, excepting those whicl
providence furnishes in the relations, chan
ges, occupations and discipline Of life
The great school of life, of providence,
indeed open to all. But what, would as
is done by our public institutions for the ed
ucaiion OF the mass of the people! In tn
mechanical nature of common schools, is
ever proposed TO unfold the various facu
ties of human being, and TO prepare hir