Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1838-08-28

guides the care worn mariner Ger the
painless waste Of waters. Il IS too Of.
ten the case in the present system Of edu.
cation, that the mind is regarded only as
store house for information. Scholars
learn to memorise, but they are never
taught 10 think. This frequently Is 81
great disadvantage to them, for with com.
paratiyely good educations, their merits
are moderated. The knowledge they &C.
quire can only be given out in broken do
ses wheneyerthe proper questions are ask.
ed.
Upon this subject, the system Of edu.
cation as suggested by PestalozzI Is well
worthy Of investigation. Its leading fea.
ture was 10 make the mind reason, and
think about the subject of study, By which
means. the information acquired, IS known
more thoroughly, and can more inmedi-
ately bepractically used whenever reeuir-
ed. Ii is a common opinion that nothing
should be studied, unless a thorough
knowledge Of the subject is obtained.
That the investigation Of too many
objects Of research has tendency to
make superficial and surface scholars.
This to- a great extent is true, when the
intention is to prepare the mind for some
particular mode Of life, such as a profess
sion-but cannot be urged as an objection
to a general course of education; still less
viii its application hold true as regards
the studies intended for females. Cast
the eye for moment over the broad
range of knowledge-the extensive fields
of science, neglecting not even the fainu-
test stone beneath the feet, and stretching
out into'space including the unnumbered
worlds around. The beautiful and fiow-
cry paths of litetraure, branching out at
every new turn and presenting an endless
variety Of pleasing landscapes.-Take
with .hess the history of the world, the
philosophy of mind, and the number and
extent of the subjects are. almost unlini.
ted. Information on all these subjects is
important 10 every one; but to learn any
one Of them thoroughly, TO become a
perfectmastersis the work Of a life time.
The small acquisitions that it is In the pow
er of any one TO attain, should not be ne!
elected and despised, because it is impos.
sible to learn the whole of subject. This
error was of long continuance in the In
.stitutions of learning in Europe; and con-
tributed more than any other cause, to con-
fine education to the aristoeracy of socie-
ty, and almost entirely to exclude females
from its enjoyment. The system they
pursued was to devote seven years tozthe
study of the Latin language, as the first
and necessary step to be taken before en-
tering upon any other subject of ipforma-
non. The poor could not tastethe pleas
ures Of knowledge when such was tie
price demanded. 1t amounted to pro-
hibition. The only relic preserved in the
present day. in the institutions of England
Of this barbarism, that originated in the
dark ages, are the celebrated Wall lee
tures--still delivered in latin, tho scar is
Jared by the unusual sound. Many oI
these whitening excresences have been pru-
ned away, yet the science of education is
imperfect, more especially in regard to the
method and character Of the studies to be
pursued. Some Of theold prejudiees still
Iinger along the walls Of our seninaries Of
learning, as the echo Of. the former ignori
ancet Of. the world. Various, impulses
have contributed to. this Improvement
but more than all others, in the establish
ment Of a7correctmode Of reasoning, has
been tue resuit ST the doctrines ofa Ba-
cons Noo,m 0fgdlitla, = containing The
| philosophical education. The age bears
its impress. Theproofs Of is superiori-
u in the process Of investigation, is seen
IN the rapid strides, with which science
/ and the arts have advanced during the last
century ;--in the ease with which i'm
proyements are made and IN the mark
ed character of the enterprise ef altclass.
Res Of society, extending to EVERY branch
of industry. And | hazard nothing il
saying that education is more indebted (
i induction for is advancement, than to any
other cause, Il has reduced Il to q sci
cnce, to weld control -or even parallz'
the character Of society and shows b
practical demonstration that knOWledg,
| IS power, extending not only % even
portion Of the physical universe, but 90
.yeFns spbdues event mind ofnan. "
have reasonto rejoice, that nfthls conn
try this power IS not suifsradao lie dor
manl that when tie first wave Of liber
ro upon our shore ruth md knoWl
ed settled upon ifs crested TOP, All
eael sue eeding wave has raised q hood
thal bas ipsensibly penel ste ezlrelrl
borders of The land, en- glad e fiji
ihsl strong aud abiding interest s grow
inc up ID this saciion sc he country uno
s - .1s..ss.t. ~ e - e {. s.