Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-11-21
Fairfield Manual Labor School.

Committee, would invite the attention
of the public, 10 this branch of the Furman
Institution. 1t is highly gratifying to them
to be able 10 state. that the students have.
the present wear, entered with spirit, into tie
design of this Institution. in reference to TIC
manual labor system: and have manifested Il
cheerfHl compliance with the rrqulStlons Of
their officers, in this part Of their duty. Indeed
after close confinement and mental eAertion
,hroa h the day. it often comes as relief I"
both teachers and pupils. to exchange then
books for Implements Of husbandry aud spend
two hours, in the close of the da". in the ex-
ercise of the field. The experiment OF tre
present year, we think, satisfactorily proves,
that with proper management and God o!rs-
sing, nothing but patronage Is wanting t.
give sucress to the manual labor system of
educaton-a system, which we regard oi u.
tai interest to the prosperity of Our country.
As however in regard to the Institution. with
which we are more Immediately connected.
we neither expect nor desire patronage, witt.
out corresponding benefit to the patrons, we viii
briefly state The advantages to be derived from
this Institution.
Habit, of Order and Self Dcnml.-On the
manual labor plan, 1t IS absolutely necessary
rbateyery thing be conducted in very SYSTEM
NN''~~'
room to the hours Of work. especially, III
nlouohine time. when the different classes of
nlouehcrs, must follow each other in regular
succession, through the day, requires the great
cot ..ac,ness and regu 'ariiy. Habits of early
rising too, are necessarily formed. The stu
dents are assembled Tor prayer, generally be.
fore the rising of the sun. anS imnedIatcl,
offer the devntons of the morning proceed 10
tho exercises of the school Thus those lIat-
;,s of slohfllnpss aud selt.indulgence. Which
ore 90 injurious to many Of our youth, ulid
which NAV be imdulged. without restraint. a
those schools. where the pupils are not at all
,imes under the teachers care, in our lnStitl-
,ion. where they all board al one place, under
the immediate supervision nf tho Principal,
NAV he entirely prevented. Here. too, they
leaTn 10 dives; themselves Of that Incidence aud
those false notions OF honor, which naturally
arise from a stale of slavery: for lrere. they
have TO wait on themselves, provide their wood
and water, and keep their rooms clean and III
order. These and such like menial offices.
which perhaps. under otter circumstances.
thew might have blnshcd to perform. they learn
70 regard as nothing degrading since they are
common to all; and as proofs on the contrary
of manly independence. since ins'' ad Of being
indebted 10 others. they nhtain by their own ell
forts. their comforts and accommodations
Now, if no other good were to result from such
Institutions, than the formation of such habits
opd the correction of 'alSc notions too preva-
lent, one of the greatest objects of education
would be accomplished-a preparation for Ju.
turc usefulness IN life. The great majority of
those who are educated, will profit but little by
the knowledge they may have acquired but The
habits they form, If they are good ones, 'eM be Of
uss to them through life.
2. Health and rigor Of Cons'it,aion.-It is to
be lamented that many Of the brightest "rna-
mcnt Of society, have completed their educa-
tion with a constitution so impaired and feeble
,ba, their exalted intellectual powers can be OF
comparatively little benefit, either to tenn
sesyes or others. The student who 's intensely
engaged in the acquisition OF knowedge. is
not aware, at the time, that he IS destroying
his bodily vigor. whilst lie Is giving undue ex-
ercise to bis mind, and that ultimately both must
fail together. He discovers when too late, that
he has been violating one Of the laws OF nature
in cultivating his mental, at the expence OF
his physical powers; and that now II Is utterly
impractcable to restore them both TO their har-
monlous aud healthful action. Exercise then
must not be left to the choice OF the stndent.--
There must be some necessity TO arrest him in
htc
IN take exercise, at proper Intervals, and in
sufficient quantity, or he falls vic'in' either
n his love of learning or his love of easc.-
others m however (and such constitute the ma.
;ority of those who are sent to schooi) are led
by their active proprnsi'ies to exercise ratler
than to study. These should nave l''elr M act'e
nronensi,e; controlled and directed, in such a
way tina, they would b" in urio"s neither to
themselves nor others. And what exercise to
,ay the least is so innocent at the same time so
moderate and heaithf',I. as the mental exercise
on farml Again. ii has created prejudice
ogainst education, because many, who have ell
;oyed oupor,unties of improving in knowledge
While they have failed TO b. useful, by their
learning. have been rendered by their ednra.
ion nnfi, for thn common pursuits of lille, and
arc inns thrown upon society a. me'e droHcs.
Il not nicious and abandoned, as the consequence
Of finding no usetn' employment suited to their
t,s,e. The manual labor system. It Is hoped,
IN u,-o,,,,,Iv ,o,rnyf, tll;s prejudice, by pre-