Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-08-02
LETTERS on EDUCATION,

self 10 fulfil my promise OF ~f"i!S 10 !ou
y e.w thoughts on the education OF children.
Though I cannot wholly purge myself OF
the crimes of laziness and procrastination,
yet DO assure you, what contributed net a
iiule to Its being hitherto not done, was, tina.
considered it not as an ordinary letter, but
what deserved 10 be carefully mediiatcd on,
and thoroughly diges,ed. The concern you
show on this subject, is highly commenda.
bic a: for there is no part Of your duty, as a
Christian, or a citizen, which will be ot
greater service TO the public, or source oi
greater comfort TO yourself.
The consequence Of my thinking so long
upon it, before committing my thoughts to
paper, will probably be the ,akiag the thing
in greater compass than either Of us al
first intended, and writing series oflet'ers,
instead of one. With this view | begin
with preliminary to the successful cduca'
ton of chl iren, viz. that husband and wife
oush, 10 be entirely one upon this subject,
not only agreed as 10 the end, but rs TO the
means to be used, and the plan 10 be follow.
ed, in order to at,aia it. ltought to encour-
age you to proceed IN your design, that
am persuaded you will not only meet with
no opposition 10 ra'iona! and serious edu-
cation of your children, but great assistance
from Mrs. s.
y
The creased lines contained compliment,
written with great sincerity; but recollectng
that there are no rules yet srttled for dis
,inguishing true compliment from Hotlery,
/ have blotled them out on which: perhaps,
you will say to yourself he is fulfilling
the character which his enemies gve HIM.
who say, it is the nature of the man to deal
much more in satire, than m panegyrlc.
However, content myselfwith repeating,
that certainly husband and wife ought to
conspire and cooperate in every thing re.
ia:ing to the education of their children
and Il their opinions happen, in any partlc.
ular, 10 be different, they ought TO examine
and settle The matter privately by themse'v.
es, tha. not the least opposition may appear
either to childrenor servants. When his
is the case, every thing is enforced by a
double authority, and recommended by a
double example but when it IS otherwise,
the pains taken are commonly more than
lost, not being able to do any good and
cc,tainly producing very much evil.
Be pleased to remember, that this is by
no means intended against those unhappy
couples, who, being essentially different in
principles and character. live in state OF
continual war. Il is Of little advantage to
speak either to, or of such persons. But
even differences incomparably smaller, are
of very bad consequence when one, for
example, thinks child may be carried out,
and the other thinks it is wrong when one
thinks way Of speaking is dangerous. and
the other is positive there is nothing IN 1t.
The things themselves may indeed be oflittle
moment; but the want ofconcurrence in the
parents, or the want ofmutual es eem and
deference, easily observed even by very
Young children, is of.he greatestimpor'ance.
AS you aud have chiefly in view the re.
lipious education OF children, | take it 10 be
an excellent preliminary, that parental af-
fection should be purified by the principles,
and controlled or directed by the precepts
ofreligion. A parent should rejoice in his
children, as they are the gift Of gracious
God should put his trust in the care Of an
indulgent Providence for preservation OF
his offspring, as we'll as himself should be
supremely desirous that they m1y be, IN
due time, the heirs ofeternal life and as
he knows the absolute dependence ofevery
creature upon the will Of God. should be
ready 10 resign them at what time his Crea.
Tor shall see proper to demand them. This
happy qualification of parental tenderness
will have a powerful influence in preventing
mistakes in the conduct Of education. 1t
Will be the most powerful Of all indictments
10 duty, and al The same time restraint upo"
that nalura, fondness and indulgence, which,
BIZ a sort Of fascination Of fatality. makes
parents often do or permit what their judg'
Inent condemns, and then excuse them.
selves by saying, that no doubt it is wrong,
but truly they cannot help it.
Another preliminary to The proper edu-
cation of children, is a firm persuasion of
the benefit of it, and the probable, at least,
ifnot certain success of il, when faithfully
and prudently conducted. This puts an
edge upon the spirit. and enables the chris
,ian not only to make some attempts, but to
persevere with patience and diligence. |
know no. common saying either more false
or peruicious, than that the children OF
good men are as bad as others" :" This say.
ing carries in i, suppostion, that whereas
the force Of education is confessed with res.
pect to every o;her human character and
accomplishment, tits ofno consequence at
all as to religion. This, think, is contrary
to daily experience. Where do we expect
to find young persons pousy disposed but
in pious families /! the exceptions, or rather
sppearances TO the contrary. are easily ac-