Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-02-04
TIE SOU7HER.I LS.STITUTIO.v'
OF EDUCATION.

LIE DEDf OhD II CMhLE AChDE vi
"a (near Liberty, Va.) was opened in November
last, and IS fitted up and organized, under COED
corps of Instructors.
Its plan has been, in part laid before the public.
But nethods, once the only ones known among our
people, have now SO completely sunk under the in
vasons OF system Of cap-rap, that it is necessary
both to explain and to vindcate them. In such as
these however, the modest but stately matrons that
adorned the South in better days, were unused, be-
fore yet Short Methods had come in, or the erudiie
persons who now bring their wares of Education,
had iorsaken the kindred, but innocent trade of
Tin pans and Wooden numcgs.
Instead OF Methods foreign to our manners, our
feelings and our opinions, we aim TO revive system,
domestic and home bred that shall shun alike fal-
lacious instruction and alien instructors We
teach, then, hrst, as Indispensable the solid parts Of
an English Education-things which all The Sci
ences in the Encyclopedia make il less than
foolish not to know completely. We labour to train
and store the Mind before attempting decorate it.
The first and principal points are To read correctly
and expressiyely To write currently; To acquire
the practical art OF Numbers To master that most
noble and useful branch Of knowledge, History and
10 obtain some familiarity with what is called Polite
Leteis in general. These are in the prevailing sys-
tenn sighted in order to hurry forward the scholar to
the shewy Nothings of pretended Sciences.
Proprieiy OF Speech impart, not by CRIMINALS
and Dictionaries, but by daily habit, carefully en-
forced. Composition is taught, by set rules and
forms, but by the varied and progressive practice Of
several Studies, In which the daily examinations are
conducted in writing. Arithmetic as necessary in
every condition of life receives strict attention.
Needle-work, Cookery, and the other Household
Ats are practlsed, according the Pupils age pur-
ms. The Manners, the Temper, and the Con
duct are watched and formed, with the utmost soil
cude' as things on which Happiness, Responsibility
and even the power of Plcasng depend far more than
on Wit, Learning, or the Accomplishments Gen.
tleness OF demeanour, attachment to Order care
oil the oeemiy, taste for knowledge needing no
compulsion, and the Sense and the Love of whatever
IN Elegant Studies, inspires refined and elevated Sem
tImens, are, with us, the main thought of Education
1t is not necessary that all women be learned or ac-
conplIshed it is necessary thai all women be anna
ble
History as the great key to knowledge Of hu-
man affairs, the School of whatever is wise or
good,-s taught with n particular care not by
barren Compends, COMPRISING the facts till eyery
Thing truly instructive is squeezed out of them but
by Narrative lively and detailed. Far possible that
OF the Original Writer'S OF each nation. 1t is accom-
panied with Its necessary calculations; Geography.
me history OF Literature and Art: and that Of In
sttutions, Manners, and Opinions.
foreign Tongue (the French,) is begun, as soon
as the pupil can read English WE'LL 1t is made the
common language of the House; and is used part
~ for its own sake, but principally as the means of
arriving at a knowledge of Grammar, unatanabe
without the study of some dialect besides our
own French is also employed the vehicle of
part oithe Historical Studies and those of Taste.
The Course, ii will be perceived, is far more
Literary than Scientific Its spirit is not that
OF idly heapedup things, unlelt ill., understood or
amassed only for display. Regarding Modesty as
the first law OF Female Excellence. and love OF
knowledge as the only sound principle on which TO
found 1t, our plan avoids every thing connected with
Exhibition and the stimulants of Emulation as
usually brought to act.
The Discipline is careful, bur gentle-cooyinp az
Tar as possible that OF wellordered Domestic Edu-
cation. 10 this, indeed the whole Plan endeavours
10 conform ITSELF rs the purest the most efficient,
and capable Of the best results whether as to the
Morals, the Manners, or the Mind.
10 compare it with the adverse system-the one
graspng al every thing must for that reason fail in
every thing the other, selecting those better parts
OF knowledge, which fit the Sex and are attapable in
lis ordinary time OF study, teaches these both well
and modestly. That system desires little but ithe
ostentatIon OF knowedge-ours, nothing but its re-
a'ity. That seeks to adorn the outside of the Mind.
hs 10 INFORM and invieorae il within. The former;
enamoured OF tinse and gewgaws, cares little what
poverty may Turk beneath. shine in confused
and useless hnefy the latter is studious only of am
elegant alnness, OF the becoming and the good The
ioreign plan reJoices IN the shreds the patches the
clippings, the mutilaens, the trash of any pursuit
with long name; and passes Common Sense and
Taste disdainiully by. The banished one, winch
we would revive, regards Science as of small ac-
count FOR women-frst because little applicable TO
their occupations secondly, because always taught
them imperecy Mirdty, because like all other false
knowedge it vItiates instead of improving both the
Understanding and the Taste fourthlv, because,
even as to ITS only purpose, Display, il renders
woman. IN grown Society, ridiculous, instead of
pleasing: SO that, being useless in ITSELF being
slightly taught and being ghed at whenever dis
played, 1t Is soon totally effaced from the mind leay
ing 1t as blank and as barren these unhappy pains
had never been taken.
finally-to state precisely the comparative results
oil the two systems-the one is admirable for ma
KING marvellous Schoolgirls, who will never be any