Piney Woods planter., 1839-12-28
For the Pinsy Woods Planter.
ON EDUCATION.


Mr.. EDIRoR.
!. Education, in its moro confined sense
means simply our progress in Literature
and Science; but, in more extensive sip-
MITIGATION, embraces all corporeaI erercis-
cs, and the whole discipline of the mind.
z. The ancients had what were called
gymndstic exercises, which contributed to
the health Of the body, and to the prose-
cution Of WAR; but some Of those exer-
cIses were excessive and dangerous, and
seemed to originate in barbarity
8. These exercises were carried to the
highest perfection among tho Greeks.
The Spartans, more particularly, caused
them to constitute the chief part Of this
Education; the consequence was, that, in
war, they surpassed all the states of
Greece, and were the last people of that
famous country, who shared the common
fate of nations, kingdoms and empires
A. Another class Of the ancients were
'imbued in Philosophy, mean moral Phil
tosophy. At the head Of this department
'wasSocrates. He so far excelled eveL
his contemporaries, that he was executed
under charge of TREASON; but after
wards almost deifed.
5. His disciple, Plato, seemed to go
farther into what we term science, at this
day, than his master; and Aristotle,
taught by Plato, left all the ancients be-
hind, and gave laws in the various depart
meuts of Literature and Science. For
the space Of 2,000 years, no Philosopher
or Monarch ever governed so universally,
and, altho' the moderns have taken excep-
tion TO some Of his opinions, yet have
no doubt he was the greatest genius that
our world ever produced. He is said to
have composed $50 volumes, d 4 on diff
cult subjects. We have to deplore the
loss of almost the whole. The ART ofI
printing was then unknown.
6. In many departments the ancients
excelled us viz: in Oratory, in Painting,
in Sculpture and in Architecture;
but we're inferior in others, because
OF new discoveries. Their Code of laws
fell far short of the perfection to which the
LAWS of England have arisen. And in
Medicine they must have been ynstjy in
ferIor, The discovery of one single arti-
Gle of the mineral kingdom, has placed in
the hand Of the modern physicians wea-
pom more Potent and salutary, If skilfully
administered, than ALL their herbal pre-
parations combined. They we're grossly
ignorant ofthe Anatomy Of the human bo.
dy, owing to foolish superstition.
7. But Mr.. Editor, VIC might wander
thro' volumes in this sort Of discussion.
We might easily show that the ancients
knew no such men as franklin and Knew
ton. We will come little TO our oWn
time, which will be perhaps, more inter.
,esting, than opening the SEPULCHRES
of Antiquity.
8. We will not enquire whether physic-
al accomplishments or mental acquere-
iments are superior because we deem it
entirely unnecessary. We think them
both requisite to complete the MAN. Nor
can we say how far the mind should pro-
gress in the acquisition of knowledge.
This depends extremely upon contlngen-
cy.
0. Youth is certainly the time TO ac-
p quire knowledge. AT first, the little boyl
,sehouid exercise that faculty of the m'nd,
termed MEMORY, AS he advances, ne
may touch the initial parts ofsclencc; be,
cause all parts ollearning are connected
like the links ofa golden chain. No man
can excel highly in any department, who
has not general fund of knowledge. But
it isnot essential that he have profound
knowledge of ALL the arts and Sciences
in order to excel in his own proper depart
ment. The INSTRUCTOR of youth is
the only unhappy mortal who is called up
on to know every things
10. When, by exercise Of the memory,
the juvenile mind has acquired strength,
andtime has given it some degree OF
maturity, the matter of science may be
ever turned upon in an increased degree;
Language and science must travel hand
in hand. And when the boy shall leave
his instructor, ,saEms he keep up and ma
lures what he hasSaequired,h ,he will forever
be imperfect. The good student progress
ses through life.
IL. The female world are more capable
Of high requirements than is generally
supposed. Bat common opinion and Gus
tom confine their Education to a little
learning, and some light accomplishments
l2. In short compass, Mr.. Editor, we
can only touch matters generally.