Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-02-29
New Plan for the Education and Care Of
Children.

IoOOO cmldren, between the ages of four and six
teen are growing up in this city, ignorant of reading,
writing, morals or virtue. A day or two afterwards
a correspondent asked for some plan to remedy the
svil. We wri propose one, prefacing il with a few
preliminary observations. The sabiect is so very
important, that it should be kept before the public
You would confer a benefit, of most precious ma
ture, on the young generation, now growing up
coultiYou, by Your influence, induce a few Of our
wealthy men to move practically in the matter
The main portion of the vice, crime and suffering
OF the world has its source in poverty: is the prin
cipal cause OF the ignorance and deprayty Of chill
dren, sf their abuse and neglect To do away, there
FORE with the evils which weigh down the younger
age we must do away with poverty. So long as this
blight rests upon infancy, efectual amelioratiOns
can be expected and all those means which now
advocated, such as extension of common and Sunday
schools strct parental discipline, incubation OF good
theoretical Precepts etc, are, as experience proves,
perfectly Inefficient We will, in consequence, pro-
pose plan, which shall differ entir ely in its policy
from the Elusive meioratons, which are now the
order of the day.
Toattain the desired end, that Isl the suppression
OF poverty, children must produce by their own la
bor what necessary to their support and comforts
TO induce them TO work, system of industry (by
industry we understand agriculture, manufactures,
and mechancs) should be devised, adapted to their
capacities, tastes and Instincts We must not force
them to labor by blows or threats it would be -educ
ing them to condition which is better than that
OF slaves. We should therefore endeavor to organ
ize industry so as to excite emulation and ambition
and induce its exercise from free will and choice in
other words, industry should be rendered attractive
, Inc PROJECT VIII appear new. out 1t Is problem
'chich must De sofred II its practicability be de-
MED, children must be left in idleness, they must
be forced to work like little slaves. Why is indus
try now repugnant 1t is, because 1t is prosecuted
monotonously, and the entire day through in lone
some fields, in dark and filthy workshops, and be-
cause il is poorly rewarded and is degrading As
the child Is nearer to nature than the man; that is
as 1t follows its incnations with less reserve and
anxiety for the future and the necessity of pro-
vidihg for family do not urge it on to labor, we
must either connect sufficient incentives and stimu
lants with industry to render it attractive to chill
dren, must force them to their tasks by strict
discipline and fear Of punshments. We only
choose between these two systems, and before de-
eiding upon them. trial of the better one should
be made.
Children should be made producers; a m C C hanic
Or working man, who has wife and four or five
productive children to support, cannot by his la
Dor produce enought to sustain them all comfortably;
they must all be poor together, and that because
system of industry has been devised, which is
adapted to childhood 1t is great error to suppose
extremely active, and the same energy which is
wasted in mischief and useless plays, could be di-
rected to production.
With these preliminary remarks, we will point out
briefly some details of the practical organization of
a plan, which would suggest Two or three
hundred acres of fine garden land, situated near
some large city, which would afford good market
for fruit, vegetables, poultry, &c. should be pur-
chased neat edifce should be erected in the CEN
tre and various little work shops connected with it.
The lands, implements, buildings and cattle, should
be turned into stock, is the capital of banks
present. This stock should be divided into very
small shares, say of five dellars each that the
children could invest their savings in them. Three
hundred to three hundred and fifty children (Which
is the smallest number that would answer) from four
20 fourteen years Of age, should compose this little
association The grown persons in the establish
ment should be principally teachers, capable of
giving lessons in practical occupations and in the
sciences.
In rural establishment of this kind, a great ma
ny varieties Of fruits flowers, and vegetables could
be cultiyated poultry could be raised on a large
scale and various branches Of manufactures could
be organized. The guilty alton and preserving of
large quantities OF irut ana the raising OF poultry,
which are very attractive occupations, would be
profitable.
No work should be prosecuted BY person alone;
every branch should be performed BY group of
children, united from taste for the occupation and
love OF comparison engaged in it. The number Of
children forming the groups, could vary according
to tastes and the nature Of the work. Five, seven
and twelve are appropriate numbers; there should
in no case be less than three. group occupied
with the cultivation Of radishes, or straw berries
would have variety Of details to perform to hoe
manure, and water the soil, to weed the beds take
care Of implements, etc, would be divided into
many different functions, with each Of which
members Of the group would be occupied. This di-
vision OF labor would please all tastes and excite n
should be devoted to the cultivation Of the different
varieties Of fruit or vegetable. We consequently
would see one group cuivating the red another the
white strawberry. This would be the means Of ex-
citing powerful rivalry between the groups and of
awakening cooperative pride in their members.
Each group would endeavor to excel its rival and.
give to its avorte fruit superiority in the opinion
of the establishment and Of visitors. This rivalry
would be one means of exc citing inclination at
traction for ndustry there are various others, such
as elegance of little tools and implements adapted in
ze to the different ages pride of belonging to dis
groups OF wearing the uniforms of the
same Of participating in their privileges. The most
skillful and experienced in each group would be
chosen leaders officers; the desire OF obtaining
these grades would be another strong stimulant. We
know what effect little uniforms caps, feathers
etc, have upon chdren why not them as in
centives, a means Of exciting emulation between
groups, and between children OF different agesl
The child OF four years takes the child Of six as
twelve. II the older children be rightly directed,
they will in turn correctly guide the younger The
desire OF being admitted into the corporation or class
next higher in age, and Of wearing their handsome
dresses, will stimulate TO study and dgent applica-
ton. The expense OF uniforms would be paid out
Of the general product, which would be materially
augmented by this stimulapt.
Occupations should be varied four or FIVE times a
day, so as to prevent monotony and safety; each
child would belong to a number Of groups and would
be occupied at time Of the day the gardens at
another in the workshops, changing companions with
changes OF occupations: The child would acquire a
practical educa in the groups which would lead
to scientific studies for industry is connected with
every science. Agriculture wond lead TO astudy Of
botany geology, etc; Of animals to natural his
tory branches Of manufactures, such as tanning to
chemistry. No perfection in educ alton will be at
tanned so long the child is FIRST interested in
practical occupations, and is aroused by the RI
valres Of groups,
What each group produces would be sold by the
establishment, and the amount received would be di-