Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1841-03-27
Di3ClPJLJ5
For The Democrat.
EDUCA TON NC VI
Or. LhPscoMB

DR. LIrscoMB:
Dear Sir - have heard it frequently asscr.
ted, and it has heen The prevailing belief foryears
with a majority Of educators, that their business
is a very unpleasant one also that youth have
natural arerslou - s,uay. In my o,,.nion, both
Of these views are erroneous. hope 10 show
BY drawing the distraction between the different
modes Of leachjn., that by adopting the one in
accordance with nature, the employment can be
made a delightful one to teacher aid pupil. II
any, after having thoroughly tried it, s,lI iod il to
be an irksome task, they may safely conclude,
that they have mistaken their cail,ng, and the
sooner they leave the school,rootn, the better Tor
all concerned community ought 10 encSir-
age that man IL teaching who makes it merely "a
stepping stone to some other employment. Men
who 60 70 their work, as The OK and The slave,
from bare necessity are blight, a mdew, an
incubus upon the buoyant spirits Of youth -
10 this profession, we need more who have an ar
dent love for it men whose souls delga, in lead.
ing and guiding the powers of the young leather,
men who love 10 teach, and who are willing to be
examples OF purity and pety in all their depor-
ment. In a word, the truth is, that all who occu.
ny the teachers desk, should be mbued with a
devotion TO their work bordering Oh enthusiasm.
My eye IS now resting on an article, which
breathes forth sentiments of a character similar to
thosa which are often heard from teachers Of eve.
ny grade. The writer says, " the child must 20
TIN ough much difficult aud crying work SO that
even children must be decelylngly told of the
pleasures Of the primal offices Of education" He
then ptoceedsto strengthen his assertion from
Crabbe, VIZ
"lheIe may be profit in the art, but sin
Learning is labor, call It what yOn viii,
Upon the youthful mind a heavy load
Nor must he hope to find the royal road.
Some will ther easy steps to science show;
And some 10 Heaven lheif by-way know
An trust hem not; who fame or bliss would
stay,
Must learn BY labor, anl must i've BY care
lie then continues, $50 have spoken all the
poets, aud philosophers, and orators, with whose
times we are acquainted, and 50 will all wise men
,peak 10 he end OF tine" This is a sweeping
assertion, and though uttered with great conf.
deuce, is destitute Of truth. In order to meet and
reiute tbs statement permit me to refer 10 some
examples familiar To al. Did Archtmedas con-
sdei ms ateIIectual eH1us as toasome in their
nature I Was not mental labor lost in the enlhu-
sasm " ta which bis whole mind was absoyed
Why That deltfium Of icy that sent hun headong
through the streets crying Eureka, Eureka p
Wbatau, au uncontrolled thrill Of delight, ohhg-
I'D pAH 90 ea upon friend to tinlsh some
calculation, vhacn were evidently bringing long
expected result TO view. Was it not delightful
employment 70 hun 10 Iace the paths Of worlds
and discover hat all Peryadas law by which they
are governed aud held together in harmony p
Look at the poet. Is his flight marked with un
wiling OF compulsory labor AIeihinks bis pm
ions would soon droop and bis productions soon
weary The reader. See him fitting from flower
to flower in the shady vale, aud anon riding al
home upon the mountain storm, and dwelling at
ease amidst the clouds of heaven. Does he look
time worn or weared by his flight! Would we
have been blessed with the beautiful and angel
ike melody OF a Hemaus or Sigourney Il the
idea Of toll were usePatably attached to the ex.
egcisc o! the poetic faculties Is mol the ORA,