Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-11-10
VERMONT TELEGRAPH.
oeANDoN, SATURDAY. NOV. s. ls4l.

: MORAL INSTRUCTOR: Or the De-
,.loumeut Of the Intellect and the Gull
,ure Of the Heart through the medium
# Learning 10 Read. PART |. By
Tsomas II. Palmer. Boston: billiard,
Gay, s. Co. %
This is an elementary work, OH pag-
:. lQmo., prepared for children by one
Ia has devoted much time and attention
no interests ofcommon schools. Few,
/, nv own estimation, have as correct
,;,us Of this important subject as THoM-
n PALMER. He has recently re-
lived $500 from high literary board,
n prize essay entitled. The Teach
>. Manual" 1t has appeared TO me, on
,otiug through the " Moral Instructor
ma Friend Palmer has failed to carry
su bis peculiar views, in the beginning
vah The child. There seems TO be lit
4, 100 much sound without sense yet.
This i the thing friend Palmer has al.
uys deprecated. Have not his conser-
uive principles restrained him from car
Eng out fully his own principles |
Mise the question only by way OF sugges-
loo. In regard 10 the moral character OF
he work, it is what the title would indi-
ate. Ii is, indeed, a moral Instructor,
be very thing for which there was very
neal need. The cause of education is 10
congratulated, that such man has IN
AaEcn SUCH a task. | hazard the opin-
% hat il be pursues the work he will
puduce sci Of elementary school books
bat will be worthy to displace all others
nE 10 use. Below is his
p r E F A G E.
lBEhIEVE il is generally admitted by
@ who have bestowed attention on the
u5ci, that one ofthe greatest errors in
uwsem of popular education lies IN the
acnd the communication Of knowl-
srA should be the object of instruction,
nhr than the cultivation Of the mind
NJ bal The accumulation Of facts in the
emory is of more advantages than the
rvIopmert Of the moral and intellectual
rudes. Hence, even in our best read
books for childhood, while we have
yions in abundance to exercise the
morn, as to the stories or the facts they
Main, there is not the slightest altemp
excite The thinking poscers into action
a in the few crude attempts to lmprov,
heart instead of endeavorlng TO devel
and give a proper direction TO the SO
affections and moral feelings, recours
bad 10 sermonising, or lecturlng, or
n apothegms, or dry dldactlc PR
ts, which glide through the mind OF
M like wafer over the surface OF an In
netraole rock or he is entertained VII
y ~ stories of most questionable M
NJ. For, instead OF directing the a
MON of the child TO the internal dellg
compIacency arising from virtuo'
NOUS emotions and actions, and lea
him 10 feel that goodness IS It's ON
ward /; instead Of pointing out to hlr
amidst all its outward qualification
vicious child cannot be otherwise tina
|coutenltd and unhappy, The aim Of mo
he moral stories OF our school,oooi
been 10 show virtue rewarded WI
award prosperity, vice punished by q
nly and disappointment. Now y
ghlcst glance at life will show that N
ShOce,her false view Of things; IN
nporaI prosperity is not generally u
Nnprnselwhich Providence, has deem
prhy Of virtue and merit. And sure
sa dangerous and fatal doctrine, While
lead 10 nothing but disappolntme'
nnlhropy, and dislrnst Of Provident
leach young persons that correct pr
les and recltude OF conduct are elln
pprally allied with, or adequately rewal
BY the qualification Of our passions,
attainment of our wishes. For WI
aa child think, when, as he gro
Ter, he finds that on this subject he
/, en cheated by his parents or instructor
" the motives by which they ma
poSht 10 lead him 10 virtue have
eco 10 accordance with truth !! Will 4
have strong tendency TO inspire n
10 such distrust and distaste of mo-
religious training, as 10 exert m
nappy influence on all his future &C
al
lhls lite book is he first Of SER
oi the main objects Of which is to
more pure feelings and correct mo
q IN early youth. in connection "
saectuol Instruction, not b. formal @
sc'ures or dry didactic precepts, WI
only calculated 10 tire and disgust
aai mind, but BY the development
b, sense Of right and wrong which !
II implanted in every soul, by means
q "nes OF questions suited to their cal
AZ aud calculated to arrest their 0tteni