New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-02
.-.,e, .f Eauestion in Association.
Ed,nation Of Early Childhood.

We said that a!i autnors Vi oyst vi looNo
have fallen into the error of considering the father
and the tutor as the natural instructors Of the child
They ar. not the guide. whom the child follows
willingly and from passion: the Leaders whom 1t
chooses naturally are children little older than
itself.
4t18 months. it admires the child of two years,
and chooses it as its guide.
At 2 wears, it chooses the child Of thirty months
At 8 wears, the child of four.
At 8 years, the child of ten.
At II years, the child of fifteen.
This ascending Difference will be greatly in
creased in strength if the child sees children
little older than itself members of Groups, and
enjoying merited respect for their progress in
Industry and Studies.
The natural instructors of children of each age
are. consequently, those little superior in age
But as children at present are ell more or less in
clned to mischief and entce each other into it, 1t
is impossible to establish among them graduation
or ascending order of useful impulses. and make
each Age tho guide of the next Younger; this can
only take place in the Passionel Series. out Of which
any approximation to system of natural Education
is impossible.
This natural system of Education will be one of
the wonders which will be admired in the frat AS
soca,on. The seven Orders OF Ages of children
will direct and educate each other as Nature wishes
By the influence of ascending imitation, which can
only lead to the good of the whole for if the older
children take proper direction in Industry, in
Studies and in Morals, they will isfluence and
direct rightly the children next in Age, who in
turn will influence and direct rightly those who
are Younger, and 30 on until all Ages are directed
to good. The different Ages, directed by the
spirit of ascending imitation, WILL although LETT
to their full liberty, vie with each other in excel
lence and activity in Industry and social Harmo-
MES On bcholdiRg this prodigy, it will no longer
be doubted that Attraction, dereloped IN Pass'onaI
Series is the agent of the Divinity, is the hand of
the Creator, directing Man to his greatest good
We will conclude our remarks upon the functions
of the Mentors with one or two more observations.
So fur from hattering and excusing the child, 1t
will be their task to see that it meets with re-
fusals and rebuI's in different Groups. in order to
stimulate it 20 vfndicate itself by proofs of skil
father could not fulfil this duty; he would blame
the Group which had rejected his child. The
function of Mentor, as we'll Of Nurse, will re-
qure persons of firm and judicious character,
who, from a corporate spirit, will be interested
in the progress of the children in general and not
in tho caprices of few favorites.
The function of Mentor is of high importance.
because it acts upon decisive epoch in the Edu-
cation Of the Younger Age; If the child succeed
IL Of ira Ind al
cation it will be guarantee of success for the
entire career Of its childhood. Once initiated into
some branches of Industry, it soon will be into
large number. and at the age of fifteen 1t will be
acquainted with the various branches of Agricul-
nre Manufactures, Arts and Sciences, which its
own and the neighboring Associations pursue.
Let US examine how this result will be effected
A child. we're it the son of man of the highest
rank and fortune, may, at the age of three years,
exhibit taste for shocmaking, and wish 10 visit
the worksho of the shoemakers, who in Asso-
citation are as polite class as any other Ii 1t be
prevented from visiting their workshops; It's in
clination for shoemaking be ,hwarted, under the
pretext thar it is not dignifed occupation. or Is
wanting in intellectual elevation, 1t will take
dislike for other branches of Industry and will
feel no interest in those studies and occupations
which its parents wish il to pursue. Bst IT 1t be
left TO commence attraction directs,-that Is,
bv shoemaking,-it will easily be induced to ac-
ouire knowledge Of tanning. then OF chemistry,
so far as relates to the various PREPARATIONS OF
leather, and then of agriculture, far as pas
,urage and breeding of cattle has an iHtuence
upon the quality of skins.
Thus the child by degrees will be initiated INTO
all branches of Industry, result of its pr1mitive
inclination for shoemakng 1t is of but little con-
sequence how it commences, provided 1t acquires
in the course of its youth general knowledge OF
the various branches OF Industry of its ASSOCIATION
and that it coaceives lively affection for all the
Series from which it has received instruction.
This general knowledge cannot be acquired IN
opr Societies. where Science and Industry are not
connected The scientific declare thatthe sciences
form chain, each link of which connects witn' ana
leads TO- all the others: but they forget that our $50
lated and conflicting relations SOW dlscord among
no Industrial Classes and render each indifferent
to the labors of the others; whereas III an asso-
ca,on every person is interested in all the Series
from connections ana TlValres "l1ii SUM ~
members upon questions of Agriculture Science
and Art. The connection existing between tue
Sciences is not alone sufficient TO lead to ther
general study; we must add to that connection
t;es which arise from the association OF tunct'ehs
and individuals and frem cumulative rivalrles,-an
impos sibili,y in our present Social Order.
Various details could be added upon the Eon-
8 ~; Ara b,+ ,.e will include them IN the
Education of the next higher order OF Children