Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-28
For The Enquirer.
EDUCATION-[NO. VII

ing BY the actions Of Virginians. il would seem
that We might more probably come nearer The
truth in the opposite Of this maxim: us a ru-
me 10 b. Yro.tigal Of time. This is great evil
in society; for, since time is money, it makes
paupers Of thousands, orphanizes millions, and,
besides, is The cause OF much vice and untold mi
series "ldleness produces want vice, and mise
sery," has long since been enrolled among the
proverbial expressions and bids defiance 10 time
itself, and challenges man 10 dlsplace II.
But this squandcring Of time, when examined
minuely and traced to lis origin is found TO
arise from the rant Of education and proper in
struction. The grosgeTies and tipping shops are
supported mainly by certain class Of lille and
lme-kiing individuals, whose only employment
is 10 loaf and lounge about them. 1t may be
said lhata the demand creates the supply these
curses 10 the State are brought into existence BY
the wants OF this class OF our population. But
man is creature OF circumstances, TO be i'm
proved, modified and shaped according 10 an i'm
mulable law OF his nature, by The circumstances
in which he is placed. He is, TO very great eY
tent, as The clay or metal which is cast into The
mould, 10 be fashioned AMI moulded according 10
the will of those who superlniend his training and
rearing or The theories OF, and experience in edu
eating are ali deception, and the teaching OF Holy
Writ itself is but ialsehood That any man.
then, should arrive TO years OF maturity, and come
upon the stage of action with such british de-
sires and unnatural tastes, is but proof irresis;i
BILE of The truth OF The proposition we are allenp-
ing to illusrale-ttat education and diffusion Of
/ knOlricdgc 0niy can impyOre society.
Farther yet-Nlan is a creature Of habit, and
when once, however correct his general depon-
menl, he goes 10 these places, The habit is con-
tracted, and motives are placed before him III the
absence of other more powerfully opposing mo-
tives, TO be found only in Education, and he Is
led by the former, and his course of conduct,
strengthened BY habit, becomes that OF life; and
The time that should be given 10 the provision
for and enjoyment with his family in the sweets
OF domestic life, and that might be devoted 10 The
reading OF many excellent volumes, BY which his
! mind might become stored with useful information
and strengthened on the side of virtue, is squan-
dered TO The waste OF his fortune, the neglecl OF
4 his mind and in contracting vicious habits am
aware OF an objection that might here be offered,
/ that the Nneducated are not the only characters
who kill and squander time in The manner au-
ded 10 above. To send boy to common school,
| and put a book in his hand-to send youth 10 an
academy or grammar school, and compel him 10
memorize rues-or, 10 send young man TO an
university or college, and then supply him with
text books and make him listen to the routine OF
|
more, may be done without efecting his edu-
caiun. To educate him. is 10 dr0w out has
! p0rcrs-tO bring his mind 10 act-t0 teach INN IL
Miak-to put The rh0ie intellectual machinery mic
nlOtWn-and this is frequently more eiieclually
accomplished by the mother NJ home, in Natures
own infant school, than in the three others COM
| bined. But il might be shown, that unless the
i system OF training under The maternal govern
i ment was miseraby conducted, the grand and on
,,ro -, thot, oh hNtg In
lhink) may be pretty fully gained in well r.
| gulaied common school, such as are in operation
| in many States both in Europe and America
| To the praise and honor OF Education be il said,
| ("Hear il, ye heavens give ear, OH earth ~ that
| the cases in which educated men, in the correct
use of the term, squander their time in frequent
! ing and Iounsns about these sinks OF iniquy-
these courts of vice-lhese earthly pandemonia,
are lew and far between; and this circumstance
of itself speaks volume directly 10 the point
which We are discussing. To think OF Edmcat,oa's
permitting her noble offspring thus 10 degrade
| themselves, and bring disgrace on herself is as
reasonable &C IN expect the fruits OF Spring in the
depth OF Winter, or TO see the naked twigs in md
Summer
Man is compound being, composed Of three
parts: his Intellectual moral and physical ma
lures; and whether governments and legislatures
recognise these three or not, and make provision
only for The latter, thew have been framed
| by an all-wi>e being, and u,on each one have
been stamped by his immutabe laws, by his
omnipolent power. One Of these laws in refer
ence to his intellect is, that The mini must be ac-
tvc-thcre must be something on which il must
feed so TO speak. Ii must have food, either good
| or bad, suitable or unsuitable. II il has not It's
own materials il will seek them from abroad-if
il has not rich store Of subjects in its own trea
sures, it will have immediate recourse 10 the OBJ
lects OF sense. Hence the evils referred TO. Says
Young:
| s'Blest leisure Is our curse; like that of Cain,
IL makes us wander-wandrr earth around,
To ny the tyrant, thought"
II is absolutely impossible, according 10 the
] laws OF his animal system that man can labor
sixteen hours in twenty four, and nodo injury 10
the machinery We may fix the maximum much
lower than sixteen; and by another law, we may
say, that il is not necessary TO his comfort and
happiness that he labor more than ten hours per
day. Then, allowing several hours for taking
TODD, there still remains some four hours 10 be
disposed OF, during which the mind must be en-
ployed and thus We see that Divine Wisdom has
arranged all the objects and circumstances CON
nected with man, and his system, SO thai he may
not only make provision for The body, but ample
provision for the mind also No man is SO poor
who cannot by proper distribution and expendl-
ure OF his time, find sufficient leisure TO cultivate
his intellect and thus have access 10 lhoSe sweets
and pleasures which only education can give
"Time wasted, is existence used, is life"
The four hours per day that might be devoted
10 the mind-his higher and superior part-to-
ge,her with the Sundays in life Of sixty years,
would give every free white citizen OF Virginia
full twelrc years tor reading and literary purposes,
time more than sufficient 10 go through the
whole circle OF sciences. Madame de Genlis,
companion OF the queen of France, was com
PEELED 10 be al the table fifteen minutes before her
mistress, which she employed in reading, and in
this way mastered several volumes Thus, we
see what may be accomplished by a systematic
distribution OF time.
Some masters permit their servants TO have
hog, poultry, garden, and other little conveniences
and necessares upon philosophical principles
TO attach them to home, and place their affections
on home, and by this means prevent their
going about secure their health, and other
advantages which every master gains By having
his servants on his premises.
By having system OF general education, eve
ry mans own resources would be placed within
himself-rom what he would acquire at the
common school, he would have much material for
thought and reflection; and if he would use the
means in his power, might greatly enlarge his
means OF enjoyment, and find enough within
himself, and in the bosom OF his family 10 crafty
his capacities, and say with the poet,
'sMy mind, ome, kingdom is,
Such perfect peace therein find"
What motive, then, presented by any GROCERY
in the Slate could overcome these principles,
(fixed in his very nature, that wonld grow with
his growth and strengthen with his strength, pow
erful enough 10 cause him TO lounge about, and
spend hours, days, and weeks within its unhal-
lowed precincts, inhaing the poisonous infection
that ever rises from such places7 BY having an
educalion-a good and substantial elementary
educalion-he would learn, not only TO husband
his time, BY keeping aloof from these places, but
he would spend it, when al home, in something
useful 10 himself and for the good OF his family
Who can estimate the good tina, would be enjoy
ed by society, by the adoption OF general sys-
tenn of education, from this source alone!
The law makers have enacted poor laws, by
which 10 supply the POOR with sustenance for The
body, but seem to have forgotten tina. the mind Is
the more important, and that it requires food