Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-07-18
From the Southron.
IUW IlU NUtUItI UWs
THOUGHTS ON EDUCATION.

EDUcATIoN--let US define its meaning
Webster, in the English edition of hi
quarto Dictionary, defines it as follows
"the bringing up, as ola child; lnstruc
ton; formation Of manners. Education
comprehends all that series of instruction
and discipline which is intended to enigh
ten the understanding, correct the temper
and form the manners and habits O
youth, and fit them for usefulness in tbei,
future stations. To give children good
education in manners, arts and science
is important: to give them a religious ed
ucaton is indispensable; and an immense
responsibility rests on parents and guar.
dams who neglect these duties"
The reader is earnestly requested to
study this defnition-consider lt--medi.
tate on it, until the nature, the ertent, and
the object of education shall be clearly I'M
derstood, and lastingly impressed on the
mind. Being thoroughly acquainted with
the definition given, tho ouhjeot 10 fully
before the reader. We proceedto cousiu.
er its leading outlines more fully. At its
Threshold, the inquiry arises, 'chen should
the education ola child commence? We
answer, with the tender and the playful
babe-while yet in the mothers arms.
AT that early period, the action ofthe mind
begins. The intellectual and moral pow
ers are now as the soltened wax, highly
susceptible Of receiving impressions, and
apt to retain them with the tenaclty Of
bronze. The cheer(ulness of mother,
the Uoftness, the tenderness Of her smiles,
and the melting sweetness of the words
that fall from her lips, in all her house.
hold conversation, as well as when she
hath half smothered the little one with
kisses, are all exerting mighty influence
ON the temper and feelings the child shall
possess in after years. Ere the child has
ceased to draw its nutrlment from its
mothers breast, tempers like unto those
characterizing the mother are implanted
If OF the kind above described. the child
will be strongly inclined to cheerlulness,
sweetness OF disposition, tenderness OF feel
ing, and amiabilily Of character But, is
the mother morose, sour, peevsh, tretlul,
is she a scold, docs she act the part Of
Shakespeare Shrew! the child will be like
Nv to imbibe her unfortunate tempers, and
will enter on the drama of life with its
innate depravity aroused and nursed into
action by the power and banelul influence
of a mothers example. The writer is a.
ware that mothers of thought and reiec
ton are inclined TO question the accuracy
OF these remarks. They shrink from the
acknowledgement Of an influence sotremen-
dous in responsibility; ofsuch happy or
fearful consequences to their offspring.
Mothers are challenged to an impartial,
candid and faithful investigation Of our as
sertions, and we have no fears but that
they will admit their ruth. Can the
child, as it lies in the mothers arms catch
the motions Of her lip and tongue, and
thereby acquire the ability to converse?
Can the child, at this early age, learn to
make many Of its wants clearly and for
cibly known;-are these things manifest
and UNREASONABLE, and shall any one re
fuse to acknowledge that its temper will
catch tho happy or the banelul influences
of a mothers example? The correctness
of what has been said being fully sustain
ed, let every mother be duly and fearful
ly impressed with the conviction that she
is called upon to set before her child in the
very dawn of its belDg-in the morning
of its existence, spotless example OF So
cial, domestic, and maternal propriely.
have characterized the influence OF
the mother on the infant, because she
should have more 10 do with It in this Pc
Rod of its existence than every person be-
side. Nature has planted in her breast a
strength, and q warmth, and tenderness
OF Feeling, an intensity, an engrosslng al
lection, unknown TO any one save moth
err she only is qualified for the thou