Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-09-03

his happiness, and have the ability to
| command his respect, he will general
| ly submit without a murmur to all
needful restraints, and will make great
er progress in his studies than could be
induced by any measure Of sovereign
|ty. Children are. proverbially quick
sighted; they are nice observers q
character, and unless we, cultivate In
| our hearts those qualities that com
mand their respect and love, it is IL
vain to assume them The strictesr
lmpartlality must De observed, and
the most open and candid demeanol
pursued; for if we deceive them, theil
confidence is gone, and with it them
respect.
once visited school in this State,
kept by Frenchman Of finished edu-
cation and amicable manners, and OBJ
serving the orderly and afectonate
department of his pupils, | inquired
what method he used to enfore such
excellent discipline. Oh! said he,
when my boys are lazy or disobedient,
| deprive them of their books, and
when they are particularly attentive
allow them to black their own shoes.
Without proposing this Frenchman's
method as model for others. | would
observe, that here was complete re-
versal ofall the motives that generally
influence the youth of Virginia, and
yet it was effectual, because it was
brought about by the influence of re-
spect and love.
The standard of intellectual attain
ment IN our schools is entirely too low,
and the method Of instruction, espe-
In country schools, are far from being
efficient. One reason of this is found
in the fact, that public opinion has
long acqulesced in the present state of
things; very little enquiry has been
excited, and both parents and teachers
are almost Unconscious of the vast i'm
provements that have been made in the
science of education. The time that
is generally employed to teach child
to read, write and cipher, (Which some
parents appear to consider a finished
education, would, if properly employ
ed, be sufficient to teach the same
branches much more thoroughly, and
to afford instructions in several others
of great utility. l would not attempt
to enter minutely into this branch OF
the subject, but would suggest that
even in the common branches it is
important TO begin right, for bad Nab
its, once acquired, are hard to be re-
moved.
1t is not my purpose to discuss the
merits of the different branches that
are, or should be, taught in our
schools; but | will state the principles
by which every man may judge for
himself. The main objects to be at
tanned, are the improvement Of the no.
raj faculties; the development of the
intellect, and the acquisition ofknowI-
edge that can be applaed to purposes
of utility and enjoyment.
There are two branches almost en-
tirely neglected in country schools,
that will briefly notice. The first
is Physiology, which is science full
of interest and instruction. That part
oft especially which pertains to the
human system, is not only useful to
teach US the preservation of health, but
is we'll calculated to improve the mind
by unfolding the admiral construction
OF the human irame--the most com
pllcated and wonderful machine with
which we are acquainted. The sec
ond branch, to which we allude, is
the knowledge ofthose scientific prin-
ciples which may be applied tothe I'M
fprovement of agrlcultnre; such as the
chemical properties OF the atmosphere,
the nature ofsoils, the composition OF
manures, and the growth and Structure
of vegetables.
These studies are not only useful
and delightful IN themselves, but be-
ing connected with husbandry, the
most useful Of all the arts, Will exalt it
in the estimation of youth, and rem
der it most desirable VOCATION
This has been the effect of such stud
les in the kingdom of Bavaria, where
they have been introduced into the
common school with decided advanI
tage. "Not only are the best elemen-
tary treatises on gardening, agriculture,
domestic ecoaemy, the qualities of the
different soils, the effects of chemical
compounds, the management of silk
worms and the culture ofsall1 introduced
80 ko II, &C. AZ l.,