Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-10-29
From cAambsTs's Journal. .-l
Horace nIann's Educational Tour.

Some Of our readers may rccollect an account OF
the Rauhe IIaus Of Hamburg, which appeared in tie
Journal for Both August last year. Il was extracted
from report education in Europe, written by
Mr.. Horace Mann, the Secretary Of the Board OF Ed
ucat1n In the State of Massachusetts. We are glad
to find that this remarkable document has now been
reprinted for the British public, under the care Of Dr.
H'dgson, principal Of the Mechanics Institution OF
Liverpool IL is the production OF such a mind as,
unfortunately we see but rarely devoted To The sub
ject Of education expressing, would say, the
highest of moral aud intellectual culture aud
yet careful respecting the practical details OF It's
subject as il is profoundly reflective on general aims
ppd results. 81
The immediate object Of Mr.. Mann in his tour was
10 describe teaching arrangements, and modes in use,
IN European countries, which he thought might be
advantageousy transferred 10 his own. IL report
is therefore mainly Of practical character, aud cal
cuated 10 be directly useful 20 teachers, aud all who
have any charge IN educational nsttuiions; for
which reason strongly recommend the present yUl-
ume to their attention. Yet such Is the character
OF the authors mind, that the whole reads like
philosophical treatise.
A considerable portion of the volume is occupied
with memoranda on the schools Of Germany, which
Mr.. Mann describes as superior the character Of
the existing institutions Of tho country, but such az
must soon f0rco improvements ia ibe,erwLetler The
governors choose or not. We cannot 20 into any
comprehensive view of this subject but tic reader
we think, may obtain some idea Ul the intelest which
the author lmparta 10 all his details, by the fJoWug
account Of the manner in which he found geography
taught in a Prussian school, 'rhe teacher stood by
the blackboard with the chalk in his hand. AMER
casting his eye over the glass, 20 see that all were
ready, he struck at the middle Of the board. With
rapidiiy of hand which my eve could hardly follow,
he made series Of those short, divergent nes, or
standings, employed by map-engrsyers, 10 represent
chain OF mountains lie had scarcely turned
gle, or shot of spur when the schollfs began TO cry
out-Carpathlan mountains, Hungary; Black Forest
mountains, Wirtemberg; Giants mountains, kiesen
oeeirge, Sllesia Metallic mounaius Erz.6ebirge
Pine mountains, Fitchtel-G ebrge Central mou1-
tans, Miltel-Gebirge, Bohemia, &c. &c.
In less than half minute, the ridge of that grand
central elevation which separates the waters that ow
north into the Baltic, and southeast to the Black Sea
was presented 10 vew-execnled almost as beautiful
ly an engraving. a dozen crinkng strokes, made
in the twinking of eye, represented the head wat
ers Of the great rivers which flow in different direc
tions from that mountainous range while the chill
dren, almost eager and excited though they had
actually seen the torrents dashng down the noun
tain sides, cried out-Danubc, Elbe, Vistula, Oder
&c. The next moment heard a succession Of small
strokes or taps. 50 rapidas to be almost ndisnguis-
able and hardly had my eye time 10 discern large
number OF dots made along the margins Of tie rivers
when the shout of Lintz, Vienna, Prague, Dresden,
Berlin, &C., struck my ear AT THIS point of the ex-
ercses, the spot which had been occupied the black
board was nearly circle, Of which the starting point
place where the teacher first began, the cen
tire but now few additional strokes around the cir
conference OF the incipien continent extended the
mountain ranges outwards towards the plains-thc
children responding the names of the countries in
which they respectively layss. With few more ilou-
rshes, the rivers flowed EDWARDS towards their seye
raj examinations and by another succession of dots,
new cities sprang up all along their banks. BY this
time the children had become as much excited as
though they had been present at world making
They in their Seats they flung out both hands,
ILL 1naKo
vociferous, they cried out the names of the differ
ent places which, under the magic Of the teacher 5
crayon, rose into view. Within ten minutes OF the
commencement. Of the lessOey there stood upon the
blackboard, beautiful map of Germany, with its
mountains, principal rivers, and cities, the of
the German Ocean, Of the Baltic and the Black Seas
aud all accurately proportional, that think only
slight errors would have been found had it been sub
jectcd 10 the test Of a scale Of miles part Of this
time was taken up in correcting few mistakes of
the pupils for the teachers mind seemed to be in his
well in his hand and notwithstanding the
astonishing celebrity of his movements he detected
Toueous answers and turned round to correct them.
The rest Of the recitation consisted In questions and
answers, respecting productions, climate, SOIL ami
mails, &c.
Many Of The cosmogonists suppose that, after the
creation Of the world, and when its whole surface
as yet fluid, the solid contents rose gradually
from beneath the First the Hottest peaks of the
Andes, Tor instance, emerged from the Deep aud as
they reached higher and higher point of elevation
the rivers began to flow down their sides, until las
the lofty mountains having attained their height,
the mighty rivers their extent and volume and the
continent its began, and cities
aud towns were built. The lesson have described
was beautiful Illustration Of that idea--with one
advantage over the original itself, that the
Spectator had no need Of wading through all the &c.
illogical epociis TO see the work completed.
Compare the effect Of such lesson as this, both
81
the yividness, and Of course the permanence of the
ideas Obtained, with lesson where the scholars look
out for few a llfeless atlas, bot never send
their imagnaiions abroad over the earth, and where
the teacher sits stlessly down before them to inter-
rogae them from book, in which all the questions
IRE printed at full length, TO supersede his part all
necessity Of knowledge
AL this must be equally new and interesting to the
greater portion OF our public. So, thoroughly
believe, will be the following account Of the general
conduct and bearing Of the Prussian teachers amones
their pupils 1t is even would say, affecting to
hear Of the activity and self-devo,on Of these most
useful ministers, paid they generally below the
gains Of many ordinary tradesmcn. Il have said
that saw no teacher sitting in his school Aged OF
young, all stood. Nor did they stand apart and aoo
in sullen dignity. They mingled with their pupils
passing rapidly from side Of the class the other
animatng, encouraging, sympatnising breathing liz,
into less active natures, assuring the timd dstrbut
ing encouragement and endearment TO ALL The look,
Of the PrussIan teachers often have the expression ant
vivacity of an actor in play. He gestirultes like
an orator his body ASSUMES all the attitudes and h
face puts on all the variety Of expression, which q
public speaker would do, if baranguing large as
scnby on topic vital TO their interest.
1T may seem singular, and 10 some almost lud
crous, that teacher, in expoundng tie first rudi
mens Of handwriting, IN teaching the difference be
tween har-stroke and ground-strOkc, or Low nm