New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-07-03
ra,,n and Greek in the Free Academy.

We heartily concur in the following remarks
made by the Cou,ncai in Of it, series Of articles
on the Free Academy. The examinations which are
now progressing that institution should be well At.
tended by the citizens Who feel interest in the cause
OF education. Much Of The future prosperity Of the
Institution viii depend upon the course that things
take at the commencement
d" We 30 not perceive the wisdom. however Of O..
tsOlshing professionally OF Latin and Greek with q
salary Of SJ0O per ennu and al tie same time as
signing 40 more than 500 per annum 10 the French
pIoiessOrship OF course the relative amount OF time
and importance assigned 70 these different studies 10
IN similar ratio and We perceive that already IL IL
said ia the report Of the Executive Committee that
assistant Is about d be wanted ia the Latin part
nenf while 40 mention j. maze Of any augmentation
OF the efficiency Of the French. OF couree the su.
thOrty of ancient usage is strongly Ia favor OF tins
relative depreciation Of the modern tongues. 10 may
perhaps be- said that TIE boys themselves or their
parents prefer the Latin cOurse. This IS not 10 be
wondered a. the force ~ Old prejudice is SO pow
eriul but sti ask ought the adnisistrsuon OF the
Free Academy 70 begin by fostering this prejudice by
creating invldious distinction between the two
branches 81 study II We tight pa the view that
mental discipline depends much more upon the method
OF study. and upon competent variety OF studies.
tnen upon the intrinsic nature OF the thing studied, and
II the desiraheuess al study ia the Free Academy Is
therefore rightly tested by its positive alter value
in practical every day hie IL might rather be ques
toned Whether The Latin AMI Greco should DE taught
al all than whether they should be entitled n hgher
than the ! rrnth, HERMAN ana cpahleu we are
not disposed deny the positive value iivaent 10
the time necessarily exprnet 10 acquiring lt-oi
knowledge OF the elements OF Latin or even OF Greek
such a knowledge might be Comma nlcated ia
few months while the whole matter would be made
subordinate study. But, an a soberness, e"rOls de-
termination TO devote good part of each day u the
study a. the ancient classics during four nve or xix
YEAR, in sucn lnsiiiuuun-tne head Of common
school popular education IN a busy commercial me-
tropuha--smells rather too much Of the ciois,cr We
may have m.sapyrche uded the intention of the TX
ecutve Committee OF the Board OF Education. but u
not We beg them 20 reconsider thflr determination
Gu The other hand. exact and thorough acquant
snce with the living continental language OF Europe
French. Spanish and German especially, constitutes
capital stock of positive knowledge, OF no mean
value the possession OF any one and Inc demand oT
which will be constantly aud rapidly increasing. Ma.
,ions will be 8s,ed together, darlug tie next gene
ration prom scuo4sly As me- ghbofhoods are now
The manners and modes of thought q one nation can
never be appreciated 10y another una; its language Is
understood The commercial value o. these lang uages
cannot fail 70 De seen az There probably not
ten grown and women ia tee cry who are en-.
deasorug % repair the defects Ci eir early cduca-
uon-t mend the hundcrs ~ their parents ADD guar
diaus-by commencing the study Of Latin and Greek
while thousands probably tens Of thousand, are making
0ny painful ciuft- T. do by learning French
TINS fact alone Is conclusive % the Ieiuve practical
value Of tac Two. On the Of mental discipline
We may safely admit that Latin as siugle study may
possess some what more merit than Spanish or French
simply because Il is the boys Themselves would say
somewhat together" but for this requisite
German, ii thorough mastered nigh fairly su.icc -
but believe iu adclnon tAat even the conie>sedly
great value Of the mathematics. ia this particular
respect results much more from the ilghuui method
IN which they taught contracted wltn The vicious
method APT 20 Ice applied 10 language aud most other
siu1ics. thaa from lie Intrinsic nature Of the study
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