The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-08-19

BY JOSIAH HoLBRooK.


Inc grand pivot on which must turn the whole ma.
chlney for eecting the purposes OF science wealth and
o'as' Is sELF-iNsrRUCrIoS" The motto .' Nature
OsIore cooks and drawtng before soritiag" constantly
aced upon, would do much secure such instruction.
Tx sueh pivot The sentiment has been that books
were tue hrs The principal and almost the only instru.
meh's 10 nj young beings for their future vocaons Ii is
ho' 30 now Other sentiments, which will bear the
OF common sense and of universal experience have
akeh Tue place OF that, equally preposterous and mis-
ceVous running thousands upon thousands of the very
pest minds ever created
IN herman schools Rotations on most subjects are
conducted without any OF book, either by the pupil
OF teacher That is 1t should be. In some-perhaps
ail-ol the normal schools in this country is now
fundamental principle that before the pupils are qualified
70 leach they must be able to conduct Rotations without
tue use OF books. In an address by Daniel Webster
gwen some months since at agricultural fair he re
marked, All the knowledge we get from books is very
nue. ana mat little not worth much" As aids OF know
edge books good the principal sources of de-
pendence, they are false, and sa6ly disastrous
The moment the eye, the hand and the heart gener.
ally take the place of books the principal agents of
instruction, ruants will be heard of rowdies who
are only truan having taken several degrees in vance
will soon be out OF markets houses of refuge for
juvenile dellnquents may be written "To LET ]" and the
place upon our court dockets for michigan consprators
viii be left blank.
No subjects for placing upon this "grand pivot" for
securing the agency of the eye hand and heart are more
appropriate than the first prisc,pes" of farming and
mechanism TO collect and arrange specimens of geol-
ogy showing the elements OF soils prepare and per-
form chemical experiments, showing the nature of those
elements; to make and combine the elementary figures
or forms OF mechanism, showing the endless varieties of
beauty and utility furnish to active, spnghy generous
young spirits the objects OF their eager pursuit. sources
OF rich and greatly varied instruction, employment for
their active minds objects for their lofty aspirings
They bring into action in aid of each other the eve.
hand, and heart-musce. mind, and soul
The process is simple, direct, easy and certain as
the operations are delightful, and the fruits rich and
abundant. 1t can be commenced any day or moment in
any school or family in the whole world when the ma
rent or teacher wishes TO have So Let any teacher
say to his pupils, "Chldren, you may 60 out and see
how many different kinds Of stone you can nd and bring
in of each kind" and CABINET OF AGRICULTURAL.
GEOLOGY" will be well commenced The names, proper
ties and uses OF these beginnings with others coming in
their train, will be certain to foow-not certain
how, but certain 10 come in some way.
Let the same teacher any teacher or parent saw tn
The young spirits under his guidance, You NAV draw
upon your states or cut from paper figure with three
equal sides, being careful that the sides are all exactly
equal that done, the most important element in the
mechanism OF the unverse-rich, beautiful, and glori-
ousis actually formed by the hands of company of
animated "sELF- INSTRUCTORS" The next STEP and all
steps which may follow. endless progression, in the
delightful employment in the rich instruction. under the
inspiring motive Of unfolding the glorious works of God
glorousy and wonderfully exhibited in the mechan
ism OF the heavens and of the EARTH will be equally SIM
pie with the first A better suggestion on this great and
interesting subject perhaps, cannot be made than for all
schools, on their next opening to try the experiment,
in the first lessons as proposed agriculture and
mechanism.
EXPERIMENTAL teacher in New York had pupil
who deed the authority both of the parent and himself
in requiring the various ordinary lessons from books At
the suggestion and persuasion of the teacher the parent
encouraged bis in collecting for their home eabi
net Of eiosuies" Almost Immediately the rebel son and
pupil became the delight of the family and the ornament
OF the school,