The New York herald., 1851-08-26

position had enterd his tender head; but, led by
her wishes and her smile, his opening mind fol-
than intelligence. He then knew no other way to
60, and if she continued faithful to her offspring,
he would be transferred to the schoolroom, well
prepared to acquit himself Alright as member of
the school, With most children, especially at a
very tender age the fact that the father or mother
directed, is sufficient reason for submission to the
order. This feeling, this confidence should be
transferred to those who stand in the place of
parents. Children are often desirOus Of knowing
why certain things are required Of them, and it is
WELL as far as may be convenient to the instructor
to enghten them on these points in general way /;
they will obey with more alacrity ami satisfac ton
but they should be early taught to receive, on
Authority, the reqaistions of those who have the
charge Of them 1t is by no means easy to meet
and satisfy the inquiries Of children every point
of school requisition Nothing is more com mon
than for children to inquire what is the use of
studying this or that branch of education A boy
says, " don't see any use in grammar and ma .ural
philosophy" And with the study of geometry,
when pupils begin it while very young, the com
plant is still more common. But are we on that
account to dispense with these studies A gentle
man told me yesterday, in conversation, that when
boy, he was to be educated for trade. IL was so
announced to him, and this was understood to be
his destiny; hence, when he was required to study
Latin grammar, he inquired of what use it would
be to bin! He was told that his father directed
paternal will. He has, since he became a man,
had occasion to exchange the business Of traffic for
that of one of the liberal professions, and now
reoices in the results of his obedience, boon of
priceless value. Mr.. President, | appeal to you,
sir, whether, in your moral and religious iastruc.
tions in the family circle it is not sometimes neces
sary to defer the giving of the reason for your
QUESTION until the childs mind is more developed
and capable of comprehending its rationale; a nd
whether this is not the experience of all who at
tempt to educate the young, either at the public
seminary or at the fireside; and doubt not that
nearly all experience will bear me out in affirming
that this is the and successful Let our
children, then, be taught to look upon their in
structors as friends and fathers, having their well
fare at heart; and that the measures which they
adopt have this welfare in view. They will, then,
instead of annoyance and disobedence, give them
their confidence, their friendship, and their love
and the teachers vocation will hence, in sober
truth, become the "del shtful task" of the poet.
If no obedience to rules lessons is to be rendered
until every chid's mind has been satisfied to the
reason OF it-as the gentleman who preceded the
last speaker has said-should be the case, | would
ask that gentleman how far down, in the scale of
infancy, this process is to commence. For my own
part, never can subscribe to such a course, for
am sure, instead of benefting the child, we should,
thus, wear out life in series of insgn 6eant and
pro6tless trifes and verify the truth of the wise
mans maxim, "Wo unto that people whose King
is a child"
Mr.. o. B. PIERCE, of Rome, N. Y, asked the
Indulgence of the association for few minutes.
He saw many beauties in the address which can
we'll afford to spare some Of its redundancies and
would still be beautiful He found there were some
tendencies of the address which he could not en-.
dorse. He should be sorry to have this as ISOLATION
adopt and promuge the doctrine of blind obedience
to God or man, with no thought Of investigating the
reasonableness of the command. He would have
obedience positive, rot contingent. If man delays
his obedience to God, till he can comprehend the
philosophy of his whole code, could see its length
and breadth, and depth and height, his laws would
never be obeyed. Yet, sir, while re gard unquai-
fed obedience to the letter Of Gods law, demanded
by him, do not forget that its vitality with us,
nd tho plea w q derive from OhaviDO dam nd
understanding and feeling the spirit OF his laws
As a parent, and as teacher, have ever tried to
be careful that my commands should be reasonable
in themselves; and while l am at all times anxious
the child should understand why command, will
not allow his ability inclination to understan nd
my reasons, condition of obedience. When the
child has obeyed my commands, then he may ask
the motive OF reason of my having commanded him.
Mr.. WAsBBURN, of Philadelphia, said
Mr. President is not this discussion too discur-
siye and irrelevant! respectfully submit that the
remarks Of gentlemen should be confined within
their proper limits. / regret that the address, SO
interesting in the Tain, is nevertheless so deficient
in concseLess. The points intended in illu tra ton,
but not properly stated in advance, nor rehearsed
in conclusion, are simply three:-lst What is edu-
cation I'd. That history proves the controlling
Luence Of the spirit of every age upon its method,
ard objects Of education. Sd What is the spirit
Of our times, in our own country as influencing our
systems and purpose Of education And here the
lecture was to my mind, most unsatisfactory. Nor
can it be deemed conclusive in establishing the
second point as consequence of the historical fa It's
adduced. That patrarchal education, for instance,
was the result Of the spirit of the age cannot be
shown until we first establish what constituted the
so-called spirit Of the age Doubtless it was
wisely provided in the absence Of printed books
and spe sial teachers as a class, that the young
should be instructed on the knees OF venerable kind
red, whose lives, reaching through generations.
prolonged for most bene6cent purposes. And we
are not ready to grant tina. the matchless text
book of the Hebrews was necessarily narrowing in
;.s iplu xvta uifhst for pdpD rio oka1pa nd
uprooting base idolatory, it moulded and elevated
10. only the spirit but the age itself. Here is q
subject worthy Of thought. And shall be pardon.
ed in doubling whether many of the proofs adduced
from ancient modern history In any satisfic-
tory degree more conclusive. But have not risen
70 argument. | would only forestal such random
talk. The lecturers definition Of education, as
illustrated, would have been, when expressed good
and comprehs hsnsiye-dscipline for a purpose-and
none has undertaken to controyert this. But these
should be the points of discussion | would he had
expressed with some defniteness, his apprehension
of the real spirit Of our age. And yet the aues-
educated shall succumb to circumstances, or here,
where Providence has mingled such mighty ele-
ments on SO grand an arena, set himself to
control, direct, and carry forward to more
noble and ennobling human achievement.
Professor RAINEY said that he regretted that
abler gentlemen from the West had not alverted
to Mr. Bates elegant lecture with reference parti-
crlarly to the great want Of authority in all our
schools. Livery individual who has visited the
schools Of both the East and the West has observed
the superior order, harmony, and authority, In the
former and the great want Of such authority ia the
government Of the schools Of the latter. This
arises partly from the fact that hitherto teaching
among us has not been made profession, and con-
sequently, as in every country, those teaching
have continued but short time Ia office. Hence,
it is impossible for the community TO risk much
confidence in their teachers; while, on the other
hand, as q consequence of this, they assume the
exercise Of the authority which they cannot dele
gate to the teacher, or, which Is Tar more prcju-
oicia to the interests Of all concerned, delegate I,
to their children. Now, sir, let com nencc with
Germany, and we find that to the teacher is &C
corded an importance, dignity, and authority
which no Sigh. breath of opposition may blow
rerly constituted and high officer. lie Ia in
Quoted to his tfiee with rel gious ceremonies
becomes the conductor of the Parish caoir; i
paid ample saaryi h certain of the continuance
Of his place, unless guilty Of great derGlictOn o.