Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-10-19
OUR PUBLIC scHoOLs.-So. XVI.
By 8. s. RANDALL.

! Inc great practical problem which the teacher
10 called upon to solve is in what way and
through what MEANS the intellectual and NOR
al faculties OF his pupils may be 30 developed
cultivated, and directed as TO render them sub
servient to the varied purposes of existence
That a particular method Of mental culture has.
in given instance, n given number Of instan-
ces been followed by career of usefulness,
honor, and happiness by no means authorizes
him TO conclude that similar result will uni
formly, or even generally, follow from repeti-
tion of the process under other and different cir
cumstances 80 yariously combined are the in
tellectual and moral powers i. different individ-
uas, SO variously modified the elements of char
acter, that IT is next to impossible to lay down
any fixed rule which shall enable the educator to
mould Alright in all cases. the plastic energies OF
thought and action committed to his charge Mo-
tiyes and inducements which operate powerfully
and irresistably with one class Of minds are
found utterly impotent and ineffcacious with
another. Arguments and reasonings which ad-
dress themselves at once to the comprehension
and appreciation Of one individual are urged in
vain upon the understanding or the conscience
Of the other. In some minds the convictions of
the moral sense preponderate over all the allure
ments of vicious inclinations; and, in conunc-
tion with wel-balanced intellect, ensure A
course Of conduct in accordance with the dictates
| OF enlightened reason and sound christianity:
while in others, so feebly compacted are the bar
riers of moral restraint, and 40 active and ener-
getlc the vicious propensities, that the entire
tendency OF the mental organization is reversed
| In short, the mental constitution and tendency
OF no two individuals submitted to the teachers
| care can be said TO be the same and the elemen-
tary discipline which is to prepare them for the
great arena Of life, with its Duties responsible
ties struggles, reverses, sufferings, and tri-
umphs, must be infinitely diversified, in order to
comprehend, with any degree of ultimate success,
the innumerable varieties of disposition and tenn
permanent which are thus found to exist. 35sy- ],
Nor should the important principle ever be for,
gotten that moral education should be contempo-,
| raneous and commensurate with intellectual pro.
gress. The great ideas Of duty and responsible
ity, of truth, virtue, beneyolence and benehceuce
should be kept constantly and clearly in view, re-
fected from the perfect mirror Of christianity.
irradiated by the strong light of Immortality
The atmosphere Of the school-room should be en-
tirely free from the admixture of the baser in
gradients of passion, in any Of their shapes or
forms. The artless innocence Of childhood should
there uniformly find congenal field for the real
izaton OF its joyous hopes, its beaming anticipa-
tions, its ardent desire for knowledge and ad-
vancement. The law Of love and of kindness OF
disinterested regard for the welfare and happi-
ness of others, should be enforced by. all these
considerations, derived from the natural and mo-
raj world, which are constantly present to the
eye and to the mind and not an incident afford
ing an obvious and apt illustration of some valu-
able .oral lesson should be suffered to pass un-
improved. Mildness and dignity of demeanor on
the part of the teacher, perfect self possession
and perfect freedom from affectation, accompa-
MED by the uniform manifestation Of a kindly and
paternal regard for the true interests, welfare,
and happiness Of each individual committed to his
charge, viii seldom fail TO make deep and in
dellible impression upon the ingenious moral ma.
ture Of youth.
With this number the present series of articles
on "OuR PUBLIC SCHOOLS" is terminated There
are several other topices having bearing on this
subject which il was the original intention of The
iCTitsr to have discussed as the best mode
Of supervision, the relative duties Of parents,
teachers, and school officers, public examinations,
exhibitions, &C.; but, apprehensive Of overtask-
ing the patient indulgence of his readers, he has
deemed it expedient 10 relieve them, at least for
a season. If the public attention shall, in any
degree, have been attracted by these numbers to
the consideration Of the important interests Of
elementary public instruction in our midst he
will have been amply compensated for the time
spent in their preparation.
WASHINGTON, OCTOBER, 1866.