The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-24
DEMOCRACY OF sCIENCE.-No. q
BY JOSIAH H0LBRO0K.

"NATUTE BEFORE BOOKS, DRAWING BEFORE
WRITING" is motto extensively adopted in
schools, and destined soon 10 become universal.
1t is founded on common sense, and is put in
operation by enthusiasm, acting on the com
bined energies OF all young spirits. Ii requires
no preparation, to be adopted in any school in
the world but the permission Of the teacher. II
all children, before entering school, take lessons,
with great ardor and success from the book OF
nature, they may surely continue such lessons,
aided, If not prevented by their teacher. 1.-THE
rattan is required to prevent drawing exercises
IN school, such exercises may surely be pur-
sued, il properly encouraged.
A simple request from a teacher to his pupils
to make collections for SCHOOL CABINET,
never fails TO bring such collection on the
next entrance of the pupils into the school
room. A teacher only needs to place before
his pupils an apple, pear, peach, plum Leaf,
pitcher, tumbler, cup, inkstand, cube, cone,
cylinder, prism, his hand, or almost any object
in nature or art, requesting them to draw II. TO
secure a beginning IN the useful and elegant
accomplishment Of drawing.
Nature and art, thus combined for juvenile
instruction, are the foundation Of the great sys-
tenn of productive education. Such productions
furnish materials for " SCHOLARS FAIRS" and
scholars fairs are the entering wedge TO gen
eral and stupendous plan OF interchanges in
works of nature and art. Such interchanges,
universally extended, would beat swords into
plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks.
Between the productive system" and the
"book system" Of education there is wide
contrast. The former is NATURAL, PRACTICAL,
MORAL; the latter, artificial, theoretical, selfsh.
The one brings into combined and harmonious
action the hand, eye, judgment, taste, magma
ton, benevolence, conscienliousness, and all the
higher emotions OF the human soul the other
exercises little more than the memory. The
one rouses enthusiasm the other begets dread
The one calls for the check rein the other
gives constant use to the spur. The former
stores the mind with prncples-kew of knoc-
ledge the latter numbers the mind with the
arbitrary signs of knowledge. The one gives
great skill and taste in the use OF language,
making the structure of sentences one Of the
most delightful exercises the other requires
months and years of irksome labor, for repeat
ing the rules OF grammar. The former inspires
emulation among pupils, for doing their most
TO let their light shine" the latter AT best only
attempts to obtain light for ones own mind,
forgetting that light ceasing to radiate ceases TO
be light; the light within being darkness. is
great darkness. The one is diffusion the
other, consolidation. The one, the "DEMoo-
RAcY;" the other. despotsm Of science.
The productive system rouses selfrespect;
and, being productive, brings TO view and cul-
uvales a sense Of responsibility, making some
returns for what Is received. The mere book
system, hardly permitting the efforts or feelings
Of pupils TO extend beyond themselves, OF
course cannot promote selfrespect. or sense