The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-08
Democracy Of soience.-No. ~.
BY JOSIAH noLBRook.

The schools Of our country be the explorers OF our
country. Why not Would not "solEsrIFIc ExcUK.
sIoNs" as prominent part OF school systems combine
instruction, health, and pleasuTe Is not the nalue OF
boy 10 eaUs no stone uatAned 70 Ii the schools Of the
whole country should make il their business 10 explore
their surrounding districts, would not the whole country
be explored In their scientific excursions might they
not take their mineral hammers and bags their sketching
pencils surveyors eompasses, and other instruments and
by them examine the geology, geography topography,
botany zoology, water courses, agriculture, mechan
cal Improvements, and other Objects showing resources
and progress Would not such weekly excursions
give greater energy and richer fruits 10 all school ope
ralions Would moi knowledge, acquired IN this way,
be more extended more Individual, available
DEHocRACTIC" than that acquired by scientific probes
sors especially when aided they certainly would be,
most gladly by such professors Would not farmers be
and better able know the character and capa-
bes Of their own fields, through personal experimental.
and minute examinations by their and daughters and
themselves, too, than through pondeous volumes giving
the general outlines OF the county, especially while those
volumes confined to the shelves OF State and col
lege Libraries, and few other secluded repositories
Would not knowledge thus generally and practically
CURED be transmitted, exchanged, and diused ma ing
the citizens OF part OF the country acquainted with
all the other par,sl Would not thus employing the iuye
nile energies OF the country do more check lawlessness
than prisons Would not truans be among the things
that Would not the worst scholars be changed
into the best Night there not be written houses of
refuge for juvenile delinquents, "To LET"
In answer 10 these questions, few facts may be given,
selected from mass sufficient TO ill volumes About
twenty years since the Boston schools united in exploring
the surrounding country From their collections they
furnished every member OF their legislature with small
cabinet of elementary minerals, to be circulated among
the schools of his legislative district. The next egs-
lature ordered geological survey of the State The
impetus thus given has led to similar surveys of all the
Saes OF our Union The superintendent of schools in
the city OF New York sent TO The teachers circular, in
wiling Them 10 request their pupils TO collect minerals,
be classified, labelled, and distributed, for the Of
FAMILY MUSEUMS" Within three weeks from that
quest moi less than twelve thousand families thus
furnished with these instructive and entertaining house,
hold utensils Many of the mos, ncOrsibie truants be-
came al cnce the punctual, oriehy, and promising
scholars. A teacher in Philadelphia said to his pupils
one day .'Boys, all who will have their lessons well TO.
morrow at ten O'Clock, may accompany me 4 geo :
logical excursion" At the hour named every boy had
good lesson; and several of them for the first time Yin
their lives. A proposal was made to a school, fe-
pued disordery, TO take excursion for colleo ng
minerals, be distributed among the pupils Of the tn
departments numbering some five hundred. On return
ing home from school at night every pupil took with him
six labelled minerals shown the elements of mountains,
rocks and soils They the fruit OF one excursion,
and other corresponding exercises. This school was
known as among the very first in large city.