The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1853-08-20
For the Republican.
A Few Words on q Woru.out Subject.

There is sometimes complaint. that the
primary branches of education are too
much neglected by teachers Frequently
there arv just grounds for it. Spelling is
AN attainment So Difficult, to acquire, and so
say neglected in many schools, that per
ie n IN it is rarer than many suppose
y, Gaps most persons would find it AS dill
culi 10 write letter OF one or two pages,
containing correctly spelled words, without
aid from dictionary, or from any other
source, AS they would to obtain an undis.
pn,ed title to land ia Texas
The ar, o! reading properly and grace.
fully is SO frequently necessary, SO credible
to it's possessor, and so pleasing to the
auditor, that the little attention II receives in
many schools is matter of surprise The
time allotted to it is generally too limited,
and even then the scholars are allowed to
humble over their exercises in hurried
manner, some in whining sing song,
some in "A monotouous drawl or nasal twanc,
and others with the cultural note of tur-
key eobbler, while the teacher is perhaps
attending to something else. Children will
naturally fall into Il monotonous tone. as
UNMARRIED as the eternal roar Of waterfall /;
aud, instead OF reading poetry, will sing 1t,
unless prevented 10y the constant attention
OF the Instructor, who is frequently no great
proficient himself in this important branch
OF education.
have known BOYS Of one or two years
progress III Latin. who could hardly have
told the difference between the north polo
and a bean pole. between the equnoc,ial
line aud a fishing line, between perch of
land and a pearch of the wa;ery world, or
between the drachm of an apotheeary or
the dram of topper,
Teachers derive more pleasure, honor
and profit, from teaching the "hgher
branches. To what extent these induce
ments operate to cause a neglect of the
lower branches others can decide.
\ want OF thoroGghncss in a teacher is
sometimes to bee attributed to his desire OF
making his course conform to the wishes of
his patrons.
\ ludIclous instructor is aware that but
few subjects should be presented to the ten
der mind at a time, and when these are un.
derstood his labors are not ended. They
should be firmly impressed on the mind of
the pupil, by constant drilling and review.
ing. This requires So much time that the
scholars progress is apparently slow. II
this course should be pursued many parents
would wrongly conclude that their chill
dreu are deriving but little advantage from
the school, and they would be disposed to
complain Of their slow Improvement
When majority of any community Is
composed OF such patrons, teacher would
succeed best in pleasing them, BY hurryiug
his pupils too rapidly through their stadie..
and advancing them too soon into the high.
er branches of education. 1t i true that
parents sometimes object to the latter, but
| am Inclined to think they more frequently
object to the increased rates OF tuition
which such studies require, than to the
studies themselves
Much has been said respecting the ad
vantages OF scholars of the present day,
over those OF former generations. Many
attach great Importance to the multiplicity
Of school books now cNtaut, protesting to
simplify aud render learning easy. These
are doubtless advantages But could we
not have too mach of good thing II 1t
was possible tor student 10 be aided TO
such an extent by easy text books aud by
the tact of his teacher ia ;mmr'ug Iutot.
nation, that be- could acquire a knowledge
of their contents without much mental cN-
er,on, one great object of education would
not be accomplished, namely, the develop
ment OF the reasoning powers. Such n
scholar might make grand display at az
examination but should he lose what he
has So easily acquired ~ j. frequently the
the ease, All IS lo,, Bat should a scholar
master his tasks, principal, by his own of.
forts, his mind would be- disciplined and
strengthened aud this advantage would re.
main, long after the information SO obtained
is forgotten. \s an individual of feeble
physical powers, sometimes engages in
manual occupations, not for the pecuniary
value of the labor. bat TO render his body
vigorous by the exercise. SO most studies,
such rs the higher branches of mathemat-
les ard the classics are pursued in school,
not SO much tor the information, AS for the
strength they impar to the mind. As this
kind of Improvement IL not immediately
pcfcrttlui', II II uhio"Ntu ''t ny ti"s'
parents who estimate the literary progress
OF their children, by the nnmter OF square
inches of printed paper they glance over,
and i, is sometimes tisregarded by teachers
because " it do Mt pay
There is commendable spirit manifested
here in the cause of education, which beto>
kens high destiny for Texas, Long may
such a spirit actuate its citizens. whose lib
critics will be safe from the grasping ambl
ton of designing demagogues, rs long as
they continue to patronlc the teacher aud
printer. -
SpRI\GN T.