The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1853-01-08
From The Chicago 7Sibuns.
An Agricultural College and Normal Ins,i.


This subject is to he brought before the com.
ing session Of the Legislature, after fIuth Con.
yen'lon, to be held at Springfield, shall have
more fully matured plan. 1t is proposed to
apply for the State Seminary fluid, IN aid Of the
enterprise, and to memorlslizs Copgres. for a
graut Of public lands to each state for like pur-
pose. The friends Of this effort are IN earnest
They are taking enlarged views. and are destined
to at least partial success.
a reform is nanifesIly needed in our methods
of education. We can reculect, with painful dis
tlncness, the time when trees and plants and
rocks and sols-'he objects among which he was
daily pla, ing-were forbidden studies To the
curious schooi.boy. He moved among them a-
among strangers, and il their beauty or melody
ever fell like charm upon his spirit, and kindled
desire 10 know them better, his curiosity was
set down Tor presumption, and he sent 10
learn frd his grammar. history and arithmetic -
Aud then, that his mind mlgLt spply itself to
subjects OF no interest with Inn, or above his
childish comprehension he must be goadeG with
The stimulus of ambition, or ths terrors Of pun
I,hmpnt.
The sensible objects upon which the child first
opens l's eyes are the earliest objects Of thought
and study presented to it by the Author of that
mind the great Model Educator Daring infancy,
the mind Is mn uriaught learner ofthe forms and
properties Of sensible abieet and why should it
not when nu!e to receive instruction. continue
The sumo course Grsdully, but not alphabetical.
ly, passing rom objects Of sense to those Of in.
tellect THIS is the natural order Of mental de.
'el'pement, the perccptIve faculties unfolding
themselves frs, and the powers Of reflection aud
abstraction afterward. such studies ia early
lie would save immense damage 10 mind and
body. They would give heslthy tone to both
They would form habits Of observation. improve
the taste, nd culti'ate the love Of natuIe They
would i0ruI,h too6 for thought aud sources Of
pleasure in rural lie. They would people fields
and forest with society, and give to agricultural
life interest, dignity aud increased success They
would trrd TO multiply farmers and 10 check the
growing passion ior the cXcii.men,s Of the CIV
and the hazards OF commercial life And II by
an Agricultural College is meant an iu~ti.u'. on
designed to carry out views ! ke these, aul 20
furnish practical knowledge OF natural science
aud natural history, tosethefs with chemistry and
the principles Of mechanics, the plan seem to W.
TO promise important benefits both to agriculture
and education
The other feature Of the plan, proposing 10
provide for tie training Of teachers, recogniz..
one Of the most urgent wants of the State In
New York and Massachusetts. ears Of eXpeti.
meut have proved the value Of Normal Institutes
a. a branch w the Common School system. II
the artist, through wears Il assiduou, hbor. pre-.
pirt. himself to carve pershable rock INTO mute
inactive forms of beauty aud OF power. what
training shall quallly tie tercher To- fashion i'm
mortal mind for is otlice and destiny We do
not know what would more eff,ctually promote
the cause OF Common school education in the
state, than a weIipanned and well.execued
N,rtp.l School .x.t,.r.