The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-03-22
From the Ohio State Democrat.
Apparatus for Common Schools.

The question is frequently asked ,whetis
the useaof apparatusin Common Schools?
Ii is quite difficult, even forthe experience
led practicalteacher 10 answer such Q cues!
ton, although he may have Witnessed the
utility. of such apparatus in q, thousand
instances. The value of many educa-
tional appliances are far more easily com.
pretended than described, although their
agency in promoting the efficiency Of in
struction in our common Schools may have
been witnessedin in almost every department
.of study. Indeed, there is but one opinion
among our most enlightened educationists
and teachers, as to the manifold uses to
(which suitable articles Of school apparatus
can be advantageously applied, in making
more clear TO tine comprehension Of the
young, difficult processes. not only in the
earlier stages OF educaiion, but in llustrat.
ing the most useful ,and Interesting princi.
Piles in the entire range of. Common School
studies. Such articles employ the eye and
the hand Of The pupil, and thus make the
hours Of study more pleasant, the ideas
gained more clear and practical, and the
impression on the memory more vivid, and
more easily recalled. ,.,.,
On this subject. Hon. HoRAcE MANN
thus writes: ~
s.Atter the earliest years of,childhood,
the superiority of the eye over the other
senses, in quickness, in precision, in the
yastness Of the field of its operation $, and
in its power Of penetrating, like a flash,
into any interstices where light can 60 and
come, is almost infinite. The sense OF
taste, sand SMELL and, touch. seem TO be
more the servants Of the body than Of the
soul; and, amongst the infinite variety OF
objects in the external world, hearing takes
notice of sound only. Close your eyes,
and then, with the aid of the other senses,
examine watch, an artizan's workshop,
a mandatory, a ship, a, steam engine;
and how meagre and formless are all the
ideas they present to you. But the eye is
the great thoroughfafe between the out
ward and material infinite. and The inward
and spiritual infinite. The mind often ac-
quires, by a glance Of the eye, what vol
umes Of books and months Of study could
not reveal so livingly through the ear.
Every thing that comes through the eye
has. yividness, a clear outline, a Just coll
location Of parts, each in, its proper. place,
which the, other senses can never com.
municate. Ideas or impressions acquired
through vision are!long lived. Those ac-
quired through the agency Of the other
senses often die young. Hence the i'm
measurable superiority Of this organ is
in natures There is a fund oI
truth in the old saying, that s'sseing is; be.
lieving. "5at-s9tsiia sail was sas4 - sts3. s
things being equal, the pleasure
which a childsenioys, in studying or con
templating, is proportioned TO the liveli;
nessof his perceptions and ideas. Achild
who spurns books. will be fattraoted and
delighted by visible objects of well.defined
forms and striking colors. In the one
case, ,ihe sees things through a haze; inthe
othen by sunlight. Aocontemplafive child
whose mind gets as vivid images from
reading asf from gazing, always prefers
reading. .iAlthoughitlis undoubtedly true.
that taste and predilection, inregard 10 any
subject; will give brightness and distinct
ness to ileas; yeti is,also true that bright
and distinctideasiwili greatly modify tastes
and predileclions.a Now the eye may BE |
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