Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-06-30

'net uny lhlnB so just, 30 Wise, ana so De-
%nevolent in its inception, could through careless.
ness, or design be diverted from its Legitimate ob.
.ject' lie confidently met opposcrs with when
you witness its operation you will perceive your
error. Wait"
lie had been panied with the idea, and disgust.
ed with the working of the pauper system in Penn.
%sylvania; and penned the first petition to the Leg.
%islature of that State, to abolish it, and place all
children on the same footing. lie had cherished
feelings of hostility to bestowing, ms .taror that
which should be demanded as a right. lie could
not see why it was more or less important to edu-
cate one, more or less than another. II knowledge
was good for one, it was good for all. Thus far
for tho benefit of the individual. The greater the
mental development, the more refined and exalted
the enjoyment. No discrimination could be right
fully made. But besides, in a country like this, it
could not be forescen who would be called upon to
perform duties requiring the highest qualifications.
On this account policy required it as imperatively
as justice demanded it in the other. Each should
have the best training that he might be a full hu
man b~eing--a man that he might appreciate a
mans enjoyments, and that society might have the
service of a man, when needed.
In this artless, truthful way he had reasoned,
and when the idea of n Union School was suggcs-
ted, he looked to it as the contamination of his
highest hope, his most ardent wish. His faith in
the Principle is strong ms ever. In Practice, so
far as his observation has extended, it falls short
Of his ideal.
Order is useful, is beautiful every where, but
no where more 81 than in the school room. There
it facilitates the exercises at the same time that
the student is disciplined into habits OF order. It
is wise to distinguish between means and ends
The habit of order should be acquired as q means;
as an end, it is negative.
1t is worthy of examination whether the order
in the Union School is not too routine in charac-
teri Whether too much time is not consumed in
formalities. Whether there is not too much pre-
paration to begin. Whether singing Ia pleasant
and healthful exercise )does not occrpy too much
time for its relative Importance. In few words,
should any routine, or any amusement be resorted
to, further than it is su5servient to the sober pur-
pose of qualifying learners to understand and per-
form the duties devolving upon them in q world
where usefulness and happiness are inseparablc a?
Can the wisest contemplate two or moro subjects
at the same time? If not, is it wise that several
studies should be pursued together? Is it proper
that preparation for recitals in Grammar and &C.
ography, should be on hand at the same time. 1t
is not the question whether the student of arith-
metic may not find profitable relaxation in impro-
wing his penmanship; OF the studious take lessons
in reading; but whether loss is not sustained by
taking the mind from one subject of thought to
another not less laborious. 1t was the practice
before Union Schools were introduced to divide at
tention between different branches; but if it was
an error then, it remains to be error, and should
be corrected.
Some of those who had the loftiest anticipations
are now disappointed in the High School depart
mcnt, principally that they are too much on the
college system of grading. They do not perceive
the use of putting scholars through 4 regular
course in tho e branches which they may never
have occasion for, before they can enter upon a
study nee ssary to the prospective business of
their lives, and though such preliminary course
were essential, they are not certain that the pre-
~paration is complete. They think it not enough
that a scholar is able to recitc tho table of Troy
weight without the ability to distinguish between
a Orch and a gr, that after he can decline the
pronouns with expedition and precision, docs not
know that he should call himself | when he acts
and Ne when he is acted upon; or again, that the
reason why the square of a circles diameter is
multiplied by 1854 to give its superficial area, is
that q square is in the same proportion to its in
scribed circle that q unit is to 1854.
Whatever may be the advantages of the high
school to some, if the preliminary steps are essen
tial, those benefits can be realized by few. In tho
early years of life all children have common ad-
vantages. When they attain to an age in which
they can be helpful, parents who have to earn a
living, often find it a relief to throw part of the
care and labor of making provision on their chill
drcn; but if they are sufficiently selfsacrifcing to
take the burden upon themselves, they foresec a
day, not distant, when the child must provide for
itself, and if they are rejecting and conscientious
they will feel the necessity of preparing him for
it. Such a child cannot be at school during his
minority.
1t is believed by some, that the wisdom of the
present age could so arrange matters, that the
principles of al! useful science could be known to
the entire rising generation, excepting cases of
defective organization, before the age at which the
mass Of children are taken from school.
AMOS GILBERT.