The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-01-03
educational.
school Books,
For Tho Cecil Wing.

SSHOVA hVOhNs
There is nothing more perplexing to teach
srs, children, and parents, than the never.
ending variety of school books with which
tho country is flooded. When a teacher COM
mtnccs, he finds all sorts of books in the
hands of the children, which renders 1t
impossible to form regular classes. Some
times he does not think Of remaining long
and he works along with the discordant ma
terials; or he may determine TO arrange his
scholars in classes and he orders new books
according to his fancy. After awhile he
leaves the school, and his successor dsap.
proves entirely Of the selection Of books and
orders new one. Parents then complain of
the useless expense, but the worst feature is
tue interruption suffered by the scholars in
being broken of in their previous course Of
study, and probably another change Is to be
soon brought about BY succeeding teacher.
ia uniform series of elementary class
books could be determined for the use of
schools, 1t would be an incalculable blessing
to the youth of our country-it is worthy the
attention of government. and might be easily
effected by associations of learned men.
To be able TO carry in his mind well de.
fined outline of the course Of study he is to
pursue, is probably the greatest single gift
that the student can possess A uian mxy
read . hundred volumes of disconnected
works and have gained but little knowledge
after all.
The description Of the animal, vegetable,
and mineral Kingdoms Of the earth forms
what is called Natural History, and tho forms,
motions and changes which are going on
among bodies in the universe, are referablc to
-four distinct classes called Physical. Chem
ical, Vital, and Mental. Man, independent
of revelation, cannot learn anything but what
respects the mo,ncntary state, past, or pres
ent. of himself and the objects around him,
and the manner in which these states have
changed; hence Natural History and Science
in the manner sketched above, make up bis
knowledge Of nature.
A child Of two or three years old begins to
distinguish between an animal, vegetable,
and mineral, and has thus commenced his
acquaintance with Natural History, and
having noticed falling body, he sees some
thing of the physical laws OF gravity and in
ertia ); then seeing sugar dissolved in water
and tallow melted around the wick of a
candle. ne notices something of chemistry
and having also observed the actions Of do
mestic animals, and the conduct of persons
about him, he has learned some of the phe-
nomena Of Physiology and Mind, and further,
when he has learned to count his fingers, "a nd
TO Judge whether an apple is fairly divided
between himself and brothers, he has ad-
vanced into Arithmetic and Geometry, SO
that child Of two or three years old. has
made degree of progress in all the great de-
: partmcr,ts Of human knowledge, and has also
learned to name objects by the arbitrary
sounds of language. Such are the beginnings
on which years of methodical study must
rear the more considerable structure of those
attainments which qualify men for the va
rious duties Of civilized life.
Science might be comprised in four volumes,
under the heads of Physics, Chemistry, Life
and Mind. to which might be added the
science Of Measures. or Mathematics, then q
student seeing the limited course before him,
would sit out on his journey with alscrity,
and soon acquire vslnablo fund Of know
ledge that would be useful in every subse.
quent period Of life.
II by an association Of learned men, all
existing science could he comprized in five
volumes IS alluded to above, it would be .
great national blessings by which existing
knowledge would be difused among the
masses Of mankind. and genius would be
o. every. where enlisted and brought into active
exercise, to the honor and glory Of tho COM
inonwealth.
These ideas are held forth in DR.. Arnott's
works ~ physical sci@aa z,xak