New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-24
READING IN SCHOOLS.
To ns Eiifsy Of The v. Y. Tribune.


SIR: As regards " Scholastic Discipline, am sure
you could have said nothing better than that which
you have said. Any one who enters our common
schools may see how deplorably true it is tina. ma
iority of the students have readingbooks placed in
their hands which are entirely above their compre-
hension. The name Of Webster, or Clay, or Henry
appended TO scholars exercise is not enough TO make
him interested. Comparatively speaking, he knows
nothing about them. He does not and cannot under
stand the gigantic intellect of this one nor the superb
craftsmanship and patriotic fervor Of those. Before
reading extracts from their eloquent addresses the
student should become somewhat acquainted with
their authors. and should know when, where and why
these things were said and done. Even had teachers
the time and ability TO repeat over the llustrous lives
of those writers from whose productions our common
schoolreaders compiled, there are but few IN our
schools ready TO receive such instruction Term after
term teachers might use the "pOuriDg.in process,
ard find At last that the most had been spilled 9rer
that they bad tried put in too much. Nor are children
TO blame; they shOz1 no. understand all these things
We must not require them TO be mel and women-l {
them be children. Nature has modelled themi she
does not wish Us to cut them after new pattern she
only want. our assistance in developing them,
morally physically and intellectually. IL should Do
one If our highest aims to learn how we may oest ad
this development.
IaNk AZ tkat rO=e-tree; see tDat young qua nOV
ven long for il 10 become fair and perfect flower
YOU feel impatient for that time; but would you go to
the rose.tree and tear open the bud Would you re-
move the covering that protects the embryo blossom
hopipg the half-fomed petals could be forced INTO
flower Oh no; you would remove the tall rank
grasses from around the tree; some Of those lover
branches. which the oppression of the grasses ha'
made sickly and Informed you would trim away thar
none Of the plants life might be wasted on them
through DAYS Of oppressive heat you would give II
water. and at scorchng nooutde you would feel
than that the shade Of those trees near It afford
some protection By end by, in Gods own good
time tie bud that was would be beautiful, fragrant
flower. nv
Can we be less thoughtful Of children? We must
not stteunt IN force them into growth, yet we must
remove such things as impede their progress we must
allow more of their mental energy to be thrown away
or made Ifeless as are doing when W. assign u
them as reading lessons dry essays and Grer pohaca
speeches. Whoever saw scholar that Owed 70 read
tiesel If allowed TO choose their own Lesson, the
most puremiuded in school would not select al essay
or virtue neither would the most thoughtful select
speech Of Daniel Webster. When such permission
is given teachers viii find their scholars invariably
read something they understand, ii there Is such
thing in the book. -.
Blessed. be common schools even IS they are, but
the earnest efforts Of the guardians of edacauon can
elevate them 10 something far higher.
VOWS 70. tie good Of our County = l.