The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-09-26
che Californian.
For THE CALIFORNIAN.
Choice of Studies.

In many places in our County and State
there are Academies aid High Schools Iii
successful operation for the education OF
youth. This of itself is encouraging being
m evidence that mental culture is at least by
some unprecedented The writer, as a friend OF
Education, would present query. and otter
a suggestion.
The number of useful studies has so IN
creased that it is question of Importance
and sometimes difficult to decide, by lndiNid-
uals and their friends concerned, whm to
.tudy. We have Astronomy. Philosophy.
Chemistry. and other Natural Sciences, the
higher Mathematics. as Algebra, nc, the
Languages as Latin. French, and Others also
branches of more immediate, practical char
actcr, a. Book Keeping and Surveying. Then
there is another class, requiring much time.
of Music. Drawing, and Painting. No one
can become proficient III either Of these IN
few weeks or months.
As the columns of this paper are open for
the discussion of all subjects pertaining to
Education those who are competent. or who
have some opinions upon the choice of stud
les, would render essential service to many
youth, by presenting the comparative advan-
tages and claims Of these several branches Of
study. The writer of these lines does not
presume to speak dccisivey on the question.
but only to express an opinion in general
terms. lie believes that careful GiScrimna-
ton is necessary. because a thorough acquain-
lance with few branches is far more bcneti-
cial than mere superficial attention to
many.
In regard to Music, Painting. and Drawing,
the inclination and native talent of intlividu
ais should be taken into the account These
are all useful accomplishments, but there are
few who can excel in them all. and the time
which each of these requires seems to forbid
this, even if there were no other reason. But
l leave these points to persons better qualiti-
ed, hoping this call for information will not
pass UNDECIDED. 1t is Il subject worthy Of
thought and labor and one towards which
many minds i'll our country are at this time
directed.
Upon other branches can speak with some
positivcness. and would name Spelling and
Reading Though these branches belong
specially to the primary school, it is believed
they should receive more attention in Acad-
emies and High Schools. 1t is not expected
that each scholar will spell and read every
day, but an exercise in which a portion ofthc
pupils should actively engage daily. nigh,
be rendered profitable. In our several Acad-
en,ics and High Schools there are persons
who will probably present themselves as can /
didates for teachers. and few if any of them.
are 80 well vcrscd i'll these branches as to
need no further study and instruction in
hem. 1t is well knCwn to those whose bust .
ness it is to examine tcac.! I'D who al
tend to it as they ought. that candidates. even
some of those who obtain certificates. are de-
cicnt in Spelling and Reading. and also i'll
regard to the most approved methods of
teaching pupils how to spell and rcaf?. 1T
is more difficult to find a good reader than 4
good singer: and it is more difficult to find
good spcllcr than either" BY having brief
exercise in Spelling and Reading in our
Academies ard High Schools, improvement
would be made. and attention called to the
different methods Of teaching them. Printers.
if Intercepted, could no doubt reveal some
facts notifying to us who chtru>t to them
our communications, but we must not fear
this, for we shall hardly correct our errors,
unless assisted by kind friends who will call
our attention to them. Is.
LYNDON.