The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-01-02
NOT INSTRUCTION, THE
LAD on EDUCATION.

CHARACTER, NOT INSTRUCTION, THE
ENp on EDUCATION.
Character not mere book knowledge, h the
end Of education, Il may be gained withIiulc
aid lrcm books, by observation, by vigorous
struggles amid trials and din.culu,Y, 80 has
been done by mauJ Of the sons Of Vermont
IN days gone by, So knowledge Of books
may be gained with but little character, hence
our booldsh mcn-wilh bat little or no prac-
tical ability, But character can be- best form
ed by the aid Of good books and good teach,
crs and the contents Of good books arc Of
most value 20 men Of character, knowledge
IL power, but power oniy to such men
To rely on book-knowIedge alone with O
view 10 the formation or character is about
as reasonable os to read treatise on bola-
ny 10 q flower bed, under notion Of making
the plants grow and blossom" Character h
best influenced by character, It is,not 30
much theWords Of the teacher, 40 hi, exam
pie and life that tell upon the character Of
his scholars
The tcaelerrw who ha. higher, aim, than
simply TO impart % certain amount Of iustruc-
ton, who really desires 10 influence for goo,
the hearts and minds Of the children aud
youth committed 10 his care, has taken upon
himself no lrilIihg charge. He may have as
sumed il with as ltIc care or lorclhoughl as
was shown by the committee that hired him
but when the harness + fairly on thcu comes
the sense OF responsibility. To such tcacb-
or auNiously inquiring how be shall exert the
right influence, We offer three proccptsi
l. Erycei yowsclC Respect the intclIcc,
tual and moral mculIc, God has given you,
Cherish in your own heart on earnest love
tor,all that is noble, generous, good, and
worthy mau, Cherish 4 regard for and
study d,e ilRe, Of all who have exhibited
these qualities. Let this respcH and regard
br shown ia Your whale de@eaaur, IN school
and out of school,
>. Respect your business, Never speak
,lighdngly ofthc teachers Office, II it.somc-
times sccns a dmdgcry 70 YOU, keep thciccl
ing to Yourself, or rather rc,olulcly suppress
il by fixing your mind on its true character,
or educating the future mtn and women Of
our land.
= 3. Rosp,rt yodr ,chol,US. Some Of them
may be idle, needless, or Nicious, bat under
meath this exterior is the germ Of character,
the possibility of grcatncs, and goodncss.
Respect that, in your government in your in
struetion, in ull your intercourse with sohol
4gS ~ parents, SHOW th1ryUu rrErrrt II, rrt
your scholars will soon respect il in them
selves. The idle boy will respect it and
-..-,+-..- La illG-TL2 1igiuus hoy. will re
spcet it and cease TO be- vicious. The good
scholar will respect it and be quickcncd to
more earnest oiIur,. Ere long the whole
school will love what you love, and respect
what YOU respect. II iis-rut your province. te'
teach religion. But in this way, you may
teach sound morals better than isom any text
hooks. T II II tr-,+t -Il.ln-Xnu -mny
lead your scholars to value and TO seek. for
themselves what /, the real ground Of your
character. In any case you can inspire in
them a love for all that is good and ruc,-hgh
aims and generous purposes, ad, ans far as
mortal man can, the abiHy 70 achieve them;
and so viii th., .,kuowl"dgc YOU impart, and
the yntuous sentiments you inspire, blend in
-zcdaracier. y. G. G,