Mariposa Democrat., 1858-02-04
[coMMUNICATED.l
CURsORY THOUGHTS ON EDUCATION.

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rude and inert condition. and that external
forces must be applied to draw forth mans
faculties into their full activity and power, and
bring them to their highest degree of refine
ment and nicely of application. This is, in
reality, a large part of the business of educa-
ton; we may also include the regulation and
discipline of those moral feelings on which our
actions are so dependent
The training of our moral nature for the
due performance of our part as members of
society, is that branch Of education which the
great majority of those who have reflected on
the subject consider as by far the most impor-
tant. This is the part, which in a national
system should call for the most attention, be-
cause, while degrees of intellectual attainment
are proper for different classes of men, there
is no class of whom it can be said, that a right
and perfect moral development is not of the
utmost consequence, both to themselves and
to the society of which they form part 1t
may be true that intellectual development is
not exactly moral development, but it must be
clear to every candid person, that the refine
ment and expansion Of mind obtained from
intellectual culture, are favorable to the moral
nature. A thinking man is not on that ac-
count to be the less a virtuous man else,
much of our common observations of life must
be delusion.
The idea commonly entertained with res
pect to general elementary education, compre.
hends only certain branches of instruction, ia
miliarly known as reading, writing, and arith-
metic. A liberal education adds ancient and
modern languages, and the mathematics Such
forms the entire round Of accomplishments
which we supposed, with accident-directed
moral training, to fit our youth for entering on
the varied duties of life Nor is this scanty
education thought requisite for all. A vast
number are allowed to exist without the least
tincture Of school learning of any kind-either
through the criminal carelessness and neglect
of their parents, or because their parents con-
slider learning as a hindrance to success in
life, or from their supposing no knowledge re-
quisite for their children beyond that which
Immediately fits them for the laborious duties
by which they will earn their bread
Before correct views can ever be enter
tanned with regard to education, or proper
steps will be taken for working it out in prac-
tice, it is obvious that distinct notion must
be obtained as to the character of the being to
be educated Man is this being; but the
question, "What is man?" is one to which
science does not yet enable us to give an an
swer that all would acknowledge as correct
For this reason, it is totally impossible for any
writer to present theory of education which
would be received as a general science. The
subject must needs partake of the obscurity
and uncertainty which as yet rest upon at
least the mental character Of man and it will
only advance in cearness and precision in
proportion as progress is made in correct
system of mental philosophy.
The deficiency of correct knowledge may be
detected in every pursuit in life The want of
proper habits of selfcontrol is a more deeply
rooted evil inasmuch as it has its root in a
physical fact too much overlooked by reasoners
on morals. When named It will be found to
he very commonplace fact IT is, that every
successive generation begins the world with as
little experience as that which preceded it.
Every one of us starts from mere state of
ignorant barbarism We are forewarned of
much by the instruction of those who have
been taught either by their own experience or
by the experience of those who went before
them but there is much of which it seems
impossible to forewarn us. The passions are
fully developed before the rejecting powers; /;
and every individual seems destined to expe-
rience period of his existence in which i'm
agination and passion are thoroughly and thrill
ingly awakened while the guiding power of
reason is yet dormant This is the most dan
gerous, as it is perhaps the most pleasant Pc
rict of life; and il is one which is most dan
gerous with regard to that class most favored
by fortune.
Penury, or the necessity of daily labor, may
in some measure restrain the less aflluent classes
at this time of life but there are others who
have no such substitute for the control of rea
son and in proportion as their general health
iness is higher, so their passions, it may be,
are developed with greater intensity. 1t is at
this period that so many, more particularly
when suffering from the evils incident to a
neglected or ill-directed education, make ship
wreck of their health, incurring diseases which
cling to them through life, if they do not bring
it to premature close. SENEx
WHALE CAST AsHoRE.-A very large whale
larger than any ever taken at Crescent City