American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-07-15
EVI FEIV IHIINH7ENT 2 ~ '
EDUCATION. NO. 2.


To educate children well, Is one Of the most impor
tant duties OF Parents aud GusrdiAnS."
In number one were given the views Of
several classes fpersons concerning the
import OF the word, education. Now, let
it he observed that all these classes agree
as to the meaning or idea Of the word, bu!
differ merely in the amonm Of book-kuowl-
edge they would have the pupil memorise.
previous to comforting upon him the title
"scboIar." That is to say, while one
class would require tho pupil to Ego
through" four books, the second would re-
qure seven and the third ten, aud so on
with perhaps the advantages of higher
course of instruction. Thus it will be OBJ
served that the prevailing opinion OF the
classes noticed is, that education consists
in committing to memory the contents Of
tho various books that the pupil may meet
in the catalogue of study. The tyro, en-
bracing the same idea, begins the task OF
coming the sections and tables, the ques.
tions and answers, as he finds them in the
books ofhis course, snd, parrot>like, is led
on by the teacher to the termination Of his
studies, about as destitute of real informa,
ton, or the true idea of education as when
be commenced. And, indeed, what other
result can be expected? When we con
slider the short space Of time allowed the
student to complete his education, and the
great amount oflabor TO be done, we shall
not be surprised that he has passed over
tho ground without digesting the prinni-
Piles upon which are based elementary
4 truths, formulae, and rules; but we shal
rather be surprised that he has worried o.
yer the ground at all. And with all this
we settle the matter in our own minds that
our children-our youth are ducated. AS
Parents and teachers, we discover no er
ror in the training Of the young men and
ladies emerging from our seminaries ant
colleges. We witness them returning from
the alma mater as finished scholars, vocif
eraling the propositions of Geometry, Will,
they are unable to realize the definition o
a point or a straight line; quoting largely
from Virgil or Cesar. asd yet ignorant 0
: the construction and beauties of their owl
language; prating about philosophy ant
Chemistry, and at the same time miserabl.
ignorant of the most common phenomen
around t EN-; gazing at the stars, AMI re
hearsing the legends Of their names and 10
7 cation. while they have the most lmite,
: and imperfect knowledge of the laws tina
govern the planets; and in short, claiming
TO be educated men and women ready t
step upon the theaterof life, while to them
: the questions, What are the objects {
It lfe9 what responsibilities rest upon 20
to make society wiser and better; to asst,
in the.education of the youth Of our cour
try. and in guarding and preserving ou
!, religious and literary Institutions, are pei
y fectly meaningless And shall we, as il
5! telligent citizens still continue in thes
!. glariug defects?
- Shall we suppose that such training
) this, answers the true import of education
Do we conclude 10 cram the mind Of Il
student with farrago of stale difnitior
III is preferable 10 giving him the elements
% thought; that to give him the key of know
IN edge is better than the knowledge itself;
that 10 torture the mind with abstract a
- serIi ms, and medley of rules wtho
- principles is more desirable than to dro
ID out tile mind in every direction, and to ed
ucate the man to sense of all the dut
l. around him, ADONIS.