The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-06-25
Hints 10 students-Thoughis on Educational
Tonnes

Some portion of every school-day
should be Systematically and strictly de-
voted to recreation, physical exercise and
manual labor; and the hours given to
study ought to be defined and limited.
Some persons say, "Let child study as
much as he will, there is time enough to
play" This may be generally true, but
it is not universally so. l cannot but
think that the practice of assigning les
sons and giving the pupil the free use OF
the four and-twenty hours is a bad prsc-
tice. Would it not be better to give to
each pupil certain hours for study p
assign him lessons, by topics if possible,
allow him to do what he can in the al
lotted time, and then prohibit the appro-
priation of an additional minute Why
should a dull scholar, or one who has
but little taste or talent for given study,
be required to plod twelve, sixteen, OF
eighteen hours at unwelcome tasks, while
another more favored disposes of his work
in six? Why should pupil, who is Ia
boring under some mental or physical de-
bility, be required to apply his mind I'M
ceasingly when he most needs rest and
recreation? Why should the pages of a
spelling-book, grammar, geography, or
arithmetic, be the measure of each pu-
pills capacity? Lessons are to be as
signed, not necessarily to be mastered by
the pupil, though they should have just
reference to his capacity, but as the sub
ject of his studies for given period OF
time. The pupil should be responsible
for nothing but the proper use of that
time. Two advantages might result from
this practice. First, the pupil would &C.
quire the habit of performing the greatest
amount of labor possible in the given
time; and, secondly, he would naturally
throw off all care for books and school
when the hour for relaxation arrived. II
particular studies are assigned to specified
hours, the pupil must master his thoughts
and give them the required direction
This in itself Is great achievement. ]
put it, in practical value, before any Of
the studies that are taught and learned
in the schools. The danger to which pu.
pills are often exposed, in this connection,
is quite apparent. A lesson is assigned
for a succeeding day. The attention is
not Immediately fixed upon it. One hour
passes and then another. Nothing is &C
complished, yet the pupil is continually
oppressed by the consciousness of duty
unperformed, and the result is, that he
neither does what he ought to do, mol
does anything else. Would it not be bet.
ter to measure and assign his time, and
then require him to abandon all thought
of the matter 4? This practice might give
our people the faculty and the habit o.
throwing off cares and occupations, wher
they leave the scenes of them. 1t is q
Just criticism upon American character
that our business men carry their occu-
patton with them wherever they go. ]
should put high up among the element:
of worldly success the ability to give as
siduously, studiously, and devotedly, the
necessary time to a subject of business
and then to throw off all thought of it
There can be no peace of mind for tht
business man who does not possess thi,
quality; and l think it will contribute es
sentially TO long life and a quiet old
age. No wise man ever attempts more
than one thing at time; and the maj
who attempts to do more than one thing
at time, has no security that he can d.
anything well. The statements of bi
ography and history. that Napoleon wa
accustomed to do several things at once
rest upon misconception of the opera
tons Of the human mind. His facility
for the direction and transaction of bust
ness depended upon the quality | an
now considering. lie had the faculty 0
giving his attention, undivided and strong
ly fixed, to a subject for an hour, half
hour, minute, half-minute, or second, an'
then of dismissing the matter altogether
and directing his thoughts, without los
of time, to whatever next might be pre-
sented. One thing at time is laN
which no finite power can violate; an
ability in execution depends upon tn
ability to concentrate all the powers 9
the mind, at given moment, upon tn
assigned topic, and then to change. with
out friction or loss of time, to somethin
else.-George S. BoutuoeH.