The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-03-16
The Educaiic: Of the Heart.

We commend the subjoincd judicious
remarks, from an able pen, TO the discrim-
mating attention and regard as well of pa
rents as of teachers. They contain an inn
portant principle in reference 10 the cduca-
ton Of the young, and enc which cannot
be too fairly needed
1t is the vice Of the age to substitute
learning for wisdom---to educate the head,
and forget that there is more important
education necessary for the heart. The
reason is cultivated at an age when nature
does not furnish the elements necessary to
successful cultivation Of il; and the
child is solicited to reflection when he is
only capable Of sensation and emotion.
In infancy the attention and memory are
only excited strongly by things which i'm
press the sense and move the heart, and
the father shall ins;il more solid and avail
able instruction in an hour spent in the
fields, where wisdom and goodness are ex-
emplifed, seen and felt, than in month
spent in study, where they are expended
in stereotype aphorism.
No physician doubts that precocous
children, in fifty cases for one, are much
worse for the discipline they have under
gone. The mind seems to have been
strained, and the foundations for insanity
are laid. When the studies for maturer
years are stuffed into the child's head,
people Go not reflect on the anatomical fact
IL - H. J,ro;, of ~, Ca, 20 not Che b-o;,
of man--that the one is confirmed aud
can bear exertion---the other is growing
and requires repcse /; that to force the at
tention to abstract facts---to load the mem
DRY with chronological, and historical, and
scientific delails--in shors 10 expect Il
child's brain to bear with IMMUNITY the
exertion Of a mans is just as rational as it
would be to hazard the same sort of expcr-
iment on its muscles.
The first eight OF ten years of life should
be devoted to the education of the heart
to the formation of principles rather than
to the requirement of what is usually
termed knowledge Naure herself points
out such course; for the emotions are
then the IivcIest, and most easily moulded,
being as yet unalloyed by passion. 1t is
from this source that the mass of men are
hereafter to draw their sum of happiness or
misery the actions Of the immense ma
iority are, under all circumstances, deter
mined much more by feeling than by re-
Election in truth life presents an infinity
Of occasions where it is essential TO happl-
ness that we should feelrightly; very few
where It is at all necessary that we should
think profoundly.
Up to the seventh year Of life, very
great changes are gong on in the structure
of the brain. and demand, therefore, the
utmost attention not to interrupt them by
improper or over-cXcitement. just that
degree Of exercise should be given to the
BRAN at this period rs is necessary TO It's
health and The best is oral instruction,
rxcnpliicd by objects which strike the
senses.
1t is perhaps necessary to add that at
this period Of life, especial attention should
be given both by parents and teachers, TO
the physical Development Of the child.
Pure air and free exercise are indisprnsa-
be, and wherever either Of these are with
held, the consequence viii be certain to cX-
tend themselves over the whole future life.
The seed, Of prot.acted and hopeless sul-
frings have, in iun1mcrablc instances,
BEEN sown into the constitution Of tie
child simply through ignorance Of this
great fundamental physical law; and the
tiIue has come when the united voices OF
I