New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-12
EDUCATIONAL
UNITY OF THE HUMAN ORGANISE

~ ms D6en dWempte0 ID former oYtlelaa T.
show that in the grand movement Of advsoS.s
thought which constitutes modern civilzasos
and which has derived the sciences from tai,
preceding arts, education must participate. Az
mans place in the universe becomes more as.
tnctly seen, and clearer light is cast upon IA.
laws OF his unfolding nature, systems of inst,vc.
tlon will gradually become more rational ana
perfect. We continually apply the terms ~.
"vancing' and progressive to science b.
cause it is forward.movinQ power. and m
this respect is cootrasted with other DOW.
erful agencies by which mankind are iuaueno.S
Ignorance, error, prejudice. traditional IDEAS. eeu.
ventioDal opinions, customs and habits. are of .
stationary character, and when predominant boM
society in a condition of sluggishness and stae.
nation. Science, on the other hand, never rsxts,
Her motto is "onward" to the discovery d
new facts, larger principles, broader views, snl
better practice. And in this fixed drec6os
she holds her high, steady and ipvincibs
course. That her track through the ws.n
should, therefore, be marked by uprooted prsi,.
dices, shattered errors, riited opinions, and az.
ploded dogmas. is extremely natural. But n
this rude handling Of their darling aud venerstaa
notions men do DO. take In the kodliest ws,.
Fondness for their opinions ID natural, and h
quite TOO generally irrespective Of their trutl.
They have honestly inherited, and decisvely held,
and valiaotly defended tOem, and that they should
curse the intruder who would take them away l.
not surprising. And thus the course Of science
pas bYen sgnalized not OILY by wrecked and
abandoned opinions, but by agoDizing protests,
the wal of Mortified superstition, the execratiou
Of defeated pride, and the groans Of toru.ents(
incidence. Such has been the worlds experlsnce,
from the commissions of mother Church at tA4
astronomic demonstrations Of Copernicus, dowl
to the denunciatiODs Of anasthetics by cOsem.
hat, as the Creator had admitted pain into Tie
world for his own inscrutable reasons, man has
no business wickedly to interfere and defeat biz
purpose.
Of course, there is no trouble after science
has won the victory, and new generations spring
up accustomed to the newer views. We are ias
deed grateful to her for having Won for US from
the night Of ignorance 90 vast and magnificent
q universe, and look back with wonder upon The
infatuati0n which could have 80 long aud peru.
Daciously resisted her splendid gifts Of astronomy
and geology. 1t is only when she enters new
field, where we are not accustomed to SEE her,
and new class Of errors hitherto inyiolate arc
unexpectedly attacked that the old spirit Of i'm
patience and intolerance il awakened. And even
ia such cases, We are permitted to believe 10
growing hbsralty. 1t begins TO be generally fell
that science must 60 forward with her grand
work, tO determine the LAYS according to which
tho universe is governed. and to vindicate oar
faith in their universally.
The first great fact which science offers to the
educator ss the cornerstone Of . better method,
10 the vital and living unity Of the human organ.
ism. The study Of human nature in past tmee
has been partial and practically insufhcient-e
study not of man but of mind-a cleaying ssans
der Of what God has joined together in the hos
man constitution, and crude attempt h Dc
with tho disjointed fragments. The domain q
mental aud bodily relations and reactions, hther.
to resigned to mystery and tabooed to inquiry
the peculiar nestlng-place Of Do1'ous and Danger.
GUS supersttions aud the intreochment Of legion
Of arrant qusckeries, has to be Thoroughly 70,
claimed and Illuminated BY scIeuce, before n.
toual and satisfactory scheme Of education can
become possible. Whatever may be the conyic-
ton Of religious faith respecting the separate
duration and destiny Of the spiritual principle d
our nature IN another condition Of existence, no
error is more pernic,ous than TO reason down,
ward from that belief to the present actual stata
of being, aud thus in hsbitual thought to divds
our nature into separate, diverse, antagoninng
elements. The prevalent method, however hai
been to hold, Lot the oneness, but the doubleDea
of our being, hot tue harmony, but the oppG'
ton and couHict Of its hostile elements, not The
vital integral union Of the mental and material
principles, but rather that they are only curioas4
cotempo raneOus and c0eIis.ent Our naturu 4
practically regarded, in he and in tine, "s
duplex mechanism, comprising bodily Organize
and q spiritual organism working in mysterious
separateness in the locality, but having ahea
laws and interests which require to be gusrdd
by o double set Of doctors constituting iDdepcals
ent professions.
OF course, from the nature and Limitations Of
the human mind, We have 10 study subjects more
or less partially, giving attention ~ one thing
and ueglectlng others. We treat OF electricity 70
one book, of chemistry in another and physiol'
ogy in q third. But We never forget that this u
a violence, an imperfectioD, and perpetual fall
ure: for. in the actual scheme of nature, these
pheno nena are inseparable, and each treaes
oyerruns and involves more or less of the Others.
The subiects are isolated for convenience; bst