The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-09
OPENING OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

tious youth this mOrning-but sorrow
full news enough to the dull, sluggish an
hayward child who detests the restraint
of school discipline, and the laboriou
demands ofclose study and earnest appli
cation. The public schools will b
opened on the 18th instant, and parent
ana guardians should at once prepar
their children and charges for the occa
sion. There are four school districts. O
wards in the city, each under the super
vision of Commissioner who together
form the Board of School Commissioners
Ofwhich Col. VIM. w. Lamb is President
while Mayor Tabb is the Superintend.
ent of the Schools. We do notknow what
arrangements have been perfected as re-
CARDS teachers and the various necessary
details for putting the primary institu-
lions oflearningi into successful operation
but have notwithstanding neces-
sary has been done. We yesterday re-
quested the military authorities to give
up the Norfolk Academy to the trus-
tees, and we think that there will be no
delay in yielding it back to its legiti-
mate uses; and with this institution.
and the primary schools open to the
youth OF the city, a brighter promise
for the future will dawn upon educa-
honal prospects. Good teachers, and
good books must be obtained, and some
attention also should be paid to the
physical as well as the mental education
OF the children-the body requires train
ing even more than the mind-for it is
impossible to find sound mind in an
unsound body The great fault of all
our schools consists in the effort to
cram the children with too much l,se,-
less knowledge, to overwork the men,
tai faculties at the expense of the
corporeal necessities Military and
gymnastic exercises should attract
even more attention than incompre-
hensible rules of grammar and head.
splitting problems in mathematics. To
make haste slowly" in learning is a
good maxim, as it is in Cd other matters
OF life; and while We give our bows and
siTls an amount of general knowledge
suAiioiep for their wants i'll life, we
sh .uld also see to it that their physical
capacities are developed to an extent that
shall give them strength of body to co.,
tend with the difficulties that will beset
them in coming years, and enable them
to go forth into the world and battle for
fortune or for fame with the strongest
and tile best. Therefore, it is incumbent
on the parent, the instructor, and all
those having charge of the important
duties of training our youth, to see that
the work be thoroughly done. Books
are very good things in their place, but
there is such thing as having too much
book-knowledge in early youth and
where we can teach direct from nature,
and instruct the mind by natural ojects
and simplify the course ofinstruction it is
our duty to pursue that system, which
IS least burdensome to the pupil, and
least wearisome and injurious to his
physical organization and capacities. !
The idea of forcing lad of ten years to |
sit moping on u pine bench six or eight |
hours day, porting over the leaves of a
dull spelling book, till his head begins
to ache, and he grows giddy and con-
fused in his brain, is barbarous, and
ought to be discarded entirely. We re-
euire great reforms in our system of edu-
cation, and he that can discover a means
to educate the youth by which he can ,
make it pleasure to him to learn, will
be great public benefactor. We need
system that will combine constant
physical with mental training; that ,
will develope at one and the same time
the body and the mind; that will make 8
giants in strength and giants in intellect z
out of the same material. But we dwarf :
the body to develope the mind, and fill 8
the world with race of pign,ies, each :
generation being physically, and, for the /,
same reason, mentally interior to that
which preceded it. The State has a {
deep interest in this matter of education: g
for as it's future fortunes must be en-
trusted to those that are now growing up d
lnder the protection of its @gis, and who t
will in coming years be looked to as the Q
oulwark of its liberties, they should be
% trained as to enable them to act well +
heir part in camp, in court, in council g
II in fight" Give them the moral. 9
he physical, and mental strength to ac- y
omplish the great task before them b
he courage and the patriotism to pre- el
erve the freedom and the independence p'
hat is their birthright, by properly a,
'aining and educating them, even as al
1eir rugged fathers were TRAINED and Pl
ducated Every citizen owes to bis FOL
'untry all that he possesses-his knowl- Ia
ige, his strength, his toll, his skill. his TO
'operty, his honor and his life-and | low
'erefore it behooves us to see that he is the
aimed in manner that shall best on sop
lie him to fulfil these duties and ob1i- I'm; g,a,
tlons, and most advantageouslv for thi,
honor and glory of the country the
The first great lesson intended IN be autl
light in our public schools is the abso- Ga1
e equality of all in the eyes of tho thir
rid. There must be no nr,v;l.aas lett
IS, no arrogant assumption Of sunsr;
ty of one pupil over anot,,