Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1865-09-16
Our Schools.

new country, open their sessions this month
A word of cheer TO that laborious and un'
an. prcciated class of laborcrs, the teach
ers, will not be out of place.
There is divinity in language. "Edu
catioan is an inspired word. No merely
material philosophy could have hit upon
the conception of mental faculties existing
as germs to be developed and trained. Its
view would be that the mind is reecpta'
Gle to be filled with knowledge in the form
of facts, rather than succession OF pow
ers to be drawn out and harmonized
Kants idea of education is finc-that in
every mind there exists an ideal of per-
feet person, which it is the part of instruc-
ton to realize. This idea is Of divine ori-
gin, and is the type after which man is Gre
ated
A high education believes that the mind
has degrees, rising from the scnsuous to
the moral and intellectual capacities; and
that each lower degree is typical Of the
succeeding higher; so that, while educat-
ing in one sphere, the teacher is always
surely approaching transition to another.
Studies may be arranged on this basis, and
where the same study is pursues through
different degrees of development, the mode
of teaching may vary from the mere asso-
Citations of memory to the glorious analo-
gies Of thought.
A good fundamental idea Of education is
the old Greek one of harmony. This rises
from acquaintance with the individual art
or science, to its relations with others. As
an expression of this idea, music is taught
with great thoroughness. Indeed, it has
been thought by eminent modern teachers
that music should from the basis of all
education, and that through it the concep-
ton of harmony should be introduced
everywhere, both as expressing the rela-
ton of the different parts Of the same
study, and of every special study to all the
rest.
As the young stand between the past
and future, it is important to bear in mind
the thought that "thc task Of the instruc-
tor consists in transmitting and interpret
ing to the new generation the experience
of the race" On the broadcast view this
experience may be divided into two depart
ments-thc moral and political. Certain
ly, we have not now time to investigate as
new doctrine the proposition that virtue
is essential to the welfare of mankind.
And if important at all, its importance is
complete and incalculablc. The education,
therefore, which lacks moral tone is q ter
rible failure. This object is one to be
sought by the educator, both as qualifying
the faculties to receive education, scientiti-
cally considered, and to use it for its prop
er ends. Morality centres in reverence,
and that quality is essential to the COM
mencement and prosecution Of study, and
to a proper disposition Of its results. Rev.
erencG centres in morality, and Washing
ton said there could be no morality with
out religion. 1t is not our province, per-
haps, 10 pursue this subject farther; were
we to do so, however, our next point would
be the great simplicities of religion as op
posed to the complicated and puerile inven-
tions which have often usurped its name.
The other experience which the educator
has the right to use is the civil, with the
design of preparing his pupils Tor citizen
ship. Whose Political Economy should be
taught, we will not presume to say, but
feel certain that the enlightened teacher,
in these days, will hold himself RESPONSE
bic for shortening the reign of the dema-
gogue, and for furnishing the State with
statesmen to supplant the dynasty of poll
ticians. Anxious days and nights it may
cost him, but he will not rest until he has
safe introduction to civil society.
Physical Education is of great impor-
tance. We felt somewhat easy on this SUBJ
ject some years ago. when the tendency set
strongly in favor of connecting military,
discipline with our colleges and schools.
Good results were thus reached in the in
stitutions under the superintendent of
Coils. Forshey and Allen, and we therefore,
the more regret that the former is unable
to continue his college, for reasons stated
in his card lately published in the News.
We hope his ability and experience will
not be lost to the State. We can i'll afford
to spare his superior talents and energy
from that most important department of
her interests.
Something must be done for physical ed
ucation. Even military discipline, if al
lowed, would be hardly. sufficient. So
much is due to climate, and many other
things in this connection, and so much is
dependent upon an experienced, judgment
that we can only comnend the subject to
the teachers of Texas, hoping soon to see
them meeting in convention, or establish
ing an educational journal, for the discus
sion of this and other questions of vital
interest.
Female education is receiving remarka-
BILE attention in Texas. A stranger would
be greatly struck with the number of pu-
pills, with q certain peculiar healthful
beauty unusual in the United States, and
with the advanced system of study. Wo-
men receive education originally, because
they possess better native condition of the
moral sense than men; and the latter are
educated, not so much by the principles of
illuminated and viyifed in the female
mind. In other words, men are more de-
pendent than women for human elicita-
tion of that moral tone without which edu-
ton has no proper basis, quality or aim.
In modern Greece-the daughter of the
mother Of education-the saddest thing is
the still unexhausted genius of the people.
with opportunities for education, but with
nothing 10 employ it after its acquisition.
The government is SO despotic and narrow
that the people are allowed no field for the
exercise of their energies. This is the
great benefit, after all, of free govern
ment. We cannot believe that this incen-
tive t. our educators and to our large focks
Of intelligent pupils will be wanting. The
present political condition Of the South
would, indeed, soon exercise deadening
effect upon the genius of her people. But
this condition is, doubtless, Of short con-
tinuance; and young Texas may, therefore,
take up lis studies, with good cheer, as the
proper preparation for an almost boundless
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