American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-01-18
educational department.
Onr Modarn Educational SHsten.

generally INTEREST Ine puDllc, Inan tne
education Of the youth. There can beno
subject of greater importance, or one
more momentous in its results In this
age of progress, while the arts and sci
ence in their onward strides are exhibit
ing the mighty power eff mans intellect
and knowledge, while systems rise which
illumine and make plain the path to high
intellectual attainments, or point the road
to success in mechanical operations, ma
king light the laborer's toll and easy the
road to science,-we cannot but feel truly
thankful that we live in the light of these
days and are surrounded by such inesti-
mable advantages.
Difficulties deemed insunnountable, are
become comparatively mere subjects of
pastime; and as our modern mechanical
inventions are applied to these once her
culean tasks, they are dispatched with
such magic art, as would have caused our
simple forefathers to doubt whether they
still lived in world of realities. They
might, perchance, attribute these won
deriul improvements to some kind Of
witchcratl; and while we, as a people,
hail these uscful inventions with emotions
Of joy and pride, we are no less gratificd
to behold the grand improvements in our
mcdcrn educational system. 1t will be
universally acknowledged, that in no de-
partment are changes gilmore consequence;
and it will be readily admitted, that many
highly beneficial changes have been pro-
duced. No longer do wcfnd theinstruc-
tors of youth engaged in the arduous but
ridiculous task of teaching the alphabet
from the spelling book; or arithmetic by
the rules, without any analysis whatever.
Our abecedarians are now taught their
first lesson, not only with ease and rapid
ity, but with pleasure also, and in less
than onc-fourth of the time that was for
mcrly required for this undertaking. Our
present method of teaching mathematics
/ is not less satisfactory in it, results. Ex-
rcrionce proves that tits much the better
way to teach our pupils rhat they arc
cloing, and ,rhy they are doing it; and al
though we do not pretend to deny that
there have been good mathematicians in
| the past, we are obliged to say, that until
a few years ago no clear logical alysis
was given by any of our authors. Not
unfrelucntly have we seen teachers who
never thought Of giving an explanation
of problem to a class, or of requiring
one from them. The pupils were taught
to 90 through certain mcdaniel pro-
cess day after day, according to the direc-
tons Of the textbook, without analysis IL
any kind, thus making Of arithmetic a
dry, laborious study, devoid ofphilosophy,
reason, or any other quality to lend it at
traction. But as it is now taught, the
pupil understands each operation as he
proceeds, and at every step receives fresh
courage to pursue the study.
One of the best improvements in our
educational system is our new method of
teaching Penmanship. Itnot only affords
excellent facilities for the pupil but any
person, at almost any period Of life, can
acquire an easy and graceful style OF
penmanship, by the use Of our set copies.
Thus in every department we find new
ard valuable improvements Enough
have been enumerated, to prove conclu-
siyely, that in our modern system of cd
ucation, we are not "Jchid the agc.",
The fact that the standard Of teachers is
much higher than heretofore, is another
important feature in our educational sys-
TEN. This standard viii remain, and
ere long the profession will be rid of
inefficient and useless teachers. But the
teacher, Of true merit and high intellec-
tual capabilities, will continue to rise in
the estimation Of the people, and at
length receive that appreciation an sup
port which the calling so richly deserves.
Meanwhile, we, as teachers, should labor
with might aud Will to advance the cause
in which we are engaged, and make our
selves still more worthy of the esteem
and respect of the public. 1t is not
enough that we possess knowledge of
school books. 1t is our duty, and it
should be our pride, also, to possess a,
mind well stored with useful knowledge
of all kinds, particularly in the range of
literature. In short, sce must keeq our
seloes up icith the times, and be ignorant
of no topic that interests the community
at large. Of all persons in the world,
the teacher can least afford to pass thro'
life in dull, listless, uuobserving man.
ner, Indifferent to what is transpiring in
the world around him. 4 knowledge of
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