Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-11-12
educational.
EDUCATIONAL PAPERS.


highest, we define Theology as treating of
the uncreated Creator; and of our relations
to him Psychology treats of mans History
deals with the thoughts and deeds of men
Physics treats Of the material world. Ply
sizes and Theology are related in the same
manner as History and Psychology. Ma
thesis treats of the space and time in which
creations are wrought. Now if all possible
objects of human thought are comprised in
these divisions, every fact must come under
Physics, because conceptions Of form, time,
and number, precede any conceptions of
phenomena subject to the laws of form, time,
and number. Mathematics must then be the
first study in education, and throughout the
whole of the educational course, is perhaps
more important than any other. Says Mans
field And now where shall this student of
nature, without the aid of mathematics, go
for his knowledge, or his enjoyment? 1t is
to natural history. The very birds cleave
the air in the form Of the cycloid, and math-
ematics prove it the best. Their feathers
are formed upon calculated mathematical
principles the muscles of their frame are
moved by them.
Yes he who would shun mathematics, must
fly the bounds of flaming space, and in
realms of chaos, that dark, illimitable
ocean, where Millions Satan wandered from
the wrath of Heaven, he may possibiy find
some spot visited by no figure of geometry,
and no harmony Of proportion. But nature,
this beautiful creation of God, has no rest
ing place for him. All its construction is
mathematical; all its uses reasonable;
all its ends harmonious" AS Mathematics
must necessarily precede Physics so this
again must precede History, for men work
upon the materials set before them subject
to the conditions of their being. Some of
these are the expression of thought by word
or symbol; therefore every historical study
must be preceded by certain amount of
physical knowledge.
We know nothing Of the human soul ex-
cept as in ourselves its operations are inter
preted by consciousness, and in others, by
words; therefore Psychology requires
knowledge of Physiology and History.
Neither can we know anything of the Crea-
tor, except by first studying his works.
therefore Theology requires knowledge of
Psychology and natural History.
Mathesis divides itself into three great
branches, Geometry, Algebra and Aritbne-
tito. Without rosorting to any abstract
reasoning on the subject, it can be easily
seen by all that geometry is the first kind of
knowledge child obtains. Hc recognizes
shapes before he can count, and in this he is
making use of geometrical knowledge, in its
rudimentary form, yet it is none the less
geometry. More maturity of mind is neces-
sary to conceive numbers, and before a
child can count, it has in all cases acquired
a large amount of geometrical knowledge
BY the time child comes to school It has
already picked up unconsciously stock of
knowledge in this department that may be
made the basis, for imparting great deal
more of a more systematic character. One
of the first things child should learn is to
observe accurately. We get all our knowl-
edge in one source or another from observa-
tion, and If we do not observe with care our
knowledge will be false. We are studying
as it were, an object through colored glass.
There are three departments of physical
science, mechanical, chemical and vital, and
these follow each other in the order we have
named them. The mechanical relations of
bodies are the most obvious, the chemical
more difficult of discovery and the vital pow
ems in their effects are mostly interpreted
from consciousness. Here again the order
of development corresponds with that Of the
human powers. In every study We must
give the child that part of it most dependent
upon perception, afterward those depending
upon an analysis of consciousness. We
must teach him first to observe the fact,
then the action of force, after which we can
teach him to observe the relative value of
time and force in the production of results.
To divide the study of History into its parts,
that is to analyze it for the better inspection
of its subdivisions, fourfold division seems
W uubMGi Jul DulpObC. III lnt hict hifisioi
we should place Agriculture, Trade and
Manufactures, in the second Fine Arts, in
the third Language and the history OF
thought, and in the fourth Education, Poll
tics and Political Economy. This again
seems to be the natural order, from the most
simple to the most complex. The first en-
braces the history of mems operations
on material things, the second treats of the
use Of form, colors and tones, to represent
thought, the third would reach the same re-
suits by words, the fourth treats of mems
operations on each other. We may divide
Psychology so as to give rise to intellectual
aesthetic, and moral philosophy.
In Theology the Scriptures seem 10 indi.
cate the order somewhat indistinctly, as first
Natural Theology, or Religion. Second
Revelation We may teach first of the Iela
tions the physical world sustains to its Makel
in its various regards,an second of our rela
tions to Him as possessed of attributes, o.
powers superior to the rest of the creation
1t may be well to remark in this connection
that in our opinion if this method of teach
ing religious truths were more general,
adopted, better state of morals in the com
munity, and more thorough system of re
ligion would be the result. Children al,
taught to believe the truths of the Bible, TOT
often, solely on the merit of the latter Ii
fact this is often the case with persons wh'
are no longer children in body. If childrel
or older persons can not see some reason 70
regarding the authority of the Scripture
paramount to all other writings, its teaching
will not produce the effect they ought to pro
duce. Let them however early be taugh
| of a Creator and preserver of the Universe
and that among his attributes are a love c
truth and uprightness of conduct. The effet
of knowledge presented in this way will
i but few cases fail of going far to produc
the true result to be gained, in education.
CHAs. w. SUPER
) Milford, DeldtCare.
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