The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-03
Literary Notices.


FIRST PRINCIPLES OF POPULAR EDUCATION ANo
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. BY s. 8. Randall, Su-
perintendent of Public Schools of the City
of New York. New York Harper & Broth.
ers. Charleston Holmes Book House.
The author of this book has had the best
opportunities for familiarizing himself with
the best systems and modes of popular edu-
cation. For thirty years he has had charge
of public schools either in the City or State
of New York. He has been fellow laborer
with HORACE MANN and HENRY BARNARD.
He has held his present official position for
fourteen years. And it is, therefore, with
the natural expectation of obtaining the
results of modern experimentation upon
this important subject, that we open the
handsome volume in which Mr.. RANDALL
discourses upon his specially.
We are sorry to say that we have been
sadly disappointed. The work is wholly
commonplace-having nothing in it either
profound in theory, or detailed in method,
or pregnant with suggestion. Mr.. RANDALL
addresses himself to the most important
subjecta-the philosophy of education, the
family, public instruction, in its systems
and methods, intellectual culture, female
education and the like-as speaker, not
as teacher. The chapters seem originally
to have been addresses prepared for exhib-
ition days, and display frequent evidences,
in bad English and confused style, of hav-
ing been written in hurry. The heat Of
the crowded rostrum and the odor of its
withering aower-wreaths linger around
them. We cannot understand how, upon
any other theory, this book could have been
written at all; how in any other way gen.
tleman Of character and culture could have
discussed at such length, with such strain
ing after effect, and upon such themes, and
yet have taught US nothing Everybody
knows already that education is per-
sonal and public benefit; that truth has lis
"m ountain summits," and error its "Pro-
team forms;' that men have fountains in
their breasts" although we may demur as
to their discharging "living waters;" and
that the fair sex have good deal Of the
"ministering angel" about them, under spe-
cial circumstances, and certainly ought not
to "shoot madly from their sphere" These
interesting ideas are the monopoly of com
mencement days, when u friendly public
consents to be victimized for the sake of the
dear boys and girls. But what claim has
Mr.. RANDALL upon our patience. And by
what right-we speak in the name Of hun
dreds of thousands of despoiled undergrad
uates-by what right does the Superinten-
dent of Public Schools 'ssteal the thunder"
Of his scholars.
Surely Mr.. RANDALL must understand
something of the working of the public
school system. He has seen it in operation;
he must have observed its advantages and
its defects. Upon these subjects we really
want information. For example, does the
school prepare easily and naturally for the
profession and practical business of life?
And if not, how can its defects be remedied?
Is not The school too intellectual, having no
influence upon the character except to make
it sharp and cold? Is there any method
by which this can be altered? What has
been the result of the various systems which
have been tested under Mr.. RANDALL super.
vision, and that of his accomplished fellow
laborers? What has he to say of LANcAs-
TER and PEsTALczzI, of the gymnasium and
the children's "golden hymns" of the
study which is sport and the recital which
is worship? In short, what wpwould like
to learn from Mr.. RANDALL is not what we
know already, but what he knows, or at least
has been conversant with for an ordinary
life time. We have no special objection to
theories that is to say, if they should be
less than fifty years old; bu. we should like
observations and facts q great deal better.
The mere empiricism of commonplace we
should esteem more highly than its rhet-
oric.
"rHE DOVER House." A Story. By Annie
; Thomas. Harper & Brothers.
We have already noticed this pleasant
volume, with its pictures of English inte-
riors, drawn after the Flemish style. 1t
can be had at HOLMES Book House.