New-York tribune., 1869-06-05
~ TIE TE1cHrR-rHE PuPI-THB SCHOOL

ant
an ,p u,l tba Pupil the SCHOOL, by Mr Nathamei
ell as il is il contains more ideas than
Danu' , volumes, and as the author has evidently
,i',tod Aip II without any view to profit we shall
S"aLo no scruple in giving liberal extracts
.ono other subjects to be taught. says Mr.. Sands
should be- , -, .,o ma!
How stores Of food Of clothing, Of fuel and OF the M ma
sorSs FOR building may be collected and preserVeu
resent labor may be made TO supply future wants, The
te thought Of future enjoyment be made 70 t Smnse
nent may be secured How all engaged n Ppgaeed in
need Of society cooperate Win an % VINO Of is
Sest and how ii may be best administered hUd d spcetv
against internal and external foes S Ieo by wa
al the other subjects enumeTated To- children The
names ciyen TO the subjects at which we bysca sci
Natural history lae y.aetabIo and animal physi
OlOgy the political and social te attention and desire
presented IN the order in which tne "'''"'-'
10 learn could be aroused .4.;
His observations with reference 10 the
10 be given to girls seem pertinent:
any reason be s9gge&sSa & an tSa at Which shall be
TiOed on as best fitted for bOys2 We confess TO our
I1aDy I pStnre%o both the most Intimate know
iedee Of that which skin and perseverance, secure seems
no be desirable for their happiness ana that OF All man
Kind OF the two perhaps the greatest En9weGge Is
needed for the woman TOT hers Is the more poTtMan M
and more perfected organsmi 10 her Is c0mmltteu ne
peormance of the chief functions OF the highest act OF
6rgapzed beings, yz reproductions therefore, upon her
&c and conduct far more than that OF the
man depends the future OF the being Ill Whom she is 10
live again.
Mr. Sands's view of what the school ought to be
equally sound with his conception of the teachers
vocation and nature of the being to be taught; but
tbey present the very great difficulty OF being in
great part unattainabe except for the very wealthy
at least in our present condition Of civilization. We
pass over therefore, his suggestions on this head to
rail attention to what may prove an important truth
hitherto disregarded:
so deeply we impressed with the Importance and
utitv OF the kinder garten and with the high qualities
required by the teacher OF the very young that we are
more and more disposed 10 believe that the true order in
rank and promotion among teachers should be- TO speak
I'm paradox, dOwnward that is to say the younger the
children be taught the higher the rank and reInunera
knowledge necessary enable the teacher truthfuy to
the innumerable questions Of nqustive infancy
and avoid giving false notions 10 be afterWard with
greater lees difficulty removed always with shock TO
the moral sentiment when the child discovers has been
QepOn Of the thoughts and fancies which chase one
another through the infant brain, knowledge and
Ieptiye power which only wachfu and loving expert |
py needed y the teacher Of more advanced pupils are
also re0ured by the highly cultivated and women TO
whom alone the training Of infant minds should be in
trusted Advanced pupils go more than half way TO meet
Sheir teaoherthe infant render assistance to his
oil be borne, suffered and done for hmhls future
gears Yet the care Of him in these important days is
teneTay cOnded to ignorant nurses and TO the less
skilled class Of teachers.
little further on an important suggestion is made
which if properly carried out might lead to a re-
duction in the expense Of our system of education
1ti true the monitoral system was tried and has
been abandoned in our schools account of its sup
posed failure but tried under the influences sug-
gested in the pamphlet before u.s. the result might be
different. The author says;
Some portion of the teaching which goes on IN school
should be performed by the pupils under the supervision
OF the teacher No adult so thoroughly inter into
chds mInd as can anTlgr no wbcb V canno bs 6o
oughly used and applied, and knowledge cannot be ap
piled which its possessor cannot himself mpart per
feet illustration OF this truth Is furnished us IN the tralu
ing Of the soldier. Upon nothing, perhaps, have the
knowledge aud skill OF tho most powerful nteects been
more concentrated than upon the science and art OF
mutual slaughter and in establishing the soldiers drill
object to be attained has been pursued. The men
whose nteects have developed that drill lave not been
content 70 treat the soldier as pupil only Each recruit
has in teach well learn to practice what
Sorary to command as wen as to practice drill under
the command OF his officer for only by such means could
fbe highest degree OF efficiency be secured The reasons
which led to the adoption OF this principle In the barrack
apply equally TO the school
We transcribe in full the observations which fol-
low They are too important and too tersely ex-
pressed for any attempt at abTidgment;
To all children so soon they be promoted from
the kinder gqrel-perhaps even 10 the higher grades !
Shereuintructons in the conditions OF the human Well
being and the phenomena and arrangements OF social
life should be gveD and should be continued throughout
their school career The experiment has been tried by
MIR Win Ellis, the wise and noble founderOt the Birkbeek
schools Of London, England, who not only devoted his
surplus to the endowment OF true schools, but
gave also his time 10 instruct IN the principles OF inc
science Of human wellbeing-ake the poor children by
Queen OF England. He also instructed and trained
corps teachers professional and volunteer and by one
OF the latter class conducted In the Winter OF
1876 at the Normal School OF this city, Of IS to 40
teachers engaged In the practical work OF teaching in
schools, who, under his sguidanee, became,
after short course Of 20 more lessons enhus
4asc advocates for the introduction Of this study into
the schools for not only does IL teach the conditions OF
Industrial success but u 10 also science OF morals ana
ethics far more worthy Of the attention it has never
yet received this indeed IN any country than thh
which given TO what goes under the name OF moral
teaching and training IL is by gradual steps-Dy tne
tof he
Of text books that the most intricate problems
q this science can be unfo.ded to pupils with such eeot
through course four five years instruction, would
put 70 the bush with few exceptions, alike the members
British Parliament. museum and library would be |
necessary adunets 70 such school as we have descrDed
1t would need bat few 70 get tOgetheI III the
various taken by pupils and teachers quite
collection Of botanical, chronological ana EeGlogGa, Es,i
the teachers lessons and for examination by the pupils
1le drying preservation ana alIangemeht Oh piapts an
mails aud minerals IN which the pupils would ASSIST
would TO mpart 70 them skill and dextenty,
hen they would know how 70 value ana HOua De &
Gauseum would 70 cultivate love OF nature ana
Syooa to the study Of her works he 6TeT so1d
e ned with books Of travels and the noDeI EnRs ,s
and foreign classics; the books would be loaned 70 the
pupils In ordinary circulating libraries, and pleasant
reading room would be furnished with better cass OF
periodicals. and newspapers. To be deprived Tor tune
oihe hight TO visit the museum reading ROOM OF 70
9ioS books from the library would be one OF ithe sever
es1 s1punlshmens known in the school
The importance Of imparting to young children
knowledge Of the conditions of human well-being
Cannot be oyerrated the practicability of doing so
has been proved by heightened experience; yet we
much doubt whether any publishers could be found
even among the Harpers, the AppletOns the Lippin-
colts or any Of the other great houses, who would
nave the far-seeng courage to undertake the publ
cation OF work on political economy for use IN our
SCHOOLS Dir. Sands has done good service by the
publication Of an essay replete with suggestive ideas.