Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-07-30
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
Education.
SATURDAY, JULY so, 1870

EOucat1On.
Few words are 80 commonly used, yet - lt-
tls understood as that which heads this article.
10 the opinion Of most people, II boy Is sent
TO school, furnished with books, and the tuition
paid for during certain number OF years. lie
has been educated. He may have changed
schools and books every year, or every quarter
NAV have taken I'D and laid down studies at
his own whm; may have absented himself
from school whenever be did not feel like al
tending, or may have had his head SO luII OF
base ball, or pic. MICS, &C.. that room was ieit
for little else yet, of fifty or five hundred DOL
lars have been spent for him, for eight or ten
years, he must, if necessity. be educated.
Parents are never undec,i7ed until the young
man fails in g.;tug. or keeping, some good
nosition, and even then, they sometimes
think their son has been wronged. Education
is, as its derivation implies, lrauing out Of
the natural talents aud good qualities of the
child Unless father is as ignorant as the
pareut who is said to have blamed the mistress
cfa fashionable school for not ordering "capo
c;ty'' for her daughter, when she was told she
bsd none, he will not, OF course, expect results
beyond the child's natural ability. Ii he COM
mi.s him to teacher who will study bis dis.
position, direct his efforts. to acquire kuowl-
edge, and turn them into proper channels, ard
repress his evil inciioatons, and will then Sec
oud that teachers exertions. AID SEQ that
nohiog IS interposed to prevent their full sue
cess, he may reasonably hope Tor the best re-
suits. Bat if ne showes hi Indifference; it
he suffers bis son to waste hi time, and give
no thought to !eSs,GS out OF S:hool, and above
al. it ne permits him t1";urn OF! as it Is term
cd. and til his head with balls and pariic>, ",
worse ill, allows him to roam about with com
rany he knows not Of what sort, at ni-h! Nnd
contect himself With base ball cubs, social
clubs, aud other dangerous associations. how
can he expect the boy to be properly educated.
1t is not the teacher, under these circnustan
ccs, who cducates him, but frivolous aai c.tc;,,
bad companions; it is not his high mora! ard
Intellectual qualities which are drawn out. but
his lower aud more selfish propeu>iits; he
love of pleasure i'm patience of restraint, pride,
and passion. 1t is also, Of much i'm POI lance
10 educating children that they be not sent to
school too young. The 'menS sana IN c0rporc
sano' should be the result Of every system Of
education, and neither of these is promoted by
shutting up little boys and girls If five. six, or
even eight in dark. close, scho room, when
they ought to b, breathing the pure air, and
STRENGTHENING their little limbs by heathful
play. 1t is a pity that some good lady posses
sing fine yard, full ot trees and grass, do:s
not open plan school, Hundreds have ex
pressed foil concurrence 10 these views. bu-
what say they, are we to do with our little
boys? Ii We don't send them to school, they
vii! yet into the streets, and there they will he
rro over, or, at least, they will learn bal mn
n.rs and bal LANGUAGE all this is true but
it is also true that most chiidrca sent tc school,
at an early age. got tired OF il at II or ID, just
when their minds are becoming sufficiently ua
folded an their judgment sufficiently strong
to encounter studies which require something
more than good memocy. Now, i sonc-
body would only undertake to amuse children,
keep them out of mischief and learn them to
read, {notbing more, no Philosophy OF phislol
ogy, or chemistry Tor bepioners,) be or she
would be public benefactor. To SUN up these
views in few words parents should never
suff.r children under eight or nine to learo
anything els, at school but how to read, and
should never suffer them to be coDfiacd more
than two or three hours day, with frequent
in,ermis,ions When they begin school in earn
cs:, at 10 or -, they should carefully select
school Tor them, and never change it without
very strong reas ms while thy are at scho l.
they should see taat their minds ale not dis
tracted from their studies by cubs and societies
not connected with the school, (tor 10 every
good school plenty CT means arc sff,rded for
hcalthful recreation j and, Lastly, they should
continually watch their progress, keep them
selves in constant communication with the
teacher. and. second all his efforts with their
whole authority. 1t they 90 thus, their boys
ard girls will be really educated