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

Few words are 80 commonly used, yet - NJ
ria 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
maid for during certain number of years, be
has been educated. He may have changed
schools and books every year, or every quarter
may have taken up and laid down studies ct
his own whim; may have absented hlmsch
from school whenever he did not feel like az
tending, or may have had his head SO iu'l OF
base ball, or pic MICS &C.. that room was lett
for little else yet, of fifty or five hundred dol
lars have been spent for him, for eight or ten
years. he must, it necessity. be educated.
Parents are never undec,7cd until the young
man fails i, getting, or keeping, some good
no>ilion, and even then, they sometimes
,bpk their son has been wronged Education
j., as its derivation implies, a drauing ont 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
CT q fashionable school for not ordering 'capo
ci'y for her daughter, when she was told she
hsd none, he will not, OF course, expect results
beyond the child 8 natural ability. Ii he com
mi.s him to teacher who will study bis dis
position, direct his efforts. to acquire kuowl-
edge, aud turn them into proper channels, ard
repress his evil incnations, and will then sec
ond that teachers exerlions. AID see that
nohiog IS in,erposed to prevent their full sue
cess, he may reasonably hope Tor the best re.
suits. But if ne showes hi Indifference if
he suffers bis son to waste h!' time, and give
10 thought to Lessons out OF school, aud above
al ii ne permits him to"turn OF! as it Is term
"a. and fill his head with balls and parilsS, or,
worse sill allows him 10 roam about with com
uany he knows cot OF what sort, at nj III. All
connect himself With base ball cubs, social
clubs and other dangerous associations. how
can he expect the boy to be properly educated.
It is not the teacher, under these c;renmstan
ccs, who cducates him, but frivolous :.:.d o.tcn,
bad companions; it is not his high moral and
Intellectual qualities which are drawn cut, but
his lower aud more selfish propen>l!ies; he
lc7e of pleasure, i'm patience Of restraint, pride,
and passion. 1t is, also, of much Importance
10 educating children that they be not sent to
school too young. Tho ''meas Sano az c0rporc
Sano" should be the result Of every system OF
education, and neither of these is pr0:I J:rd by
shutting up little boys and girls Of five. SIX, Or
even eight 10 dark, close, schOoi rooul, when
they ought to b, breathing the pure air, and
Strengthening their little limbs by heslthful
play. 1t is pity that some god lady posses.
sing file yard, full Of trees and grass, d)as
NOT open plan school. Hundreds hare ex
pressed full concurrence 10 these views. bu
what, say they, are we to do Will! our little
bays? live don't send them to school, they
will get into the streets, and there they will be
rro over, or, at asst, they will learn BAD ma
n,rs and bal language. all this is true but
it is also true that most chi!drcu sent tc school,
at an early age. got tired Of il At II or 10, just
when their minds are becoming sufficiently III
folded, AMI their Judgment sufficiently strong
to encounter studies which require someth!n.
more than a good msmory. Now, i sonc-
bodg would only undertake TO amuse children,
keep them out of mischief, and learn them to
read, (nothing more, no phyloso7hy,or phisol
ogy, or chemistry Tor bcplaners,) 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 lcaro
anything els at school but how to read, and
should never suffer them to be co0fincd more
than two or three hours day, with frequent
interuis,ions When they begiu school in earn
rs:, at 10 or -, they should carefully select a
school Tor them, and never change il without
very strong reas ms; while thy are at scho !,
they should Sc: tlat their minds alc rot dis
tracted from their studies By cubs and societies
not connected with the school, (ior 10 every
good school plenty CT means are sff)rded for
healthfuI recreation j and lastly, they should
continually watch their progress, keep them
selves in constant communication with the
teacher, aud second all his efforts with their
whole authority. 1t they Go thus, their boys
ard Girls will be really educated.