River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-10-04
wisconsin Journal OF Edu-
cation,

hunpNii W mis. ~ VI Aiey, vi w nlle-
water, commences in this language:-
"The child is savage to begin with"
| We don't believe it. 1t is doctrine
in every way repugrant to the sense,
and contrary to both facts and reason.
Not these alone, but it is contrary to
the teachings of our Savior. He took
! little children in his arms and blessed
them. He said of them-"of such is
the kingdom of heaven" Is the king.
dom of heavena kingdom of ssvages?
| We trust not.
Again says Mrs. Arey, "Pace him
| (the child) where you will, without the
appliances of civilization about him,
and he remains as he was born-a saw
age"
We agree that he remains as he was
born, but as he was not born savage.
either with or without "the appliances
of education" he is not savage. Far
from it. You may spoil him with 'the
appliances of education" but, depend
upon it, every faculty of his nature is
good, under proper training.
Again says Mrs. Arey, -"Cultiva-
ton is thing which cannot be handed
down from father to SON."
Nor do we believe that, but we do
believe the opposite. We believe that
acquired habits, tastes, and talents. if
you please. are transmitted from father
to son. The more highly cultivated
may be the minds, the morals and the
manners of the parents, the higher will
be the degree of cultivation in the
| child when it's developed. 1t is idle
to talk otbervs sfsWho dare maintain
that Che world Sfs;s ! Improving?
But 1t is ~ amusing to find THIS
same author positively contradicting
her own theory within the next twenty
lines of her essay. In speaking of the
civilization of the human race, she
says:-"And the great work, as we see
it today, is the unfinished temple
whose foundation was laid in the begin
ming, at the creation of man" Certain
ly, and progression, slow but sure, is
his destiny.
But we leave Mrs. Arey to deal with
her savages, aud turn to criticise d
critic, whose paper is upon the subject
of "Oral Instruction FIR Children"
This essay. is by D. 4. Gardner, of |
Neenah In rhetoric the writer is the
antipodes of Mrs. Arey. The half Of |
his first sentence runs Before
the art of printing was invented, and
the facilities for multiplying books were
SO extensive and complete-instruction
Was communicated orally from the lips
Of the professor, the sage, and Him
who spake as never man spake' to
pupils and disciples who anxiously
gathered about them to catch the glow.
ing utterances inspired by themes which
stirred the depths of the souls Of those
who uttered them"
That is too lengthy, and almost with
out meaning. At any rate, it carries
the mind so far from the idea suggested
in the text, that the reader might fall
asleep while returning,
This is not all Se have to say about
Mr.. Gardner He introduces orthog-
raphy not sanctioned by Webster, in
the development OF his scheme, and
slang terms which belong to sailors, and
not 20 teachers. For instance, -"be-
laying the foundation for fine musical
aud evolutionary powers" etc.
In this connection we suggest to the
publishers Of the Journal, the impor-
lance Of sound and well written articles,
and a much cleaner proof sheet than
this number presents. Our criticisms
may be little rough, but we deem them
just, and, if they are needed, they will
have a tendency to improve the charac-
ter Of Magazine which should approx
| innate perfection.