Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-11-24
WHAT ARE THE CHILDREN
LEARNING

dollars are being judiciously spent.
Time is too short and too precious to be
wasted. and every child needs the direc-
ton of wise and experienced person to
mark out the liue of study he should
pursue. If he studies just what is put
before him, he is liable to lose years in
vain attempt to acquire that which he
has no taste OF talent for, and which
will do him no good in the future. All
persons, however, need a thorough knowl-
edge of the elementary principles of SCI
ence, and of those branches of study that
enter most frequently into the business
of their lives. If a good knowledge of
the simple and elementary principles Of
the different sciences is acquired early,
foundation will have been laid upon
which structure of intellectual great
ness can be reared but to attempt to
become wise by learning great things
only, is worse than useless. The ten
dency of the age is toward the superb
cial, rather than the thorough, in educa-
ton and in the hurry Of the pupil to
get into the higher branches, the simple
and most useful are neglected A stu
dent who has thus sighted his elemen-.
tary education is not unlike the vessel
that spreads its broad sails, and faunts
its flags in the breeze, to find when the
tempest arises, that ballast is of more
consequence than sails or streamers. A
great knowledge of simple things is bet
ter than a feeble knowledge Of great
things, or as the poet has it: ga little
knowledge is dangerous thing. Drink
Deep Parents oftentimes over-esti-
mate the ability of their children, and
undertake to fit them for positions that
will not be graced by their occupancy.
Nature gives talent, and learning, and
culture, only improve upon it-thcy can
not create it. So that to attempt to make
philosophers, orators or statesmen, out
of all boys by a certain kind or amount
of education, will be fruitless If pa
rent wants criterion by which to judge
of the ability of his child, it will be safe
to expect that he will be about what his
sire is, and that he will occupy positions
in life not much more exalted than have
been occupied by his father. If expe-
rience has taught you what would have
been advantageous to have known in
your early life, let that be taught your
children, and as much more as opportu-
nifty will permit, and let them learn
much of their own language before they
attempt to gain knowledge of the Ian.
guage of the ancients. To compute the
distance of stars would be agreeable t.
astronomers, but to be able to compute in
terest correctly and rapidly is very
useful requirement to be fitted for the
senate or the forum would give one {
name and fame, but to be so skilled il
t---l~,- IS.-----I - tL0-e.1inUry buoi
ness of the world as to be able to pro
vide for the wants of a family, is NJ
mean accomplishment, and is what /
thousand must rejoice in, while one il
{ highly praised as a bard OF an orator
In the requirement of an education, at
ter the mind has been we'll stored wit
the fundamental principles of all usefu
: branches of study, it ought to be led GU
7 in that direction which is indicated b
the natural bent or inclination of it
, possessor. Almost every person man
t tests early, a preference and taller
!. for something, and his education ough
n to be of that kind which will develo
s that talent. If a lad is inclined to VIZ
It ter wheels and machinery, it is pit
r to try to make preacher of him if
S girl has no taste for song and music,
e will require years Of practice to NAL
y her singer or decent player. Nigh
/ ingales must sing, but who would lii
it the task of converting an owl into
y songster If a young man or young W
y man has superior talents, they will ma
n ifest themselves in due time, and let n
IS body who is possessed of intellectu
r Jewels be over anxious to show them
the world they will appear all Il
'e brighter when they are discovered
lie their owner has made no attempt to di
f. play them. Bnt to make the object
s. this article more practical, let it be sa
he that every parent ought to know VIII
Id branches of study his children are pu
pit suing, and how great and how far
E. their advancement. If one will not lea
p arithmetic, let him learn something els
ct if another despises grammar, do n
Sc waste time in trying to make him ma
ar ter grammar. If teachers are trying
IN get your children out of English in
b. Latin, ascertain if they have a go
If, knowledge of the mother tongue |
I'd tie smattering of Latin is worthless. B
ut if it is your purpose to give your son
of your daughter a liberal education,
It. the languages be taken early in life, tb
of they may be so far learned as to adm
BY Of an early entry into college. If 20
Sc boys are being educated for business,
w their diet be mental arithmetic rath
er than algebra or triganometry spelli