New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-09
EDUCATION.
rY TIE AUTHOR OF ALBERT HASTINGS.

pv THE ,T-TuOR OF albert HASTINGS.
On this subject, as on most others OF vital
mport. theorists have exhausted much IN
aepuity, and speculative philosophy has
advanced its specious dictums, always more
learned than practical we often see per
sons advance to eminence who were, carry
IN life, considered mere drones IN the euu-
cational hive of seminary or college; anu
the conclusion, nine times out OF ten, IN
such cases is that these favored lew were
endowed by nature with gifts which enabled
them to outstrip their compeerS, and some
times. surpass their masters
There may be something IN TINS, SINCE
none can deny that different capacities are
exhibited in different minds, from the cradle
to the grave. If possible, those inherent
proclivities to any particular branch OF
learning or science which invariably stand
revealed to a udicious instructor OF YOUTH
should be fostered and directed, not con-
froiled and made subservient to any course
orescribed by parent or guardian. 1t is
fearful responsibility, which many are Will
ing to assume thOnest people, TOO, VINO
mean well, but lack judgmentl, when they,
IN teaching tho young idea how to shoot.
train it awry, for genius, like all Things
of innate nobility can never be made
slavish.
The rudiments of every language, as OF
every exact science, must, OF course, DC
studded, vet we hear Byron, giant OF Eng
fish literature, affirm that it was reading
Latin. not studying it, which gave him his
mastery of it's linguistic elegance. 1t is
trito axiom that manners make the man, III
ContradstinctOn to the more practical anu
common opinion that dress governs the
stains of those who aspire to be distingue.
Now, our own honest opinion is. that read
ing, far more than severe study, fine dress
ing. or anything, save native force OF intel
lect makes tine man: Christian principle
'superadded completes the gentleman.
1t is wise to encourage taste for read
ing in young children. which. II proper
books, combining instruction with aShuse'
Inent, are placed in their hands. teacher
or director may readily accomplish. Moth
ing can be more cruel and illjudged than
that examining process, which, at all risks.
stuffs the helpless child with literature be-
yond his years or comprehension, and ends.
should he survive the profess, in hopelessiy
confoanding his ideas, weakening his cor
poreal frame, and literally dwaring tho
unfortunate viCtim-mind and body alike
partakiug the evil results of this depicting
and injurious system" Youth is the sea-
son for active as well as intellectual pur-
suits Long ago, the wall OF Henry hlrke
White went up from that school, at which
he declares, while April was breathing
odorous gales over expanding flowers, and
birds trilIed untaught melodies IN vernal
groves; while all this beauty and loneliness
was abroad, he must Town the PedantF
iron rule"
We believe that distaste for useful and
necessary learning has been generated by
this injurious and reprebensible examining
system. We have heretofore adyerted Il
this evil, and while idle ness demands oui
harshest comments, we can not refrain frou
a most decided expression OF our dissent
from the dismal dynasty of those who curb
instead of developing the immature ideas
of that helpless and dependent tclk-young
scholars.