The New York herald., 1874-11-24
EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS.

A Lecture by Carl Schurz ON Mental De.
velopment-Pract ctfcal Hints to sour
Girls.''
The Hon. Carl Scnurz last night delivered lee.
ture on educational Problems" in Plymouth
church, Brooklyn, under the auspices of the Frank
lin Literary Society. There was an audience that
more than half filed the house. The lecturer was
introduced by Mr. W. Williams, one Of the officers
OF the society.
Mr.. Schurz said that he proposed to speak seri-
ous'y OF serious things. In no country is the SUBJ
ject OF education discussed more thoroughly than
In the United States. We in the habit Of refer
ring to higher order Of education as q specific
for crime; we point to efficient popular
education as remedy. But when the ques-
tion arises Of what particular method should be
adopted, the trouble begins In discussing very
few points, he would have little to say that was
new. Education should not teach US only what we
are to know, but how to live. labor and to enjoy.
The circumstances under which we live are
very different to those surrounding our grand
parents. The discoveries OF the nineteenth cen.
tury have made the art Of living very difficult; II
man Is to succeed in life he must know great
deal more than his iorefathers. Yet the time we
have TO do this is the same. How, then, should
the time be employed The main thing is to kin.
die and enforce in the impressible brain the dis
position to learn more when the teacher has
passed away from his side. The training and dis.
cipline OF the mind ought to be the first aim OF IN.
tellectual education.
WHAT JOHN STUART MILL DID.
What can you do with mere baby Theputting
OF John stuart Mill at three years of age to learn
Greek was not an Objectionable thing, on the usu.
ally supposed ground that 1t would destroy the
brain or overburden 1t. The infant brain Is o very
receptive one Parent ought to teach their chill.
dren now to see correctly, how to hear correctly
and the art OF acquiring the accurate apprecia-
ton and reproduction Of that which has been seen
and heard. How is 1t, It may be asked, that intel
hgent people who have eyes should not be able to
see correctly II Is not the eyes at all. 1t Is the
education OF the percepttve faculties. What is true
about seeing Is equally true OF hearing. Nothing
lie, as the CONSCIENTIOUS turning over in your
mind OF what you see and hear. It is empnatically
the duty Of the mothers, brothers and sisters to
practise this on the little ones. What Ia done
wish OBJECTS seen by the eye should be done with
objects as seen by the mind. Only let brothers
and they will educate themselves This is the
first branch OF education, namely, how to learn.
The child Is then turned over to tne teacher. 1t
ls am sorry to say the practice IN the school to
teach many things with big names. This Is con-
Quoted on the system OF question and answer aud
human stupidity. 10 exercise the memory is
good, but he that relies only on the memory runs
the cnance OF being very great Ounce. When
can you and | say we Know such thlnQY Not
when We have merely remembered it, but only
when we have thoroughly comprehended the
thing winch We have sought to memOrze.
SELF EDUCATION.
The effect OF early education Is to make the
mind active ana receptive; in one word. to fit
men for tnat sell education which Is the duty of
every man and woman. The real difficulty is when
parents think that their duty Is accomplished II
they keep their children fat, warm ana healthy.
or all hard labor that OF teaching IS the most mis-
eraby pald. II teaching is to be well done It must
be regarded as profession and as lie sacrifice.
n adm Caft nf fha
female sex2 Neither q woman nor a man can
know too much. It is certainly true that the edu-
earn tneir own livelihood, without dependence
upon others. NO system OF education should stim- |
pendent and alone.
THE DUTY OF MARRIAGE.
l .hlnk IL hsr Is .ne calling OF women to become
woman to become wife and mother as it is for
man 10 become husband and father. Good
education should therefore be directed to this
end; and especially Is 1t more important that this
should be the end Of woman, for the family circle
makes the state. Woman in her home and as a
our girls should learn how to inspire ana
manage home. l think the practice OF mar
hotels Is exceedingly destructive OF this, and
a very large proportion OF the domestic troubles
we encounter IN this country Is traceable to this
life oil boarding houses and hotels Very much OF the
reason 10 this, that our girls have not been taught
70 manage home Por home 1t ts not necessary
does require q wise economy and good manage
menr home does more than any other institu-
tlon 70 make natlon wise and patriotic.
(CheeTs.) boarding house can never
DO this home. (Cheers.} Education should
then De directed to enforce upon our girls
sound knowledge as to practical economy and
housenold management. When the habits Of the
female sex are such as TO cause marriage not to
oe tnought ol because II Is too risky an invest
ment and when the bearing OF children is re-
garded to be too troublesome. then the nation is
last decaying and vice will pervade the whole So
clal Dody. (Cheersl Woman Is the natural centre
Of luxury and IN her atmosphere IL grows rank
est. Equally true Is II with the virtues and with
Our girls should, therefore, be well instructed In
economy. This should not be cona ned
merely TO housework. There Is much to be
learned as to the quality Of food.
MT Schurz concluded py summary Of che points
bs had dwelt pp0n. -.