The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-16
HDucAr1oNAL.
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How to Teach Political Economy
In the Lyceum institute.

most practicai relations OF lie. HOW 10 OotAsA
| subsistence for the body and the means Of com.
fort for the household is the first question that
| concerns the mass Of men. and ought to be the
first question with every young person. No ono
ought to consider his father rich enough 10
| raise him above the necessity Of APPLYING the
first efforts OF his early manhood TO the.purposs
| of obtaining living.
In making this statement VIC have raised
question in Morals as well as In Political Ecoa-
| omy. The ethical principle alluded TO is tno
| obligation OF every one to obtain the means
OF support by his own efforts. 1t shows that
| Political Economy can not be divorced fr0M
Moral Science, though authors have generally
| treated it as branch Of knowledge having ex-
elusive reference to the system Of things as Il
| is, and not as it should be. 1t may be very
| comfortable for those who get their support
| and heap up fortunes out Of others to iavs
Economy divorced from Ethics: but the mass
OF mankind. being compelled to labor in tho
production of wealth, can not long study Politi-
! cal Economy without finding a mystery in tho
| fact that some get 500 per day for doing moth
ing, while others get but dollar, two dollars, !
or three dollars per day by hard work; and
they will inevitably demand the how and the
wherefore OF this great difference. They viii
even demand to be informed by what principle
an able bodied and able minded man rightfuilY
gets so much doing nothing except frolic life
away III luxury, while Others who may not be
to able either in body or mind, get SO small
reward for nartl toll all the day and incessans
| rest for weary muscles ard aching bones dur.
ing the whole night, leaving no time OF means
for recreation and enjoyment
Ethical questions, however, would be raise
incidentally in teaching Political Economy.
Primarily, this science treats Of the Prodnc-
ton, Distribution, Consumption and Exchanges
| Of wealth. Labor, Land Capital and Skill srs
! chiefly concerned in the production Of wealth.
The Distribution of wealth. is into Wages,
Rents and Profits, while the support Of the poo
| pie, the government, education, religion, luxu-
ry, &c., comprises the Consumption Of wealth.
The Exchange of wealthy involves Commerce.
| including barter and buying and selling by
means OF medium called money, transporta-
ton by land and sea, and raises all the qtiez-
tioTs concerning currency, values, &c.
Wpat science, therefore, covers SO many OF
The fundamental interests Of mankind as Poii-
tical Economy And when it is considered
anything can be accomplished by education,
religion, art or general culture, why does not
Political Economy very properly claim tho
first and most searching attention Of tho
schools and OF all educators in whatever capa-
city2
1t will be so considered in the Lyceum Insti-
tutc; and also in the Lyceum University,
which will be the Institute extended to uniyer-
90; T. - ''Arfantef in the new mcthOdA
sai icafninis aiIv r.-.- -
"hat Will be the method Of teaching this
science in the Lyceum Institute and Uniyer-
SHY! 1t will be quite different from thas
usually pursued. We find certain text hook
Win questions at the foot of each page or in an
appendix, the answers TO which are often NE.
chanically learned, and mechanically used by
lazy or ignorant professors in conducting a.
automatic recitation. An ingenious French
man or Yankee might make an automatic prv-
lessor and an automatic class, and by winding
them up like clock they would perform tho.
whoie process OF recitation according TO tho
standard Of perfection erected by such text
books.
In colleges and universities however, with
some pretensions, the professor gives lccturrs
on this science, though he follows the most ap-
proved textbook. The lecturer sometimes
the opinions OF the must distinguish
ed authors on each topic, but the utmost OF hin
thought is to baancc authorities and give tns
ciass the doctrine as settled by the ma. ority OF
Dy the author who has obtained the most gene
raj approval and applause.
AS usually taught, this science often amounts
% nothing OF any value to the student, whiie
n some cases time and money, though not al
ogether thrown away, arc not made half a.
productive in learning as they would be under
better method
The Lyceum method can be fully understood
" single illustration. Suppose we are en-
crIng upon the topic OF Labor as an element Of
production. The Professor gives lecture
hlcfy 1or the purpose OF showing the class
ow to investigate it for themselves. lie then
ssigns the leading authors to the members Of
ne class; to one, Adam Smiths Wealth OF
atlons, to arother, Says Work, to another, Sis
londi, to fourth. Senator Tracey, to a nth.
. S. Mills Work, 10 sixth, Thornton on In
or, to n seventh, Carey, to tile eighth, List, to
he ninth, the Work by Horace Greeley, and
on through the whole class. Probably thrcn
ays should be given TO preparation for thu
Si'"'ioh' A,dVh Vhc is required 10 c0nuenSe
ito rs brief compass as possible the most
nportant views and facts given by his author.
I'D deliver his synopsis either orally or from
anuscript to the class. Three days are given
the preparation, and the recitation occupies
III o day; the same topic to he continued I'M
thoroughly mastered by the class. Most Of
!, the students are urged to have opinions Of
cir own.
So also, when the subject of Money and
anAing comes mp, it is investigated in tho
me way. The authors are distributed 10 the
ass, and all views that have been urged ars
ought under considera tion. The professor
PRODUCES it with lecture in which he ex
aims the function Of money, the diGerens
nds Of money, such as metallic, mixed aud
lpcr, the nature. Of banking, the experience
nations with the different currcncies, &c.
us enabling the students to search the au
ors to the best advantage. After three days
eparation, with several other studies ON
nd, and half days recitation, the class wiz
d all Che fog that hangs between the subiecs
d the vision OF the people ttispclled. and tha