Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1875-08-12
Systems of Education.

Much has been said from time to
time about what flor want of a better
name is commonly termed our
'tschool system" On the one hand
we have had no end of flaw picking
without any accompanying remedial
suggestions; ON the other hand we
have had the most honest assurances
from its advocates that the existing
''system" is the best that can be devils
ed under the circumstances. In view
of the coming convention of the State
Teachers Association at Wilkesbarre,
we think it may be profitable to take a
glance at the problem of the education
of the young. We do not propose to
go deeply or exhaustably into the sub.
ject at this time, but merely touch up
on the question in few of it's more
prominent aspects. This we do in.
the hope OF attracting attention to
what We regard as defects of commits.
sion and omission, if, happily, we may
be able to offer some practical sugges
tions which, if they be not altogether
new, are at least worthy the serious
attention of educators.
First. Of our system" of educa-
ton. We claim that we have none
national, State or county. We have
what goes by that name, but it differs
with each locality, is incongruous, and
will not harmonic, and, therefore, is
wanting in the very essentials of a sys-
tenn. A system, properly so called, is
a complete union of parts joined by a
common law or principle, forming a
perfect whole An educational system
approaching anything like perfection
may be regarded as the mechanical re-
suit of q process of reasoning, in
which common sense, experience, and
the end to be attained, unite to lay out
a well-defned curriculum of mental
training. The most earnest advocate
of any existing mode of instruction
will hardly claim that it comes up to
these requirements. Though earnest
and honest in their aims, few of these
''systems" are anything more thar
desultory and unsettled in so far al
pertains to the means necessary to &C
complish the cad. That we stand il
need of carefully devised and gener
al plan, which shall be entitled to b,
called system, there can be no doubt
This is one of the dependent question:
to which we hope to see our educators
address themselves with earnest yea
and calm considerations.
Do we make the most Of what w,
already haye-call it mode, method
system, or what we will? We thinI
not. Observation aRd experienc,
have taught US that, crude and imper
feet as are most of the methods il
use they are unnecessarily hampere(
and embarrassed by practices whicl
seriously impair their usefulness 81
. much is crowded into the course O
study that instruction can but be want
ing in perfection of detail and the es
: sential elements of thoroughness.
Let US have fewer branches. and NOR
e thoroughness in each of them
And then We impose upon tn
young and tender minds tasks too diff
cult Of performance. A child, instea,
of being carefully and gently inducte
into the mysteries of few branche
only, left to struggle with incomprt
. henslble tasks, comes to look upon a
!! book learning with an aversion aE
to cling to it through life Und(
fourteen years of age it is better if "
4 aim to teach the child how to stud
n than if We aim to cram it's little stor.
b, house with what we look upon as us
& full knowlege. Up to this period
his life the pupil who receives the mo
oral instruction, is least bothered vii
book learning, has nature most hel
es up before him, and has the least |
OF con and get by rote-this is the p,
pill who will make the best studel
g when the time comes for hard stud
= And to make good students should
the chief aim of those who have Il
training of young minds. After q
school days are but the days of pr
paratlon for the after life. If tt
foundation be well laid it is not ha
to erect creditable and useful supe
structure when the pupil becomes o
enough to choose whatever style
e. architecture may suit him best. Y
$ have said that we have no system
st education, but we have enough
c'a build upon. Let US improve up
at what we have and thereby work q
- something Observation-Disclosures E
quirer. ..
10 The maintenance of the L,ond,