The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-14
EDUCATIoNAL AL.
Advertisement No. L.
How to Teach Political Economy
In the Lvceum Institute.

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| Political Economy is one OF thc most imn0rt-
ant branches OF study, because it covers the .
most practical relations of life. How to obtain
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 one
ought to consider his father rich enough to
raise him above the necessity of APPLYING the
first efforts of his early manhood TO the purpose
OF obtaining living.
| In making this statement we have raised
question in Morals as well as in Political Econ
omy. The ethical principle alluded 10 is the
obligation OF every one to obtain the means
OF support by his own efforts. II shows that
| Political Economy can not be divorced from
Moral Science, though authors have generally
| treated ii as branch OF knowledge having ex-
elusive reference TO the system OF things as it
is, and not as it should be. 1t may be very
comfortable for those who get their support
| and heap up fortunes ont OF others to have
Economy divorced from Ethics: but the nlass
| OF mankind, being compelled TO labor in tho
production Of wealth, can not long study Politi-
| cal Economy without fnding 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; aud
| they will inevitably demand the how and the
wherefore OF this great difference. They will
| even demand to he informed by what principle
an able bodied and able minded man rightfully
gets SO much doing nothing except frolic life
away in luxury, while others, who may not be
| to able either in body or mind, get So small q
| f,. toll oil a
rest for weary muscles and aching bones dur
ing the whole night, leaving no time on means
for recreation and enjoyment.
Ethical questions, however, would be raise
incidentally in teaching Political Economy.
Primarily, this science treats Of the PI9duc-
tion, Distribution, Consumption and Exchange
of wealth. Labor, Land, Capital and Skill are
chiefly concerned in the production of wealth.
The Distribution of wealth is into Wages,
Rents and Profits, while The support of the peo-
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 a medium called money, transrorta-
tion by land and sea, and raises all the qucs-
tions concerning currency, values, &c.
What science, therefore, covers so many OF
the fundamental interests OF mankind as Poll
tical Economy And when it is considered
that the people must be fed and clothed before
any thing can be accomplished by education,
religion, art or general culture, why does nos
Political Economy very properly claim the
first and most searching attention OF the
schools and OF all educators in whatever eapa-
cityP
INo IN I Tnafi-
tutc; and also in the Lyccum University,
which viii be the Institute extended 10 univer-
sal learning and perfected in the new methods.
What will be the method of teaching this
science in the Lyceum Institute and Univer-
sty2 1t will be quite different from that
usually pursued. We find certain text book
with questions at the foot of each page or in an
appendix, the answers to which are often me-
chancally learned, and mechanically used by
lazy or ignorant professors in conducting an
automatic recitation. An ingenious French
man or Yankee might make an automatic pro-
fessor and an automatic class, and by winding
them up like clock they would perform the
whole process Of recitation according to the
standard of perfection erected by such text
| books.
In colleges and universities, however, with
some pretensi0ns, the professor gives lectures
on this science, though he follows the most ap-
proved textbook. Tho lecturer sometimes
canvasses the opinions of the most distinguish
ed authors on each topic, but the utmost Of his
| thought is to balance authorities and give the
class the doctrine as settled by the majority or
by the author who has obtained the most gene
raj approval and applause.
AS usually taught, this science often amounts
to nothing of any value to the student, while
IN some cases time and money, though not al
together thrown away, are not made half as
productive in learning rs they would be under
| a better method.
| The Lyceum method can be fully understood
by single illustration. Suppose we are en-
tering upon the topic Of Labor as an element Of
production. The Professor gives a lecture
chiefly for the purpose Of showing the class
how to investigate it for themselves. He then
assigns the leading authors to the members Of
the class; to one, Adam Smiths Wealth OF
Nations, to another, Says W ork, to another, Sis
mondi, to fourth, Senator Tracey, to a fifth, y
j. S. Mills Work, to sixth, Thornton on La
Dor, to seventh, Carey, to the eighth, List, to
| the ninth, the Work by Horace Greeley, and
SO on through the whole class. Probably three
days should be given to preparation for tho
recitation. Each one is required to condense
into as brief compass as possible the most
important views and facts given by his author.
and deliver his synopsis either orally or from
manuscript to the class. Three days are given
to the preparation, and the recitation occupies
half day; the same topic to be continued un-
| til thoroughly mastered by the class. Most Of
all, the students are urged to have opinions OF
their own.
So, also, when the subject OF Money and
Banking comes up, it is investigated in tho
same way. The authors are distributed to tho
class, and all views that have been urged arc
brought under considera tion. The professor
introduces it with lecture in which he ex-
plains the function Of money, the different
kinds Of money, such as metallic, mixed and
paper, the 1ature of banking, the experience
Of nations with the different currencies, &c,
thus enabling the students to search the au
thors TO the best advantage. After three days
preparation, with several other studies On
hand, and half days recitation, the class win
fnd all the fog that hangs between the subject