The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-02-22
The Young Should be Tausht 70
Think.

We have often suggested In our col.
urnus the importance of parents ana
teachers drilling the young people under
their charge to think. The greatest dim-
cultv which the teacher has to contend
with is not in accustoming the pupil 70
repeat the rules in grammar, arithmetic
and other stsdies, but to induce him to
reflect on the reason why the rules are
laid down, and Why following the rule
produces correct result: in other words,
Il, teach the pupil to think. A correspond
ept. Mr.. r. E. Slosson, reflects In the
Western Rural our thoughts on this sub
iect in q somewhat lengthy article, from
which we make the following extracts:
The world is indebted for ninc-tenths OF
its valuable knowledge, its Improvements
and progress generally. to men and
women who have trained themselves to
think in q systematic and consecutive
manner. No man has ever become emil
nent in science, art, literature, or farm
ing, who was not q profound thinker
who did not well examine and compare
all the items pertaining to the subject-so
know whether, in their various relations,
they sustain the principle which public
opinion upholds as being true. 1t is not
very uncommon thing that principle
has been enunciated by men who have
pet theories to support, and where II i
plain to thinking. unbiased mind, thai
some of the important items of the theory
are in direct antagonism to the principle,
and therefore false or, otherwise, the prin-
cipIe itself has no foundation in truth.
The earlier, consistent with health. that
youth learn to think, the more massive
and powerful will be the brain in matur.
ity-the better prepared will be the mind
TO shed glow of interest and happiness
on all around, and fill itself with an in
tense sense of enjoyment unknown to the
undisciplined mind. This process OF
tn mixing should be systematized, so thai
the mind can bend its energies in full
force on one point at time, and, aftel
having examined in this manner the whole
ground, the facts ELECTED can be classified
managed, and put in position to b
easily understood and appreciated, be
cause they are forcibly and logically
brought to bear. If you once acquire thu
ability to concentrate mind, so as not Il
be diverted from the main question or OBJ
| iect in view, you have made a long strid,
in the right direction. and the vigorou.
use of individuality, comparison ant
causality will be pretty certain to enabl'
you to reach satisfactory and demonstra
| tive ones.
To assist yourselves very materially 20,
need specially to cultivate memory; ant
we believe this can best be done by th,
association of things and ideas. If yol
wish to retain an idea, you have only t.
specify in your mind a familiar idea
analogous in some particular to the on
you wish to remember; so all you have Il
do is to recall the familiar idea and tn,
new one Immediately pops into your mind
A little practice in this way will convinc,
you of its utility, and remember the longe
you practice a thorough analysis of th,
subjects submitted to your investigation
the more speedy, perfect and satisfactor,
will be your work. We believe, there
fore. that all high schools should have
professor whose business shall be to teacl
pupils to think, and even our common
school law should require elementary in
struction in the science of thinking
| .ScisafUfc american.