Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-12-15
Warren County S Educational Interests.
BY T. A. HEAD.

To the Standard:
This subject is one of vast Importance
to our people and should receive the
candid attention and support OF every
one who has strictly at heart the pros
perity and welfare of the rising pener.
alton. Our system ofeducation should
be rendered as effective us the situation
and surroundings will warrant, and
should develnp the most efficient and
practical results to the end that the
greatest am"unt of sond may he ac
complished to the greatest number. In
this we should make the best possible
use of means and facilities at our com.
mand, and exit nd or limit the same as
the demands may seem to Justify.
Education should be purely practi
cal in all its features and bearings. It,
object is to develop good, sound com
mon sense and proficiency in the Uses
as well as the cultivation and growth
of this important development. 1t does
not consist in drilling or routine work
it does not consist in pantomime or
mmicry of any pattern or model, but
it does consist in systematic, practical
thinking. The whole secret Of teach
ing CONSISTS in the ability to awaken
thought and a zeal and persistent de-
termination in the work of investiga
ting principle IS and testing the accuracy
of its conclusions. In this the pupil
becomes true student--a thinker, an
investigator and reasoner, When
this interest is once awakened the pu.
pill is prepared to receive instruction at
the hands of his teacher, and will re.
ceive and appropriate the more if adj
ministered only according to the de-
mand. 1t is not impossible to surfeit
the mind with an overabundance of in.
struction by thrusting upon it this ex-
cess when it is not prepared to receive
it. Teaching then becomes q mere
process of drilling and examining. The
mind digests nothing, and the student
has accomplished nothing more than
an ability, parrot like, to go through
the formula of what he has recited.
He knows nothing of fundamental
principles, and practically he knows
nothing.
AS education consists in the awaken.
ing the development and growth of in.
tellectual faculties and directing them
in the channel of practical utility, it
cannot be denied or doubted that the
student must work if he is to be bene.
fitted, and that labor ct stadium Omnia
vincet. All obstacles ultimately yield
to persistent labor and study.
1t is not an uncommon occurrence
that child nature is misrepresented.
Instead of being naturally forward and
obstinate and predisposed to hayward.
ness, its natural inclination is to do
what is required of it, if it can only
gain clear idea of what it is. If
every duty is clearly and intel.
ligently marked out to the full
comprehension of the student, and a
proper amount Of encouragement and
assistance extended on the part of
teachers, the children Will take hold
Of their part and perform it with an
alacrity and energy, with a cheerful
ness and good will, that imparts to the
profession of teaching its most promi.
nent pleasure and beauty.
Children can be led. They can be
encouraged. They can be trained
while in the act of being led,
but it is a prominent feature Of child
nature that it naturally revolts at every
feature Of compulsion. Education con-
sists in leading, not driving in draw.
ing out, not in examining; in activity
in seeking after knowledge, not in pas.
sively receiving it. Its essential quali>
ties are first, second and last LABOR
patient, persevering, persistent labor.
The essential properties of education
thus laid down we look around and ask,
do we need any better facilities for the
education of our people? The answer
is Enthusiastically negative. We have
good schools, good teachers, and books
Il W. =, z,,-4a.-.