Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-01-17

Too MANY SUBJECTS IN OUR Schools
| am no educationalist, and may be ac-
cused of speaking about what l am lgnor-
ant of, if l suggest that too many things
are taught at the same time, and too little
time is taken for the whole process. Think
knowledge on ten different subjects all the
same day, and this going on day after day
for years! 1t is altogether contrary to the
principles of a sound psychology to imagine
that any sort Of mental progress, worthy OF
the name of thinking, can take place in
that brain while that is going on. The nat
ural tendency of a good brain at that age
to be inquisitive and receptive is glutted to
more than safety. The natural process OF
building up fabric of mental completeness
by having each new fact and observation
looked at in different ways, and having 1T
suggest other facts and ideas, and then
settle down as part OF the regular furnl-
ture of the mind, can not possibly go on
where new facts are showed in by the hun
dred day by day. The effect of this is bad
on boys, but is worse on girls, because it is
more alien to their mental constitution.
The effect on them of this unnatural pro-
cess is to exhaust the nervous power at the
time, and to leave the brain afterward fill
ed with useless things that are soon forgot
ten and passed away; as Goethe said about
professional men; they labor under great
disadvantage in not being allowed to be
ignorant of what is to them useless. The
vital energies and nervous power that has
thus been thrown away, should have gone
toward a feminine equipment OF a healthy,
we'll developed body, mind built up and
stored with knowledge that had relation
to it's own nature and to the wants of its
future life, affections not attenuated by
scholastic routine and cheertulneSS that
is only compatiable with good health.
The cramming up of the dry facts Of those
many ubjects is, in most cases, WEAKNESS
and pain, while the intelligent study of one
third of them, selected on account OF their
fitness to the mental constitution Of the
learner, or her probable requirements in
future life, might be pleasure and a last
ing profit.-FTom "Fenale Nuc0i0n from
Uelicm Point Of Iie'r," By r. $. Co"sfon.
UNEQUAL TAXATIUN.-Th Comptroller
General in his report to the Legislature call
ed attention to the great discrepancy be-
tween the assessed and the actual value of
property returned for taxation in this State.
lie refers more particularly to the real es-
tate that escapes taxation entirely; but 1T Is
also a we'll known fact thatn0t only III South
Carolina, but everywhere else, an immense
amount of personal property escapes taxa
ton. \ great many fortunes are invested
in personal property, in mortgages, in non
taxable bonds, &C., and whilst the owner of
house or farm is taxed up to the full val
ue of his estate a great many other property
owners escape much of the burdens Of taxa
ton. This is an unjust discrimination. 1t
unfairly apportions the expenses of govern
ment, and enables those holding certain
forms of investment to shirk taxation.
There must be a remedy for this some
where, and we hope that statesmen can be
found who will have the courage to provide
the remedy, and see that personal prop
erty bears its share of taxation equally with
real property.-tolun'bin Register.