The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-07

youth. We had q practical demonAtra,
ton OF Its value In the case Of the girl
who carried off all the prizes in history
and natural philosophy, and Of the OK
coptionally clean faced boy, who, some-
how, always stood on our right in
class, and could not be "turned down."
Wo do not know what has become
OF him since, but still entertain
mild surprise that he Is not In the
Legislature.
Memory is to this day the founda-
ton stone of our whole system of
education, In private and public schools
alike, and from tho infants GLASS up to
tho senior class In college. Teachers
depend on 1t, and require or compel
their pupils to depend on it. They think
that the greatest fault of children
is that they forget, and that q
retentive memory is' their greatest
virtue. 1t is profitable lesson for a
thoughtful parent anywhere to tako
cognizance Of the mode in which his
child loarns Its lessons from day to day.
The chances are that It will be found
that tho task is purely one Of memoriz-
Ing, to moot the exactions Of the NOR.
row, the last lesson being almost rs
much blank as tho next. 1t is a
fnct known to many teachers, and to
somo parents rs we'll, that q child who
can rattle OIL all the multiplication tables,
for instance, in the order Of their ar
Eangcment, and IN the ordor, therefore,
IN which they have been learned, Is
often wholly at loss whom sent to
tho black board or to his desk to apply
Nr l,Il
while, perhaps aftor several years,
tables and rules become fixed in tho
mind like so many scars in tho sub"
stance of tho Iraip, and are never forgot.
ten again. But how little Of all tho early
tasks become thus fixed. each Of us can
testify OF his own knowledge.
The question which Is thus presented
is one, we think, which should engage
the attention Of earnest and thoughtful
teachers particularly. No more honest,
faithful and conscientious workers are
TO tie found in any profession or pur-
suit. But TO no other SET Of mon and
women in the world is SO great trust
committed. No other workers in n con.
muui:y are charged with SO important
duty or have SO heavy a responsibility
resting upcn them. The errors Of the
system under which they labor are not
strictly their errors. They are them
selves the victims Of old errors, if errors
there were and are, and il is easier to
move in the old ways than in paths Of
our own making in any occupation. If
there are any errors in the present sys-
TEN, how ever, they must be detected by
the teachers. Reform must come from
within the school-house, since it Is sepa-
rate ard secluded from tho world, and
there can be no aid, scarcely sugsesl. u
even, from without.
1t is subject therefore, for Intelligent
and original thought and investigation
on the part Of those who reign supremein
this important sphere Of work and duty.
Testimony as to Ills observed is itself q
valuable contribution to the work Of i'm
proVement. Experiments carefully made
may lead to unforeseen results Of the
greatest value. Comparison Of notes at
teachers meetings may bring light and
aid from the most unexpected quarters.
And overy step gained in the direction
of progress towards better methods and
truer ends Is worth all it may cost in
the present, while it may lead to conse-
quences OF good for the next generation
| OF men and women, OF which no hint is
! glver IN the first feeble venture.