Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-08-14
Mistakes in Education.


We boast Of our educational advan-
tages, and justly, for at no previous
time have there been so many APP
planes to aid the teachers of our
common schools, or so many colleges,
semminarieS, and academies, well sup
piled with good instructors and the
necessary equipments to make their
work effective. / rejoice that it is so,
for the more education we can give
our children, the better; and the
more intelligent the people of any
nation are, the safer | believe it to
be.
Yet | believe-yea, hnow-that
many parents make serious mistakes
in the education of their children
such mistakes us often render them
dissatisfied with life in the sphere
which they must occupy, us the edu-
cation does not fit them for higher,
while it units them for that in which
they must live. | think it is DR..
Holland who deprecates the practice
of certain orators who address the
children of our public schools, and
hold out the idea that the boys may
become Congressman or Presidents,
if they improve their opportunities;
he suggests that the education which
will fit the children to be contented
and successful in the common walks
of life (Which most of them must
tread is the best for them. Right
here is the point where many parents
fail. ObliviOus of the fact that their
children will never be wealthy, but
must work and economize all their
lives, they hurry their daughters
through the common schools, and
before they have mastered primary
principles, put them into some fash
ionable schools where they can take
on few accomplishments, and get
Smattering of some of the higher
branches. | have seen many in
stances where the education was a
positive injury to the child. / have
now in mind a case which illustrates.
Farmer A. has poor farm OfsiXty
acres, still owes something on it, and
is struggling hard to make a living.
He is a man of integrity; for whom
have the highest respect. But both
himself and wife are making slaves
of themselves in order to give their
daughter, now about sixteen, better
advantages than they had. This is
laudable; but they are 6uiLding q WdU
Of separation bet,Ceen themselves and
her, 50 that instead of becoming a
comfort and blessing to them, she is
likely to bring sorrow. The first mis-
take was in taking her from the COM
mon branches, and placing her in Il
school where these are not taught,
and where accomplishments are the
great thing. She has no special tai
ent for music; but the father has run
into debt for a piano, and now he
gets up at four in the morning and
drudges all day until he is so weary
and stiff he cannot read at night; and
the mother slaves along without help
even to do the washing, that the
daughter may learn to daub pictures
on china, carve frames of wood, and
play indiferently few tunes on the
piano. The chances are that by the
time her education is finished she
will be ashamed Of her parents, who
have worked so hard for her sake as
to leave them no time to improve
their own minds. | do not think the
girl is to blame for it either; the fault
lies at the parents door.
know other farmers who do not
take single paper except the reu-
hot organ of their political party and
in whose houses there is no library
and not even a decent dictionary, and
where intelligence is at low ebb;
but there is an expensive piano which
cost enough to provide a good ency-
clopedia, an unabridged dictionary,
and supply of the best magazines
and papers for ten years. Now, do
not jump at the conclusion that l am
such utilitarian rs to oppose music
and painting and all accomplish
ments. am not; should be glad
to have more of our daughters have
them than can. But | would first
have them thorough in the common
branches, and taught to "helr
mother in all the routine Of house
4 Al :. I.