The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-02-06
PRACTICAL EpucArloM.

PRACTICAL EDUCATION.
An Educational system which Deserves
Universsl Trial.
In many essential details, the working
of the system of public education in
Worcester. Mass, has been at once
original and of remarkable vigor. A
somewhat recent elaboration there of
the plan of bringing . public library
into direct collaboration with the
schools, has been successfully pefected.
and attracted general interest. Special
subjects in which class are engaged
with their text books, and which these
last naturally can only outline for the
students, are investigated by them in
tho library during set school hours,
with the aid of the libraries in selecting
the best books for the purpose and
chapters bearing closest on the subject
in hand. Younger scholars have their
attention drawn to illustrations. and to
the older ones text and plates are al Ike
made of great advantage. Books are
freely loaned to students and teachers.
and a large number is in weekly circu-
lation in this manner. The pract cal
operation of such system
Of independent research by pupils,
at once accomplishing its spe-
cific object, and making them under
stand what library is for, and that it
il for them as well as older learners. is
shown in the following paragraph from
a little pamphlet by the Librarian OF
the Worcester Free Public Library. Mr..
Samuel S. Green, to whose efforts the
general acceptance OF the plan in the
town. is largely due. Such systematic
expansion Of scholars knowledge Of
topics and the amount Of study that
could be given it is invaluable:
Suppose Egypt to be the country.
and its early history the period which
the students of history in the High
School are engaged upon. and the OBJ
ject to be to make the children &C.
quainted with the everyday life, sur.
roundings, etc.. of the ancient Egypt
ians. The librarian selects thirty OF
forty volumes needed to illustrate the
subject, and as twenty scholars enter
the room every one has one or more Of
these books handed to him by an as
sistant. unless he has some particular
subject to look up, in which case bool
is selected for him that treats OF tina
subject. .Wilkinson's Manners AND
Customs of the Egyptians in its largel
form. will probably be found the mos
useful set Of books, and three or foul
copies will be in constant use. Work:
are given out to illustrate the architec
ture and pieces of sculpture. and to de
scribe INFINITELY the Sphinx and Pyra
mids. The little volume in the Wonde
Series. entitled 'Rameses the Great, b,
Lanoye. is furnished to show how thu
Pyramids and Sphinx are supposed t
have looked before they assumed tn
rough and mutilatel appearance whicl
they now have. FERGUSON and Rosen
garten's works on architecture are givel
out. and pains are taken to show no
only pictures of the ruins at karnac
Luxor. Ipsamboul, etc., but also repre-
sentatioLs of the palaces and temple
ut these places in the forms VIII G.
scholars suppose them to have had il
the days of the glory of Egypt, whel
the avenues of sphinxes were in order
the obelisks in place. and the building
eub It anu VIGIL PICSCAvCu. NO Oh
displayed which explain and illustrat
hieroglyphics. the worship OF sacre
animals, methods of irrigation, me
chanical and agricultural industries
methods of travel and the dress an
houses CT the people. Care is taken I
furnish the latest information. Thu
if Wilkinson's great work is used. tn
latest edition, edited by Samuel Bircf
is provided, so that the results {
the most recent researches me-
be available; for it is important,
take an example. that while chi
dren read descriptions of the elab'
rate division of Egyptians into caste
in older works, they should also ha,
access to the statements of recel
writers, that the latest researches sho
that castles with impossible boundarie
such as prevailed in India. really hs
no existence in Egypt. The childre
while using the descriptive books 4
Rawlinson, Wilkinson and Ebers are r
ferred to the very interesting stories
the last-named Psychologist, illustrate
of life at different epochs in the histol
of Egypt, and encouraged to read then
IN. y. Independent.