The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-05-15
Education to Happiness.


ends and aims of education, each OF
which is in turn urged with SO much
earnestness, we may suggest another
which has not yet received as much at
tention as it deserves. e., the educa-
ton to happiness. 1t will be said that
all education indirectly tends to this
end; that the development of the intel
lect, the unfolding of the faculties the
cultivation of the moral nature, and the
stirring of noble and generous emotion,
all pave the way to happy life. In
all these, however, happiness is regard
ed as an incidental result.
The happiness of which we speak, and
which is worthy of being distinct aim
in education, is rather an inward spirit
of life, that gives its own tone to exter-
nal things, instead of seeking among
them for its keynote. Any thoughtful
survey of men and women will show
that their real happiness is far less bound
up in the events of life than is common
ly supposed. Joys are certainly joyful
and SORROWS sorrowful, yet the former
cannot of themselves make happy per-
son, nor the latter miserable one. We
frequently meet with people who seem
to have everything in the world they
can want, yet who carry heavy hearts
and sad countenances, while Others with
Affections and privations hard to bear
are yet bright and cheerful. Nothing
seems able to make the one sincerely
glad; nothing has power to make the
other permanently wretched. 1t is true
that this is largely owing to difference
of temperament, but it is also fair SUBJ
iect for education.
Many of the influences now cast
around children are actually educating
them to unhappincss. Particularly is
this done by instilling disproportion-
ate care and anxiety about little things.
Not only is the child admonished and
reproved about hundreds of really trivial
matters, thus raising them in his mind
to the level of serious offences; he also
sees those around him whom he respects
and loves full of worry and disquiet
about small annoyances; he hears them
criticising trifing mistakes or delin-
quences in their neighbors, detailing
petty grievances, complaining OF little
discomforts, craving all sorts of small
luxuries, and he becomes accustomed
to see them usually occupied with mat
tiers that ought to be treated as compar.
atiyelv INSIGNIFICANT. This spirit is in.
evitably infused into his receptive mind.
and thus the seeds of selfshneSS, mar
rowness, cowardice and unhappiness are
efectually sown. No moral teaching.
be it ever so sound; no precepts, be
they ever so wise, will avail to counter
act the powerful influence that emanate'
unconsciously from character and ex
ample.
On the other hand, the education te
happiness places the emphasis upor
wholly different things. 1t recognizes
the few things that are really importan
to character and life, and, therefore, tt
happiness, and aims first of all to estab
lish them A love of truth, an adher
ence to principle, the exercise of th'
various faculties, the fulfilment of obi
cations, the awakening of generous emo
tions-to these and similar subjects th'
wise educator directs his serious atten
ton. He is aware that if little interests
small requirements and petty thought
are allowed to absorb the soul of tn
child, great principles and noble aim
can find no place. He therefore care
fully subordinates in himself and in hi
conduct much that forms the main par
of many lives.
1t is not what life is to bring to mai
but, what he is able to carry into 1t
that will determine his happiness. l
he has been so Influenced as to hold th'
former lightly, and to give to the latte
his enthusiastic interest, the true toun
dation of happy life has been laid
Then luxurious desires will be kept il
check, and small trouble will be born
patiently, not so much by martyrlik
effort of self-sacrifce, as by slmpl
and real appreciation of their relativ
insignifcance. Other things will appea
of SO much more consequence that tn
petty interests of life will sink to thei
true level. Happiness of this enduring
kind is we'll worthy to become an ain
in both education and self-culture. In
deed, the more we seek to promote
the sweeter and purer will life become
and the stronger and steadier will b
our power to deal with it.