The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-08
THE MODERN SYSTEM OF EDCCA-
TON.
An Examination of its Theory and Practice.
Written for The Herald and News.

Aithouol. conjecture and science may
greatly ai; Us in forming opinions con-
corning early man, yet will we flnd the
most plausible theories and the grandcst
discoveries sofarchacology that will still
Ie;,ye US much in the dark. In Z meas
ur,. at least, however, we may follow
the golden thread OF human culture
back to q period, earlier than that OF
any authentic record We may even
fancy what the education OF the pre-
historic age was like, if meagre instruc~
ton in the rudiments OF a very scanty
knowledge can be Gignitied by that
name. Without books; destitute Of in
formation regarding the simplest facts
of everyday experience; with the e!e-
ments only Of language; the constant
victim Of the terrOrs Ola blind superstl-
ton: knowing nothing Of what was
behind him, barely conscious OF the
present and scarcely intelligent enough
to view the future with any other ieel-
inrs than those Of the most vague ana
shadowv character, we may fancy
p:imeval man wandering On toe face
Of the earth. OF knowledge, in our
meaning of the word, it may be serious
~ questioned whether he possessed the
rcmotest conception. OF sentlment,
| he must have been almost wholly Vold.
OF Intellectual life, of the cultivation
and discipline Of the mind, of moral
| CONSCIOUSNESS and in word Of all those
| higher pleasures resulting from clVlllza-
ton and enlightenment, be appears TO
| have been almost entirely ignorant. me
rising sun sent him forth from his rude
abode in quest OF food. The gathering
darkness of evening hurried him back
to his cave where he lay down to enter
upon slumber undisturbed by dreams
OF the rise and fall of cotton or the crash
of stocks.
Man then, however, was the same
experimental and political animal as ls
his antetype of to day, which was
greatly in his favor. We may therefore
believe that in the pursuit Of game he
from time to time adopted those meth
DDS experience and observation had
taught him were best calculated to
capture or destroy his prey. Here a
feather was added to the arrow. Here
the stone hatcllet was sharpened at d
greater angle. Here an extra point was
given the little canoe that 1t might
more easily cut the waters of creek or
river. And here again, the parsimony
of winter brought the lesson to use to
advantage the lavish generosity OF
spring and summer. Through those
strange growths in the society around
him. primevai man also learned much.
The development of the family into
the clan, the clan into the tribe and the
tribe into greater tribes-all these eN-
erted 4 ruick ening influence upon bis
mind: while the constant birth Of new
ideas called for greater mental eXer-
else to express them and the division
of labor arising from an increasing
population afforded more time for ab-
s1ract thought, and contemplation.
We may even picture the boy Of that
dim period aim,essly walking about the
community or with minl"t"re bow
and arrow initiating the sports OF the
older youth. Nor would it require a
very vivid imagination to fancy the
father and mother of those times in
Structing their sou in those few SIM
ple practical lessons of wisdom they
Thought should be taught him. BY fa1
the greatest truths of life, however, the
little fellow perhaps learned for him
self. The hills from whose tops one
could obtain the best views Of the sur
rounding country; the loftiest nut trees
in all the neighboring forests, where
c't75t::tiik5 aid where fe= tie he''S berries
blushed most deeply-all these, per
haps, be discovered by his own eNer-
tiOns. Increasing years brought, to be
sure, their due share Of toll and respon-
sibility. Before the boy could serve
the tribe. however, he first learned to
be of use to the family. Now, there
fore, we may fancy him cutting some
what loose from parental influence in
order 20 look after the cattle. At this
stage, moreover, he is armed with a
larger bow and arrow that he might
protect the herds from wild beasts.
Meanwhile, the tribe, in search Of bet
ter pasturage, changes its abode; and
the lads knowledge Of local geography
is widened. Later on, when the wet
season drives the herdsmen to the
highlands or the dry season sends them
back to the plains, the prehistoric boy
learns other lessons in geography. Nor
Unnoticed do the leaves bud in spring
and fall in winter; or the birds take
their flight and return again; or the
heat of summer and the frosts Of Win
ter pursue each other; CT the flashing
| lightning and the heavy thunder light
up and shake the hills, or the sunshine
of morning and the gloon of evening
from their endless cycle Of light and
shade. Strange mysteries, awful feel
ings begin to stir within aim. Gazing
by night at the stars above him or with
eyes now wide open to the countless
wonders surrounding him by day, we
may fancy the lad overwhelmed with
thoughts of himself, Of his father, of
the family, Of the tribe-of all the
things lie sees, hears and feels. His
father, he plies with questions. His
mother, he startles by the boldness of
his inquiries The old men Of the tribe,
he repeatedly causes to warningly
! shake their heads.