The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-08
THE MODERN SYSTEM OF EDUCA-
TON.
An Examination Of its Theory and Practice.
fW-:.feu :1r Thr Herald ana News

greatly 3.U Us III !OtLu4HS Op4a4o-S w.
ce.aing early man, Yet VIII we nnd the
nl0st plausible theories aud hegrandest
discoveries sofarchaeoiogy that Viii stlil
!e;.vc Us much in the dark. In a meas
ure at least. however. We may follow
the golden thread Of human culture
back TO a period earlier than that OF
anv authentic record We may even
fancy what tho education OF the pre-
historic aye was like, i meagre lnStruc-
ton in ;he rudimentS oi a Very scanty
kuow!e2-r can be diGniled by that
name. Without books: destitute OF IN
formation regarding the simplest facts
Of EVERYDAY experience; with the eie-
nrnis only Of language: the constant
victim OF the .errors ola blind Supersti-
ton: knowing nothing Of what was
behind him, barely conscious OF the
present and scarcely intelligent enough
10 view the future with any other feel
iugs than those OF the most vague ana
shadowy character, We may fancy
p-imevai man wandering on the face
Of the earth. OF knowledge. in our
meaning OF the word, it may be serious
" questioned whether he possessed the
rel:lotest conception. OF sentiment,
he must have been almost wholly void.
OF intellectual life, OF the cultivation
and discipline Of the mind, OF moral
Consciousness and in word Of ali those
higher pleasures resulting from civiliza-
ton and enlightenment, he appears to
have been almost entirely ignorant. The
rising sun sent him forth from his rude
abode in quest Of food. The gathering
darkness Of evening hurried him back
10 his cave where he lay down 10 enter
upon sluMbe- Uud!Sturbed by dreams
of the rise an1 fall Of cotton or the crash
Of s. Iock>.
Man then, however, was the same
experimentai aud political animal as is
bis antetvre OF 10 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
o3S experience and observation had
taught him were best calculated TO
capture or destroy his prey. Here q
feather was added 10 the arrow. Here
The S,One hatchet was sharpened at a
greater angle. Here al extra point was
given the little canoe that it might
more easily cut the waters OF creek or
river. And here again, the parsimony
Of winter brought the lesson 10 use to
advantage the lavish generosity Of
SDring and summer. Through those
strange growths in the society around
him. primeval man also learned much.
The development: OF the family into
'he elan, the clan into the tribe and the
tribe into greater trlheS-all these eX-
erieG a .,uickeuinC influence upon his
mind: while the constant birth OF new
IDEAS called for greater mental eNer-
else 10 express them and the division
O: labor arising from an increasing
population afforded more time for al
S,ract thoughs. and contemplation.
We may even picture the boy OF that
dim period ainl!eSSly walking about the
community or with miniature bow
and arrow Initiating the sports Of the
oder youth. Nor would It require a
very vivid imagination 10 fancy the
father and mother Of those times in
Structing their son in those few sim
nle practical lessons Of wisdom they
thought should be taught him. By far
the greatest truths OF life, however. the
little fellow perhaps learned for him
self. The hills from whose tops one
could cjtain the best views OF the sur
rounding country: the loitiest nut trees
in ali the neigh boring forests, where
tha springs bubbled most boldly and
crvsta!-like and where the berries
flushed most deepiy-all these, per-
haps, be discovered by his o1n eNer-
tionS Increasing years brought, TO be
sure. their due share Of toll and respon-
Si5ility. Before the boy could serve
The Tribe. however, he first learned 10
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, be IS armed with q
larger bow and arrow that he might
protect the herds from wild beasts.
Meanwhile. the tribe, in search Of bet
ter pa>1urage, changes its abode: and
the lads knowledge Of local geograp ply
IS wi6eued. Later on, when the wet
season drives the her0snlen TO the
highlands or the dry season sends them
back 20 the plains, the prehistoric boy
learns other lessons in geography. Nor
unnoiiced 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
tsr pursue each other; or the flashing
iightning and the heavy thunder light
up and shake the hills, or the sunshine
a. morning and the gloom Of evening
from theil endless cycle Of light and
shade. Strange mysteries, awful feel
iogs begin 10 stir within him. Gazing
bv night al 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, oi the tribe-of all the
things be sees. hears and feels. His
father, he plies with questions. His
mother, be s;artles by the bolduess OF
Lis INQUIRIES. The olG men Of the tribe,
he repeatedly causes 10 warningly
shake their heads.