The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-01-23
For the Reporter
Past and Present

Man ,.,,,..r#.,,.f,,..l ...i..#.#II..=..
F., -''' ~ i'tiii@
nun d" 'Hi'ilai 10 pl'Ie-P'cl If hetht
him. nor 10 | wish il thrown in M face
that I am an eyoIgtioui.f aud h. 6.=.,.
that IT, 49,. l..z....f..,
VI 's9'i''i'a
- ""' ''l' dPt. ne ia'"' "hlch lu.l 10"
Is uppermo-t in NY mind. ana which the
above quotation more than suggests. i
81, .z,,.
- '''' ''''''' ''..'', a''9 ''u,'"'e7 th' al
''!u''eu' dha nous Oh WIN great te1ae=
lty to what ms cone down from the
past. the thoughts. creed. and customs
which are orav with v.ur.. mi H.
these are likely to enter ipta their b..
lief, make up their environment. nd
control their livas and f,,r,her,nar. III,
almost everywhere X found arno,,y mo-,
willingness. if not passion for follow
ing leaders. blindly and Slayishlv otfea
with too little thought As IN ,hefr RAJ
Worthinrss. the rrasouahle,a.. or
fAl.itv Of their opinions. the character ~
the work in which they are ENGAGED and
the ends they propose TO reach n +.
easy to undersfanl, how mis- di.nnsiffan
or habit of our natures. may somefitne.
tend 10 our advantage. and thai II i.
likely 10 do 50 when correct oniniau.
and good Influences exisr and hold .Warz
and the right men are at the from .-hiIf
let the reverse be the case-let errer.
Injustice and wrong be raunauf and
false teacher, have the ear Of the
populace, and the air be full Of the
noisy defamation. and shouts Of selfish.
interruptions demagogucs. then thin.
go terribly awry. and great damage
ensucs
In the matter of schools and education
in our own Country and especially in
New England. it is easy to trace many
of the false notions and practices. which
have existed and to some extent are rife
today. to the past and to ideas and IN
fluences brought by the Puritan Fathers
from the Old World. In the school
books placed in the hands of pupil. and
in methods of teaching long years aye
as viewed from our present standpoint.
there WAS complete forgctfulness and
ignoring of the laws of intellectual de
Vclopmenl-of the fact of the gradual
unfolding and growth of the human
mind, and the iheapacity OF the Young
TO grasp the deep. broad truths which
only those of ripper years could compre-
bend. Prominent among the reading
books of the common schools of New
England. near the beginning of the pre-
sent century. was the English Reader
so-caled, made up for the most part of
learned di>qnisitions. by able English
authors. upon dignitied and somewhat
abstrusp subjects. and this was put into
the hands OF bows and girls. from which
it was expected they would learn the arr
of reading well, when as a matter of
fact. they could not understand what
they were reading, and hence Were dis
qualified from properly expressing.
either by looks. or manner. or intona-
ton of voice, the feelings and thoughts
of he authors as exhibited in the com
positions in The book before them.
lindlry MurraY's Grammar. IA dark
treatise upon difficult subject. vas
then in vogue. and the lads and hsses
were encouraged to begin lis study.
which many did. with no other result
than learning parrut-likc. to repeat
words. and knowing nothing in the end
of the real idiom and construction If he
English language
We have. however, gradually come at
last to see that our schools. especially
our high schools, scminAreS and
colleges, have been to too great extent
but limitations of those of the Old
Country, aud that especially in establish
ing curriculuns of study. WE have
patterned alter them, requiring as a
condition of graduation, thai every pupil
Vhatevcr his tastes or bent of mind. or
the business To which he is adapted and
which he intends to follow. shall make
himself familiar with the same branches
of learning Few if any studies were
made elective. The same coat must fit
every back. Little heed was paid to the
wise saving of Agcsilaus, King of
Sparta, when asked what things he
thought most proper for bows to learn.
replied, "Those which they ought to
practice when they come to be men.
1t is a matter of congratulation that
we are getting out of those old rnts-
that at last common sense is overriding
this old custom. and that more and more
freedom of choice as to studies is given
those who enter our schools with a view
to graduation.
In all the departments of learning. in
law, medicine and religion. it is easy to
see how these deep rooted principles of
our nature. pride of opinion. force of
habit and fashion. veneration for the
antiuuated, etc. have held sway all
adown the ages. liking mems opinions.
stamping their lives. creating a dislike
for Innovations hesitation and slow
ness in adopting the new.
Take if you please the Legal pro.
fpssiou or the history of iuriSprudrnse.