Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-21

Just now when the attention Of the
entire civilized world is turned upon
England and the interesting events
connected with the siXtieth anniversary
of the coronation of Queen Victoria, it
might be interesting to our people as
well as to all others to study the meth
DDS adopted in the early training OF
this woman who has for so many years
controlled the affairs of the most pop
ular court in the world.
The little Victoria's education began
with her existence. While it was by no
means a certainty that she would come
to the throne there was more than a
possibility Of such an event, and the
wise and comprehensive course pursued
in her bringing up was adopted in or
der to fit her for her great responsible
tiles in case they came to her.
The sons and daughters of the aver
age American citizen have but faint
idea of the rigid discipline that the
children Of royal houses must undergo.
There is scarcely a well-to-do child in
this land who would not think itself
most cruelty treated were it put
through the course prescribed for and
followed by the children Of the Ger
man Emperor, and no doubt Victoria's
education was conducted on equally
strict lines.
Imagine family of children trained
from their infancy to such habits OF
promptness, studiousness, application
and comprehensiveness. When ordi-
nary girls are in their rudimentary
classes, Victoria was almost complete
mistress of several languages besides
her own. She was thoroughly ground
ed in all of the elementary branches;
for, of course, princess and possible
queen must be letter perfect in ordi-
nary matters Of education. Her pen
manship has excited the admiration OF
the world. AS a musician it is SAID
that she could have commanded lead
ing position on the operate stage, had
she been so situated that 1t would nave
been necessary or desirable. The IN
| telligent and painstaking care or her
; instructors made it possible to use
every moment Of her existence for some
wise purpose. She had recreations and
| pleasures. and enjoyed her early life
! quite as we'll as most children, and
probably much more BEAUTIFULLY, as her
! entire time and conduct were regulated
/ by those who knew what they were
| about. and, knowing, acted up to their
| lights.
There is no reason why any oTdinar-
! lily intelligent child should not, at the
| age of twelve years. be as far ad-
yanced as most children are at fifteen
/ or even eighteen years. The fault lies
in the disposition of their time and the
almost purposeless way in which their
education is conducted.
The majority of children go to the
public schools and learn all from SIM
| liar books and in similar ways. The
ouick-witted, bright children catch
, ideas and make what seems like great
advances. The dull ones often strug-
gle along, only half comprehending the
lessons, and never really grasping half
a dozen facts about the thing they are
studying. They grope through their
entire educational career precisely in
! this way. 1t is safe to assert that nine
! tenths of the children learn their les
! sons by rote and recite them without
! any clearly defined understanding OF
what their subject matter is or the facts
the lessons are intended to convey.
It is not. therefore, to be wondered at
If learning is merely smattering, and,
| IL some day, there is fierce rebellion
| in the mind of the grown-up, because
| so much time was wasted that might
have been filled with profit and gain,
mental. moral and physical. The ar
| gument that children can be oyertaXed
Inv this means is no argument at all,
az II is well understood that the chill
dren of royal families are rarely i'll,
and the proportion OF deaths in early
life is astonishingly small School
children who feed on unwholesome
food and are exposed to unsanitary in
fiuences cannot stand the high pres
sure of examining processes to which
they are sometimes subjected. but this
really means nothing in the general
summing up Of the case.
| Interesting study is no more taxing
| to the mind, If properly conducted,
than are toys and games and other play
occupations, and certainly it is far less
of a strain on the vital forces than the
exciting sights and scenes that so many
little ones are treated to. AS matter
of fact, at least one-half OF the waking
hours of the average child are wasted
as far as any growth of the mind and