The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-02-22

ton. The Brahmans oy reason OF their
superiority in birth and learning are the
teachers. Since education is made to
bear some relation to the needs OF
| practical life, the warrior is exercised
in the use of arms, and the working
class are taught agriculture, and the
mechanic arts. The Sudras and women
were excluded from all literary train
ing. But all classes, alike, nave to
learn the privileges, duties, and usages
Of the several castles, and these are very
numerous, descending to insignificant
details in daily life, such instruction
forms large part of a child's education.
AT the usual age of six or seven years
the child is sent to school. This is
presided over by Brahman, who re-
CARDS it a disgrace to receive stipulat-
ed salary, and who is paid by voluntary
gifts from his patrons. These gifts
range from trifles to large estates; but
! upon the whole, leave the teacher there
as elsewhere, poorly paid. lie is held in
| high honor, and pupils render him
| greater reverence than they show to
| their parents. He may be indolent and
sadly given to sleep, but, to quote a
native writer, "Hc is great on the sub
ject OF caste on what should be eaten
what obstained from; on idolizing the
BrahmanS and the pariahs; on his
genealogy, his right, his privileges, and
on the mean origin OF the other castles
and of their low position
School is usually held in the open air,
under the shadow of a friendly tree, but
in case Of bad weather it is transferred
to a thatcned shed or other covered
building.
Along with ceremonial usages and
moral instruction, reading, writing and
arithmetic are taught in a primitive
mechanical way. The first exercises in
writing are in the sand. The teachers
are aided not only by regular assistants
,, but also by the more mature pupils of
the school. The lessons are learned
aloud by the whole body of pupils at
, once. The discipline, in the main, may
= = be regarded as mild, and it is only after
) admoni,ion has failed, that bodily pain
4 is inflicted by the rod or by pouring
= cold water upon him. mode of punish.
= ment peculiar to India.
y Good instruction" says Manu-, must
= be impaired to the pupil in an agreeable
manner and teacher who regards
virtue must use sweet gentle words
Higher education in India has received
I from very ancient times, careful atten
, ton. Although the higher institutions
= of learning were destined chiefly fol-
y the Brahmans, they were opened also tC
= the second and third classes. The sub
= iects of study constituted an extensive
curriculum, and included grammar
mathematics, history, poetry. philoso
ply, astronomy, and medicine, and
/ law. This course, which requiret
- twelve years for it's completion, wal
% pursued in whole extent only by tn,
~ Brahmans. The students of the warrio
- caste, from which the civil officers were
20 chosen, and OF the trading or agricul
~ ture caste pursued only partial course
u with immediate reference to the want
IL of practical life. In the science O
y mathematics Hindus have made note
u worthy progress and have placed tn
" rest of mankind under obligation TO
u. their development Of this branch c
20, knowledge.
~ In the system of Indian schools n
20 provisions are made for physical educ;
10 10 ton. The Hindu is naturally lazy.
10 life made up Of eating, drinking an
NJ sleeping is his ideal OF happiness. Ii
~. does not feel that over abundant vita
~ ity which makes mere existence con
W scious enjoyment and wrestling wit
~ dli1lcultleS POSITIVE pleasure. II
~ blessing is reserved for the hardit
.s children of the west. The religious sic
- of education lacks the conception of
~ conscious living God and in practic
If religion has degeneratcd into set
- puerile observances. The highest +
d dn ligious aspiration is to be absorbed in
~ the great, unconscious world spiri
'a n This ideal leads to an intensely self
az subjectivity which violates, by its id
- dreaminess, our fundamental duties
10 God and to man. The intellectual ed
~, cation of the Hindus is not undeservil
w. of commentator. by nature they are
W, nn contemplative people, and this natul
:, tendency is constantly fostered
~ their religion.
n But. however subtle their INTELLECT
AZ operation may be, the Hindus are wal
10 ing in that strong practical ener
~, which is necessary to subdue natl
81 81 and lift the masses to a higher deSl
~ of civilization. The name given to
~, system of education in India is CAS-
,'n EDu CATION.