THE HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE OF AMERICAN COMMON SCHOOLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 475, 23 May 1857, Page 5

THE HISTORY AND PRESENT STATE OF AMERICAN COMMON SCHOOLS.

, It?«, an r^mar^.ihat ,the^nainijance?^, fQnned,irj I Mrffßp^i^-1 sight into,jchafacter than those -which arise in' bkr matur^r Vytorsr' '^Ke^rrpened:: judgment'pf! the inaii"isJbrou&htI tt) l^fear bnthe'vivid,impT^-li siohs!of yottt;h--«inipilebibb.s Ithe!ra^l yes r derived! £rotti4the apekxidttMeiLck'fJAd tingdarde^ frank-! ness; which then characterised cth^ objects of oar; stydy.,' .1 .The ■ same thing ■, ist in -^ jgiieat; meaeure! -tvue,4ft the ft»dy,r4ft ? »atwnajHGhacacte,ri-jTbe j young lif« ,pf a Ratiptt-^what/; jts t boys do? and 9f | kind i* mjQral.^o^t / h7^a^e ) t^fi ppjiifsJ! which will' best', -repay.' ob'se^ya'tionj' and,the; 1 judgmehti'ibiinid on ti,e :e Will be'liable'iJo! i 'the"fewest'mi^tkkesr'^l^ c(inriexi(ni !i'which • exists'between the Haind of a(jfe6pre aiiathe led-: ding institutidiiM which J mould i*sigrowth,%ill| I ever betno^fcolearlyfsmarkediin thafe«laskof in-! ! stitutionswhich'exhibit jtiinitbe npscentifcunm-r-i i ryi^viin.pubiicjschoflls.i^hiSiis Hip'§t.fio»spiQuqus [ i^.tb^e b[^est,an4 mos^jen^rgetic;^ace^i!^n,4hasj bepn. so tj in p^ppr«tion & aß e4uca|fc^)n was ; ed/from ancient times!. 'It is r n6t in weati Bripii^one'timt'tiheVutiic^hool .is!ajniicife-' cosm of tlte* repiiblic.C^rai§;fepiiit af ;6liq\ie whicW I -haunts^u^th^pugh life"'sruiwed rtsfeif firstiti^the! I •piaygrouttd. So; siii''th l* Fnited'States^'the loose,----1 -freefone' iif fqimH%iMems(to.cFy.ialoud? in the: Lcoinjno.n schijQlstTrJbhe; sajoft!itone;;thei hoaracr; j echo.of which rises afterwads onthe platform atid i around tlie ballot-bo?. f r „ r '.'.„""" i ["fOur con-i pytjrifofiter idfeaoft1 h <f^ualrty^ofip'(ibli6 eftttcatiorit! |iv AMSerica; As regards kh& average st^iidara^fi its moral system.! We ' eMdeaVotired1 to showi •.how.itibases ;itself; orranerfe) exsptdiency^ having, .apparently slipped feoflftytjienaferopg rgronnd.of: „conscience pn bjit.,.hearjty, wis-; I clpm f pf simpler Umes.ljad. t en^renched;it. But I-^*f- }s'P°\s% ,9Jj!y l^akness. .wiigK, that system^ I -reveals; We find oux/cteepest cause of regret,{ WhWwe^titn^p/t^e,^^ j'tion-,; (n.' the Way'in' which' school tfaariagersfaWdi !'I sfecri 6tari6s ftllbW 'themselves?eveifti to^speak''bf j 1 morals and wliglbn. ■ : •■ W& •■ have already) traced; ..histDTically.thestu^-afiofobheitidein sen-! ..tiinentiyQn this and jwe.npw 4 ipilocesd r to ..pffer,;a ;j fe>v .furthej^vSamjfles.^yhich^Jio.Tiv hqw .^apjd awl.how wid^ the;d^ci^sijan h'fts|jecome : [ -^''PQpjular eduction," savs.^'the .secretary.' of the; Boston sdhppls', v' niustl embra'cfe,1 besides' ihe cdmm'on: branches; the!' cultiva'tibn, of "the man-' 'Iriers',; ;of feh'e private1 and soHal-virivie^, and; of the religion*l sentiment; '*<' The most ;perfect'*Uvelop-; -imentidf fcliemindinolessithan the order of the ,;school, an,d.;-thei stability ,of> society .demands] a . religious, edjupatipn;", He he\% diverges ; into an encomitim, on,. ( the, .recogjtiitjon of. this, res^wnsi- ] .Tjility "bjr. the',.State, of jMassacliusetts,.which ex- ' |>arids' into" a eulpgy'-^well deserve^ we believe^ "at leUs't'ln' tllem-y—brf irt{i6 ap4 ;lia\vs of tlfe tJ Commonwealth." B'u't^ wlieti we I ■ -look foi^'fhe' ! praoticai' -rdles' which- are' to'giVq ;«ffeot;iin -the^sehool-rOom to tlie wisdom'ofithe / fathers; of theSto country, we' uniformly find' them .dwindle down to-;Spme s.uchimeagijejpiwsion.as ( thalb the,day/^i',work shall,^cpmmeoce with tiie reading!-'.of Scripture, aloud,..by..,the ) tea(jher ; ( aid that "tile Board,Tecommerid'' thajb..the.reading 'be follmved'by prayer^ ■-" >' ■'');i'-'; V Sertiiig 'aside, however, "ibr 'ilie ' .mornisn't''the obvidds fact that -such praJbrtHA 3rules aiiA Walfway'sug^sfjions really supply a!machinery for evading the;duty iwhieh they ostensibly enfdrce^ what ,can ibe tesiSatisfactory.-, thajt-; khe;wajrin , ; w.hich nwrals,andi.r^ligjqnj;ai^e : Bpoj>en of in'the •- abpye a ebctract? desertion,/ t pfj., ithe [ solid , .principle;-pf consciences jks tone.imnlias, is far more "maj'lred,than if the's^bjeefc.^iiad Veen 'left. taytJoui&e<l."' Si^e^e^is^consistenti^witli the ■profouWdestreyference,' biit'liglit ■'sp'ealdrig1 is: li'ot. The H feli'gioual sentimienit,'''' 3the:"- social virtues/ com« ! in-like'-those gentlemanly' extras1' which ' iswelltheitotalof-tbe halfiyeavly account from a • : pavatq aeaderiiy; in England. T, They .are :supi.posed,, as one, would y tp igiyeithft finishing . touch tQ.tfte character of the p.erfejct citizen, and

to raise the nap of' civilizatioc on its gossamer surface, instead of beiiig aasurned as the foundation of allSotber^pwfecfci<ai,fis»»^ tijadeuthe,keyl--notarto the harmtoiy df character ihi whicb>xfcivilization consisted -So: Wisea4rJtHat '^instruction in; morals j shall/daily ber gi?en in-each ot', the sohtiolfc," iaudftbel teacher is,, Qn ; qH:«»it&Me ; (far .eationsytp iniaulette the principle* of truth ianft :virfcue."l; It ar^P^a* sadly. deteriorated .state. «f public feeling,- whejameil h&ve leased to -see'how immeasurably vfcritth" and virtue are ... debased by heing tiiu» pot inj jtbe . catalogue- of branches of iusteuction,; instead of b«iigs regarded as (the pei;--Vjading'lifeandf spirit,of all-(education..' n] ".*.<.\i It is a^nor .uniistfal r^ply,toSmchcfensHrft»,tbat thei Sunday :§ehooi fills .'the, gap'left.iiathe.'iidparimerit of religion and morals, and is' thus a ikHtt^fi'jtendetjto fc&eij&holastic locomotive;; We ■cannot inow,erit#r oi» $he question haw far such an/arrangement is wise; bat: the. plea, .unfortit- , nately involves j»n iugly question of-; fact. :■; Mr. . Seymour; TjreSnenheerevwho' has' lately:: published «/;WQrkt «jSL- .the; "Constitution of/the United States compared wjth our pwn," ; enters. <f,t:Bom'e length into thJeTqnestion pf-&merican education, .and-, we tbink.fßueceedHv^in showing.jfchafe a cori- , sidefcable pro|)<>rti6n jjf children- throughout 'the -rUaiou'jdtf w>i■ fisequgnt a Sunday School at all/j>r ' vofcfly sei very iriegAslatly las* to? gained appreciable „< ■ '.:•;-! i; -,?-- ,;i>.: .--ff-r- _■=;.■ :-j 1; .fr-;^T iiM/We,proceed;further;to illustrate'the- morale of by.>a few extracts from the: amplest ' classWf .school i w ; h.|ch formed part of" the ,equipment,of : aiboy. about.eleven-years old:—: •'.•':' ;W,ho; is 'he Ahkt scorns to ido or say any thing Ih at ;« thean;-iand-vulgar ? .: I will.tell) you who.rhelff; :>h«s!i?f;the jn*nly schol&t,y;(l?oli\\'&■ Spelling Bc&k, jp./2?. Buffai(>. ; ,1854..)^ •>■;;> H;; - v.:-:-.,(. r=j i'uK> $he» followingfis taken <fromihei close of fche dast chapter o£ ithe:oSCrrammar School Bea;■der^^rr• /_7l' j ■■■„■ -:r:::W V.;v .-.',;. ■' -;r.-?-'::i ■■ .< .■Guhivated inihlligenee qoaliißes » martto rise ftoni- humble iUe to influence in, the. world. . .1. iiKno:wle<}g!e,i» ; ttawceadtßgV the ejeptnsive element. . £ljfils-a inmfor! all-Jtbe, emergencies of. life.1. . » : . It is the richest legacy wh?ch a parent.can confer upofl. his children, .... It neirer takes to itself '^iflgs^andflies'away; it is stibjebt to ho'decity.. It 'iffiljeft'rtUre rwheh tftef-#«rl4 expires, and, if sanctified by the gracgiqf.God, it willrise and flourish in , pCTpmiakeverlastiugday. :,::•. , ' '/' Jfyoa improve y«n'r minds, if you lave your ■ hearfs: Jnf he fduhtairiof heavenly trutli, you" Will not disappoint the hopes of the world, you" will be cap:i,ble i of dping something, for your u race -. .. . and.wh'ien.y6u havetfinifshed j'.our. earthly career, a voice iwill he heard, saying, "Come up hither, thou good mid faithful servant," &c. &c. •/ Each chapter concludes' with1 »onie questions :Ifor exaTninatioii'6ri its' siibject-niatter; and accoit^injgly,';,we; fiiid the fdlloiving arnorigst those dn this cMpter,:—-'■''Whp^t will be ; ;the conse.qu&hceif you iYnprovfeyoto minds and hearts?" We could find much to "say on this apotheosis of the inteHect-^^qn,i the siidden ,leap into the jPulnJt att^e «lj^ it, and ,tlie introduction of the."fountain, of:heayen)y.irutb." to play over i- r tlie, tree of krioivledge. £lxi% ,we forbear. 7lt is .plain that the,tone of the .system, finds its echo „in.the,^ool^s,,a,rid tlia,|ja& in. the ; above .extract, ■ ; _,the."heart': is dragge^.jp as a mere cojqoliaiy to head, -vjtfpralsL add l-eligjoi^ sink far into the ;,rear, following the .drums and trumpets of the ■& march" of intellect. :We : are to ."cultivate our inteiligence," and,,." dq something, for our race;" and this fustian, with the monstrous caricature of something religious at its close, is the food for the mind of Young Columbia. , Kowj for.amore aniusing,specimen., behave a colloquy among.young ladies, and itJs headed " Where- would you live?" The -first speaker -would-" fain dwell-in Italy, that land of- poets, around- whose brow the, fairest flowers twine jiiliafS ptayed* amid thaj bdwers?—here the-diction waxes-so poetical tliaVit gauis rhyme, !biit ?oses gi-ajnmar and sense. . . . "She' would stand amidst the magnificent, and recal bygone days." ':X3ath£rin'e? iiillabit'Greece—there: the ;»Muses loved to ;dtvell—there Plato taught and i Homer sang ;" while Hawiet scornfully hiquii-es ■ -whether d^the gloiy ,of Greece" has not ?ide,.parted, like* a<sumnier cloud ?" and '• sighs.jto ..dwell"with; tbe.,S\yiss in his mountain li'ome." a,,ypun»- lady of unsafe tendftuojes. She" can.in tins wi(te world discover no'suuW spot where she would reside, and would have* for he^r .hbme'soine'fm-ighfc star in the neighbourhood of--a 'wandering meteor, and feast on the wild drennis 'of fancy!" Adaline woltM be vonti?nt, on the contrary, with " some green island, eui;©reled: Ijy the blue sea" —she does not say which, but no doubt Ireland is intend^

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What a breezy ode the late ; Thomas Moore, Esquire, would have addressed ''-to* Adeline !" Sarah—a strong-minded, woman of the world, we suspect, but not the correct type, surely, for an educational work—-hereupon exclaims,-. " I care not for your murmuring rivulets and spicy groves . . .. ;I would dwell in Paris ; I would mingle with the gay, polite, and fashionable .... .... would throng the public gardens and walks." . We pause to ask, whether Modesty or Lindley Murray would be more shacked by a young female thus shanaelessly appearing as a noun of multitude, and "thronging," in her smgle person, the Corinthian,capital of modern Europe ? Mary comes in as a foil to Sarah, but is weak euongh to prefer "a quiet life; and a home in England*"Wia short, " one of those beautiful little cottages of which she has often read." But in .Ellen we have the Chorus, or moral personified, who snubs the rest of the sisterhood, one and all. -Before her, those historical celebritias, the Muses, Plato, and Homer, sink like demons through the traps in a pantomime. Down go Harriet's Swiss mountain and Adaline's green island, and even Louisa's comet is suuifed out before the more potent constellation of the Stripes and: Stars. Tie stage direction.here ought to be, "Thunder f-.ild lightning— enter the American Eagle/ For Ellen,_ it appears, knows a land "where theblighting,influence <if ,& tyrant-, has never been experienced—where man has never shrank in ■ obsequiousness from, the frown of man. ; What," continues thefair but impassioned champion, ;(though we boast of .no vine-clad shores like; the.punny region of poetic song—no fairy-land ofihe rose and the myrtle . . . . here con tent <\ and prosperity are spread abroad. .. . . What: though it boast no classic./fields, no; pomp of „-heraldry, no succession of, .kings— «$ can turn to a history bright with deeds of lofty heroism and of pure and spotless excellence."" Finale, a magnificent tc-Meau— in the centre, " Washington., the father of his country and friend of nvm"—curt-tin falls to a grand* chorus of America, glorious America!" This, however, is not all. Prom stilts to bladders is an easy progress—from such prose as the foregoing we untii-ally pass to the sort of poetry of which the following is a sample 1 rom some stanzas addressed to Columbia by Imothy Dwight, we extract the second and tourth:— To confine and slaughter \et Europe aspire, \\lielin-iu4ion» in 'J,»i|, m & wrHp t . lt i esiu flre . Ihy hero.,, tlie risht, of -mankind shall defend And irimnph purMie them, and glory attend. m Patriotism, the " last refnge of a scound'-ol " is the first virtue sought to be inculcated in America. Here, verily, is milk for babes— j conquest and slaughter," "triumph and giory. By way of relief, the poet presently prooeeJs as follows.— . J To 'lu-p. tli,. lrtt rrfuu'e of virtue desianed, fchall fij f Dm all natioaa the bSt ot m .nK-ind • ilwe, B M«fnl to h«n.n, «itb tra^port shall bring laur in(.-.-ni,o, mort' f.j 4 :raut t ,au odours or1 spring. We are able now to watch the experiments "at v.ork, and w the incense ascending; and when ive ren.ornbor the earlier effort' of Romulus, ■jrho opened an rsyliim," but did not boast' of iiavms- caught eiActly " the best of mankind " tho dmerencc between them and the worst seems less considerable as measured by results than ,<br human naturo'b sake, we might have