ON ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. 13 



quences. It is not meant here to specify every prejudice, bad feel- 

 ing, or bad habit, which obstructs and deranges human affairs. A 

 few only are enumerated as examples. Others will occur to an 

 enlightened and moral teacher : and there are no points in the 

 whole range of his labours where his reiterated lessons and illustra- 

 tions will do so much good. He ought to vary the manner in 

 which he presses this preventive moral teaching upon his pupils ; 

 he should attract them by anecdotes and examples ; lead them by 

 precepts, interrogatories, exercises ; and ever and anon renew the 

 subject during their total attendance at school, till habits of think- 

 ing and acting, the reverse of the unfavourable here referred to, 

 shall have taken fast hold of their minds. The benefit to another 

 generation of steady and unceasing attention to this one depart- 

 ment of the infant school teacher's duties is incalculable. Here, 

 then, follows a sub-section upon each of the following moral evils ; 

 and their anticipation and prevention is recommended in the very 

 threshold of education. The love of war, and passion for military 

 glory — national self-sufficiency and antipathy — ^religious bigotry 

 and intolerance — false sayings — self-sufficient and false judgment 

 — the spirit of contradiction— exaltation of every thing connected 

 with self — conceited deprecation — pride and vanity defeat their 

 own end — jealousy, grudging, envying, detracting — obstructing 

 and injuring competitors — want of candour — tyranny, annoying 

 the imbecile, provocation — derision — frightening — practical jokes, 

 witches, ghosts, &c. — superstitions — the gambling spirit — cruelty 

 and antipathy to animals — destroying inanimate things — stone- 

 throwing — nuisances and nastinesses — want of consideration for 

 others, and of civility — evil speaking and gossiping — ])leasure in 

 exercising the benevolent and just sentiments — prudential atten- 

 tions and maxims — temperance." 



Exercise on all these points for four years, when the mind is 

 pliant and youthful confidence strong, would work a change on so- 

 ciety, even in one generation, almost beyond the calculation of those 

 who view that society only as it is now disfigured. 



We have reason to know that the practical working of well-con- 

 ducted infant schools is entirely satisfactory. In the appendix to 

 the first and second reports of the Edinburgh Model Infant School, 

 published in 1832 and 1835, are a series of incidents which occur- 

 red in the school and in the intercourse of the infants, which demon- 

 strate that kindness to companions and to animals, and honesty and 

 truth are practically exemplified, not in a few instances, but gener- 

 ally ; and that cleanliness and refinement, respect for ornament. 



