64 EDUCATION;, AS IT IS AND AS IT SHOULD BE. 



All the ideas which I shall now gather I have myself expressed long 

 before I had access to any of the authorities which I shall have 

 the pleasure of quoting for the advantage of my readers. 



Education may be defined, the science which teaches us to culti- 

 vate the faculties with the greatest advantage, to strengthen the 

 weak, moderate the over-active, and to combine all into one harmo- 

 nious whole. It was formerly a frequently-agitated question whe- 

 ther general education was a beneficial thing ; but the very form of 

 the question is founded in error ; for every human being is of neces- 

 sity educated; audit is as impossible to withhold education from 

 the mass of mankind as it would be to deprive them of air. 



The word education is derived from e out and duco to lead ; and 

 thus simply signifies leading an organ out by exercise. One who 

 lives among those who habitually drink to excess has his organ of 

 Alimentiveness educated ; one who lives in combative company will 

 have his Combativeness educated, and so on ; and in this way all 

 the forty organs are educated according to the circumstances in 

 which the individual finds himself. The pickpocket and the poach- 

 er are educated equally with the university youths, and the educa- 

 tion in these cases, as in every other, commences at birth. The 

 question, therefore, as an able writer has lately said, is not between 

 education and no education, but between a good education and a 

 bad education. 



Education may be divided into two distinct heads : — 1st, the 

 vianner of instructing, and 2nd, the matter. This distinction is 

 very generally overlooked, in consequence of which very disastrous 

 results ensue. " The man7ier of giving instruction," says Mr. 

 Owen, " is one thing, the instruction itself another, and no two ob- 

 jects can be more distinct. The worst manner may be employed to 

 give the best instruction, and the best manner to give the worst 

 instruction." I am afraid that it is too frequently the case to find 

 the worst manner and matter combined. This can only be attri- 

 buted to the incapacity of the teacher ; and therefore, before enter- 

 ing: on either the manner or the matter, it will be necessary to give 

 a few directions, indispensable for parents to attend to in the choice 

 of a teacher. 



"Seek you to train your fav'rite boy ? 

 Each caution, ev'ry care, employ ; 

 And, ere you venture to confide. 

 Let his preceptor's heart be tried ; 

 Weigh well his manners, life, and scope; 

 On these depend thy future hope." 



