462 Human Physiology. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



EDUCATION. 



Its Power Limited by Natural Differences Effects of Early Training- 

 Classical Learning, Pagan The Motives of Education Success in 

 Life Competitive Examinations True Object of Education Must be 

 Physiological Education of the Bodily Powers, Senses, and all P'acul- 

 ties. 



PHILANTHROPISTS may sometimes make the mistake of expect- 

 ing too much from education. Owen thought the whole charac- 

 ter of man was made by his surroundings, and the influences to 

 which he was subjected in his early years. He took too little 

 account of original character, or hereditary predisposition. 



Those who have observed human nature know that children 

 differ in their cradles in intellectual and moral capabilities. 

 They have capacious and well-proportioned brains, or small 

 and deformed ones, good or bad bodily organisations, and vary 

 in all degrees from idiocy to genius, and from the most sensual 

 and cruel dispositions to the most refined and gentle. 



And these original traits of character can never be wholly 

 eradicated by any education or training. We cannot, the pro- 

 verb says, "make a silk purse of a sow's ear;" but we can, it is 

 answered, make a purse. An idiot cannot be transformed into 

 a genius ; but experience has shown that even idiocy can be 

 greatly improved. We may not be able to make naturally 

 awkward and ungainly people models of grace and elegance, 

 but we can make them less awkward, less ungraceful. The 

 effects of early training are wonderfully shown in all bodily 

 exercises. The boy who has a good dancing-master, or who 

 goes through military drill, or learns gymnastics, shows the 

 effect of the training all his life. Mere association with gentle 

 well-mannered people is an education in carriage and manners. 



