Pestalozzian System of Kducutiwn. 151 
The following facts in relation to the actual state of the 
schoo!s at Philadelphia were communicated by him in an- 
ee pa. My 
swer to the inquiries of the editor. 
Extract of a letter dated Philadelphia, August 19, 1825. 
Madam Fretageot’s school has been established here 4 
years next October, has 32 pupils, as many as she can take. 
and several are waiting for vacancies; she has already com- 
pleted the education of some, whose parents thought them 
sufficiently instructed in all useful and necessary informa- 
lion. 
Mr. Phiquepal began his schcol a few months ago, has 
18 pupils, and will very soon have as many as he wishes to 
take; as the method requires more constant attention on 
the part of the instructor than that of the old schools, par- 
ticularly at first; as the greatest part of the scholars have 
been treated differently by previous education, and have got 
habits that must be changed before they can be effectually 
benefited by the system. It would be necessary, to reap 
the full advantage of the method, that the children should be 
sent before they were at any school, except being taught by 
the mother, who would be aided much by a small book pub- 
lished by Pestalozzi, called the Mother’s Manual. I have 
always thought that children cannot be put too soon to 
school, and the present practice, commencing In many 
countries of Europe seems to sanction it. 
T have seen nothing printed about the system except 
Neef’s Sketch, which is all sold, and scarcely a copy is to 
be obtained in this country, although 18 volumes have been 
printed at Stuttgard in Germany, on the Pestalozzian 
method, which sold so well, that the printer gave Pestalozzi 
60,000 francs for his share of the profits. The above epito- 
me is too short, but I like short books with only the out- 
lines; they afford room for reflection, to fill up the vacuum, 
and stimulate thought, which fixes the subject more firmly 
in the memory, besides flattering self-love, (one of the strong- 
est passions,) by authorizing the reader to consider himself 
as author of all he reads or finds out by his own reflections.. 
The fault I find with a great many books, is that mania of 
making things too plain, leaving nothing to cogitation, and 
i aa too contemptuously the intellectual faculties of the 
reader. 
