Government of Boys, ^c. 163 



important than for the freeman to grow up without the as- 

 sociations of tyrant and slave; without the habit of truck- 

 ling to power on the one hand, or on the other of aspiring 

 after the means of tyranny ? 



The excellence of a popular government will always be 

 in proportion to the knowledge possessed by the people of 

 the art of ruling. Can their minds then be called to the 

 subject at too early an age. Government is an art as well 

 as a science : does not he who is to practice it in after life, 

 require some practical experience to preserve him from 

 error ? 



But let the subject be considered only in its most con- 

 fined point of view ; let the government of boys be thought 

 of importance, only as it facilitates or impedes the acquisi- 

 tion of such information as the teacher may wish to im- 

 part ; even then there is much to be said in favour of free- 

 dom. 



Even if a despotism were in the nature of things unavoid- 

 able, it were much better that the despot should not be the 

 instructor. Where the burden of government rests altogeth- 

 er on his shoulders, his attention must necessarily be much 

 drawn from his duty of imparting knowledge. But this is 

 the least inconvenience. A line of demarcation is drawn 

 between him and his pupils. He is the fountain of reward 

 and punishment — judge without appeal — often witness and 

 executioner. His^a^slaw. His words are the sentence 

 of fate. How is it possible that his subjects can be at ease 

 in the presence of such an absolute monarch ^ With what 

 unfortunate associations are all his lessons surrounded. Can 

 we wonder that so many persons shut their books for ever 

 when they leave school .? It ought to be more matter of 

 surprize that the love of knowledge can in any case survive 

 the shocks to which it is so constantly exposed. 



Another objection to the despotic system is that it checks 

 all voluntary action on the part of the pupil. Fielding was 

 of opinion that if a perfect monarch could be found a des- 

 potism would be the best of all forms of government. It 

 should follow that if such a position were correct that to 

 have a Mentor at hand to direct the actions of each individu- 

 al would be highly favorable to human happiness. But who 

 does not see that such a system would reduce us to automa- 

 ta. All mental jileasures would be destroyed, for the mind 



