ATLANTIC JOURNAL 
AND 
A CYCLOPEDIC JOURNAL AND REVIEW 
OF tJIflVERSAL SCIEKCE ANB KKOWLEDGE S 
HISTORICAL, NATURAL, AND MEDICAL ARTS AND SCIENCES: 
INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION AND EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION: 
WITH NUMEROUS FIGURES. 
EDITOR , C. S. RJ1FINESQUE, 
Professor of Historical and Natural Sciences , &c» 
Vol. L] 
PHILADELPHIA, Winter of 1832. 
-#■ 
[No. 41 
Knotvledge is the mental food of man . 
It has been impossible to give this 
year all the articles prepared for this 
Journal, owing to the length of some, 
or the nature of others $ but by sub- 
stitutions as great a number and va- 
riety has been given. By an over- 
sight the articles have hot been num- 
bered in succession as contemplated: 
this omission is now repaired here. 
Article 88.- — Principles of Jaco- 
TOT OR HIS SYSTEM OF INSTRUC- 
TION. 
This age so fecund in improve- 
ments has not neglected to improve 
education, the great basis of civili- 
zation. The intuitive and moni- 
torial plans, those of Pestalozi, Fel- 
lenberg, liensalaer, Lancaster, are 
real improvements, as well as the 
Infant Schools, Teachers Schools, 
&c. But has the system of Jacotot 
any similar claim? 
"He calls it, the Natural Method 
of Universal Instruction and Intel- 
lectual Emancipation, a very bold 
and assuming titles nay he asserts 
tfiat it is entirely new, while the 
Same principles had long ago been 
proposed in France, and lately ap- 
plied by Bufief and Hamilton to 
teach languages. 
The outlines of Jacotof s System 
have been translated and published 
in Philadelphia, 183 1, by Victor 
Guillou, divided in 3 parts. 1. Rea- 
ding. 2. Writing. 3. Vernacular 
tongue and grammar. It is assert- 
ed in addition that every thing can 
be taught in the same way, geogra- 
phy, history, languages, composition, 
oratory, mathematics, drawing, mu- 
sic, dancing ! ! ! All this with a sin- 
gle text book, which is Telemaehus, 
although any other widely trail slated, 
book would answer. Hamilton used 
the Bible. 
Jacotot Begun to teach on this 
plan in 1818 in the Netherlands, 
where he contrived it in order to 
teach the French language to the 
Dutch, although he could not speak 
Dutch! but has since applied it to 
every kind of instruction. In 1 826 
he became the subject of attention, 
aild in 1828 his method was spread 
Ji France. Wonders are re- 
lated of it, in Lyons a whole school 
was taught to read and write in 15 
! and in 8 months the whole 
course of education was completed, 
by a single book! who can believe 
this? 
The principles of Jacotot are 
1. God has endowed the human 
mind with the power of self instruc- 
tion— True. 
2. The child is to speak what he 
1 earris, the teacher to listen and di- 
rect— This is done in the liensalaer 
school, and many others. 
3. A constant repetition of the 
first words and things learned, is 
required— This is parrot like. 
4. It is needful to commit to me- 
mory the 6 first books of Tel ema- 
chus, word for word without a blun- 
der. ■ — Absurdity! 
5. Intelligence is the same in all 
beings, and therefore the aptitude to 
learn— Quite false. 
