Friends in Council — First SeriesHelps, Arthur, Sir
Philosophy
Friends in Council — First Series
Helps, Arthur, Sir
Conduct of life
The next branch of the subject is the ordinary education of young persons
not of the poorest classes, with which the State has hitherto had little
or nothing to do. This may be considered under four heads: religious,
moral, intellectual, and physical education. With regard to the first,
there is not much that can be put into rules about it. Parents and
tutors will naturally be anxious to impress those under their charge with
the religious opinions which they themselves hold. In doing this,
however, they should not omit to lay a foundation for charity towards
people of other religious opinions. For this purpose, it may be
requisite to give a child a notion that there are other creeds besides
that in which it is brought up itself. And especially, let it not
suppose that all good and wise people are of its church or chapel.
However desirable it may appear to the person teaching that there should
be such a thing as unity of religion, yet as the facts of the world are
against his wishes, and as this is the world which the child is to enter,
it is well that the child should in reasonable time be informed of these
facts. It may be said in reply that history sufficiently informs
children on these points. But the world of the young is the domestic
circle; all beyond is fabulous, unless brought home to them by comment.
The fact, therefore, of different opinions in religious matters being
held by good people should sometimes be dwelt upon, instead of being
shunned, if we would secure a ground-work of tolerance in a child’s mind.
INTELLECTUAL EDUCATION.
In the intellectual part of education there is the absolute knowledge to
be acquired, and the ways of acquiring knowledge to be gained. The
latter of course form the most important branch. They can, in some
measure, be taught. Give children little to do, make much of its being
accurately done. This will give accuracy. Insist upon speed in
learning, with careful reference to the original powers of the pupil.
This speed gives the habit of concentrating attention, one of the most
valuable of mental habits. Then cultivate logic. Logic is not the hard
matter that is fancied. A young person, especially after a little
geometrical training, may soon be taught to perceive where a fallacy
exists, and whether an argument is well sustained. It is not, however,
sufficient for him to be able to examine sharply and to pull to pieces.
He must learn how to build. This is done by method. The higher branches
of method cannot be taught at first. But you may begin by teaching
orderliness of mind. Collecting, classifying, contrasting and weighing
facts, are some of the processes by which method is taught. When these
four things, accuracy, attention, logic, and method are attained, the
intellect is fairly furnished with its instruments.
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