The Educational Writings of Richard MulcasterMulcaster, Richard
History
The Educational Writings of Richard Mulcaster
Mulcaster, Richard
Education -- History
Are not youths often sent into the world, who may receive
consideration on account of their degrees, but deserve none for
their learning? If men did not judge sensibly that young shoots
must be green, however good an appearance they may make, youth
might deceive them with its titles, as it deceives itself with
conceit. The causes of haste are--impatience, which can abide
no tarrying when a restless conceit is overladen; the desire of
liberty, to live as he pleases, because he pleases not to live
as he should; arrogance, making him wish to appear a person of
importance; hope of preferment, urging him to desire dignities
before the ability to support them. In the meanwhile the common
welfare is sacrificed to personal advantage, and even that
advantage is in appearance and not in reality. The canker that
consumeth all, and causeth all this evil, is haste, an ill-advised,
rash, and headstrong counsellor, that is most pernicious when there
is either some appearance of ripeness in the child, or some unwise
encouragement from a teacher who is without true discernment. It is
time that perfecteth all; it is the mother of truth, the touchstone
of ripeness, the enemy of error, the true support and help of man.
Limit of Elementary Course.
When the child can read so readily and confidently that the length
of his lesson gives him no trouble; when he can write so neatly
and so fast that he finds no kind of exercise tedious; when his pen
or pencil gives him only pleasure; when his music, both vocal and
instrumental, is so far forward that a little voluntary practice
may keep it up and even improve it; then the elementary course has
lasted long enough. The child’s ordinary exercises in the Grammar
School will continue his reading and writing and he will always
be drawing of his own accord, because it delighteth his eye, and
busieth not his brain. His music, however, must be encouraged by
the pleasure taken in it by the teacher and his parents, for in
those early years children are musical rather for others’ benefit
than for their own. It is certain that in tarrying long enough
to bring all these things to perfection there is no real loss of
time, especially seeing that these attainments, even if they go
no further, make a pretty adornment to a household if they be
thoroughly acquired.
Difficulties in Teaching.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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