The Philosophy of Teaching: The Teacher, The Pupil, The SchoolSands, Nathaniel
Philosophy
The Philosophy of Teaching: The Teacher, The Pupil, The School
Sands, Nathaniel
Teaching
As only a healthy, well-developed body can afford a home to a healthy,
well-developed mind, physical culture claims early and constant attention,
and should receive that careful regard to which the truth contained in
the well-known aphorism: "We are fearfully and wonderfully made," entitles
it. The teachings of the sciences of Pathology and of sanitary science
should be judiciously and carefully elucidated, practically and
theoretically; presented step by step to the mind of the child; and the
child's body and mind should be carefully trained, so as to develop all
its physical and mental powers in harmony. Gymnasiums for the body,
conducted by men who have made themselves masters of anatomy and
physiology, should be an essential feature in every school, so that
ignorance and the desire to excel may not lead to putting a strain upon
the system calculated materially to injure organs which need careful and
judicious development. Plays, games, dancing, marching and the gymnasium
all require the careful supervision of a teacher well versed in a
practical knowledge of the human system, and thoroughly appreciative of
the great truth, "We are fearfully and wonderfully made." But the
foundation for the school as for the life career must be laid at home, and
much as the teacher can do, he can never supply deficiencies resulting
from the want of a well-ordered home or of a healthy home training. Never,
save under necessity, should the parent yield up his sacred duty to
another, at least during the tender years of childhood.
The education of the heart and of the affections, is as essential as the
school education, and these can never be so well cultivated as under the
influence of home. All must be developed in order to maintain the true
equilibrium. The boarding-school is not the place for children to attain a
sound moral development, and the sooner parents generally understand this
truth, the better for their children, for themselves and for society. As
well uproot the flower, or shrub or tree, and expect it to flourish, as to
cut the child off from the influence of home, and the care of a loving
mother, father, brother and sister, and hope that the sympathetic
faculties of its mind can attain their just development.
Physical culture, heretofore neglected among us--the body being left to
grow up as it may happen or chance--will form a prominent feature of
training in every well-ordered school. All the muscles of the body will be
in turn exercised, developed. The ancient Greeks afforded us here also a
wise example, which we have signally failed to imitate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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