learn to practise with the utmost cunning and ex-|ped eight or ten children from their parents, had pertness, without the least sense of its moral delin- them trained up and sent out in every direction for quency. It was estimated, that, in the year 1819, in the purpose of thieving, till she was happily detectthe city of London alone, the number of boys who ed. Such children, in all probability, were chiefly procured the greater part of their subsistence by procured from the families of the ignorant and the picking pockets, and thieving in every possible form, vicious; and when a habit of pilfering is early inamounted to from twelve to fifteen hundred! One dulged, it not only leads to the practice of falsehood, man had forty boys in training to steal and pick cunning and deceit, in all their diversified forms, pockets, who were paid for their exertions with a but entirely blunts the moral sense, and leads to the part of the plunder; and a woman who had entrap-commission of almost every other crime. It is no

uncommon thing to observe in the police reports of you for it; but if you bring any more songs to school London, accounts of boys, and even girls, of six or I will tell master.' This seemed to give general sa- seven years of age, being apprehended for the oftisfaction to the whole party, who immediately dis- fences of pocket-picking, shop-lifting, stripping persed to their several amusements. A struggle children of their clothes and ornaments, and similike this between the principles of duty and honesty, lar depredations committed with all the expertness among children so very young, exemplifies, beyond of an experienced delinquent. And, if such mental a doubt, the immense advantage of early instruc- activities are so early displayed in the arts of wicktion." Here we have a specimen, in the case of edness, how important must it be to bend the active very young children, of nice discrimination in re- powers of the young in a contrary direction, and gard to the principles of moral rectitude and of rea-how many useful energies might we soon bring to soning, which would have done no discredit to an assembly of senators.

the most efficient means of undermining the fabric of nan to possess over the uninstructed children of Pagan superstition and idolatry, and of converting other stations. They had been accustomed, after unenlightened nations to the faith and practice of our the school was discontinued, to assemble in groups, holy religion. When we would instruct adults in and repeat for their amusement the lessons and any thing to which they have been unaccustomed, hymns they had learned at the school. Mr. Buchawe find the attempt extremely difficult, and fre- nan, on a former occasion, assisted in opening and quently abortive, in consequence of the strong influ-organizing a school at Caledon. On his late visit, ence of long-established habits. In like manner, he perceived a marked improvement in the dress when we attempt to expound the truths of Christian- and personal cleanliness of the children. At the ity to the heathen, and enforce them on their atten- opening of the school, out of thirty pupils, two only tion, we encounter innumerable difficulties, arising had any other covering than sheepskins, and many from preconceived opinions, inveterate habits, long- were unclothed. When he last took his leave of established customs, ancient traditions, the laws and them, they were all dressed like other children, and usages of their forefathers, the opinions of their many of them with considerable neatness. It was superiors, and their ignorance of the fundamental apparent, that the children had acquired some sense principles of legitimate reasoning; so that compara- of the propriety of dress and personal cleanliness, tively few of the adult heathen have been thoroughly from their manner during the repetition of the lesconverted to the Christian faith, notwithstanding son," To put my clothes on neat and tight, and see the numerous missionary enterprises which have my hands and face are clean;" and it was equally been carried forward during the last thirty years.- obvious that their parents appreciated the advanBut if infant schools were extensively established, tages of the institution, from the fact of some of them in all those regions which are the scene of mission- having voluntarily requested to be allowed gratuiary operations, we should have thousands of minds tously to clean out the school-room alternately, and prepared for the reception of Divine truth, having of their having continued regularly to perform that actually imbibed a portion of the spirit of Christian- service. The inhabitants of many other villages ity, and being unfettered by those heathenish preju- have expressed a desire for the introduction of indices and habits to which I have alluded. Every fant schools among themselves-offered to approinfant school, and every school of instruction con- priate for that purpose the best house they had, and ducted on the same principles, at which they might promised, when their lands shall be measured out subsequently attend, would become a seminary for to them, to erect a proper building at their joint exChristianity; and we might, on good grounds, in- pense. In several of the villages they had placed dulge the hope that the greater part of the children their children under the care and instruction of one trained up in such seminaries, when the truths and of their own number, till a better teacher could be foundations of religion were more fully exhibited to procured. Mr. Buchanan left at Philipston suffithem, would ultimately make a profession of adhe-cient apparatus and lessons for the establishment of rence to its cause and interests, and regulate their conduct by its holy requisitions. In this case, instead of a few insulated individuals occasionally embracing the religion of the Bible, we would frequently hear (to use the language of Scripture) of "nations being born at once, and a people as in one day." For, the young thus instructed, when arrived at youth and manhood, would exert a most powerful influence on their fathers, mothers, friends, and relatives, and on all around them-while their own minds have been brought under the most salutary influence, being pre-occupied with those truths and habits which will preserve them from the contamination of the heathenish practices which prevail around them.

twelve schools-arrangements were in progress for their commencement-and six young persons were attending the schools, to qualify themselves for becoming teachers.*

Such are the auspicious beginnings of infant education in heathen lands, and the pleasure with which its introduction is hailed by the adult population.— While many of them are unaware of the blessings to be derived from a reception of the doctrines of religion, they are attracted by the beautiful arrangements and exercises of infant establishments, and at once perceive their beneficial tendency and effects on the objects of their affection; and as their children advance in the accomplishments they acquire at these seminaries, they will every day become It gives me much pleasure to learn, that in the more interesting and delightful in their eyes; and rudest portion of the pagan world, (namely, in the it is not too much to suppose, that the knowledge regions of Southern Africa,) such institutions have and habits acquired by the children will be the been recently established, and been_accompanied means of enlightening the understandings and powith many beneficial effects. Mr. Buchanan, su-lishing the manners of their parents. It ought, perintendent of the infant school at Cape Town, therefore, to be one of the first objects of every misduring the year 1832, established and re-organized sionary, to whatever part of the heathen world he a number of these institutions, at Caledon, Pacalts-is destined, to establish, as far as practicable, semidorp, Hankey, Bethelsdorp, Port Elizabeth, Theo-naries for the development and instruction of infant polis, Philipston, Buffalo River, and other places; minds; and every facility for this purpose should be and, though the returns of scholars are not complete, afforded him by the Society under whose auspices they amount to about 500 children. After the school he goes forth to evangelize the nations. in Theopolis had been established only six months, the number of children in daily attendance amount-blished, for all classes, and in every country of the ed to from 110 to 120. Many of the children were civilized world. It is an opinion which still too capable of giving effect to the monitory system, and much prevails, that such establishments are chiefly their conduct is described as cheerful, gentle, and calculated for the instruction of the lower classes of compliant, although but a few months before they society. But this is a gross misconception of the were most of them "in a state of nature." The nature and tendency of infant institutions, and a very infant school at Bethelsdorp was re-established, un- dangerous mistake. These schools are adapted no der the care of a native female. About two years less for the improvement of the higher, than the ago it was discontinued, after having been carried lower ranks of the community; and, unless they be on for six months. The advantages, however, soon adopted by the superior classes, the lower ranks which the children had derived during that short may soon advance before them, both in point of inperiod, were evinced, notwithstanding the interval | telligence and of moral decorum. For, in many of which had elapsed, by the superiority of manner and intelligence which they appeared to Mr. Bucha- * See Evangelical Magazine for December, 1833.

7. Infant schools ought to be universally esta

the intelligence, as well as the prudence and moral disposition, of the teachers, the efficiency of infant seminaries will in a great measure depend.

The first idea of infant schools appears to have been suggested by the asylums provided by Mr. Owen, of New Lanark, for the infant children of the people who were employed at his spinning-mills. Mr. Buchanan, under whose superintendence they were placed, was soon after invited to London, and a school was opened under his direction and management, on Brewer's Green, Westminster, which was established and patronized by H. Brougham, Esq. M. P., the Marquis of Lansdowne, Zachary Macauley, Esq., Benjamin Smith, Esq., Joseph Wilson, Esq., and about eight or nine other philanestablished one at his own expense in Quaker street, Spitalfields. He built the school-room, and supplied every thing that was necessary; and, on the 24th July, 1820, the school was opened. On the first day, 26 children were admitted, on the next day 21, and, in a very short time, the number of children amounted to 220, all of whom came forward unsolicited. Mr. Wilderspin, who has since distinguished himself by his unwearied zeal in promoting the establishment of such institutions, was appointWilson, Esq., above mentioned, next established a similar school at Walthamstow, of which parish he was vicar; and an excellent lady, Miss Neave, opened one in Palmer's village, Westminster, for 160 children. In Duncan street, Liverpool, the Society of Friends established, soon after, a very large one, and, in one day, collected among themselves, for this purpose, no less than one thousand pounds.All these schools were attended with complete success. A few years afterwards, namely, on the 1st of June, 1824, the Infant School Society was organized, at a meeting held at Freemason's Hall, London. The meeting was addressed, and powerful speeches delivered on the occasion, by the Marquis of Lansdowne, Mr. Brougham, late Lord Chancellor, Mr. Smith, M. P., Mr. Wilberforce, Sir J. Mackintosh, W. Allen, Esq., Dr. Thorp, Dr. Lushington, the Rev. E. Irving, and others; and, before the meeting had separated, a subscription, amounting to upwards of £700, was collected.

the families of the higher ranks, immoral maxims are inculcated and acted upon, and many foolish and wayward passions indulged, as well as in the families of their inferiors; and, although the manners of their children receive a superficial polish superior to others, their moral dispositions are but little more improved, and they possess nearly as little of what may be termed useful knowledge, as the great body of the lower ranks around them. Till the families of all classes feel the influence of the instructions and habits acquired at such institutions, the world will never be thoroughly regenerated.-In the meantime, if the higher classes feel averse that their children should associate with those of an inferior grade, they have it in their power to establish infant seminaries exclusively for themselves.—thropic gentlemen. Mr. Wilson soon afterwards But I am sorry to find, that, in this country, scarcely any schools of this description have yet been established. There ought, however, to be no objections to children of different ranks associating together for the purpose of instruction; unless in those cases where children are accustomed to dirty habits, or where they may be exposed to infectious diseases. In the Northern States of America, perhaps the most enlightened in the world, children of all ranks are taught in the same seminaries, without any artificial distinctions;-all are nearly equally enlight-ed teacher. The Rev. Mr. Wilson, brother to J. ened and improved, and society, in its several departments, moves on with the greatest harmony. In concluding these remarks, it may not be improper to observe, that teaching the children to read ought not to be considered as one of the main objects of infant schools. Many parents are still so ignorant and foolish, as to estimate the advantages of such schools, merely by the progress they conceive their children have attained in the art of reading. They are unqualified for appreciating intellectual instruction and moral habits, and have no higher ideas of the progress of education, than what arise from the circumstance of their children being transferred from one book to another; and hence, they frequently complain, that their children are learning nothing, because no tasks are assigned them, and no books put into their hands. But, it ought to be generally understood, that the art of reading is not the main object of attention in such seminaries, and that they would be of incalculable importance, even although the children were unable to recognise a single letter of the alphabet. At the same time, the knowledge of the letters and elementary sounds, and the art of spelling and read-wherever they have been conducted with prudence ing, are acquired in these schools-almost in the way of an amusement-with more facility and pleasure than on any plans formerly adopted.

In throwing out the above remarks, I have all along taken for granted that infant schools are conducted by men of prudence and intelligence. It is not sufficient for ensuring the beneficial effects of these institutions, that the individuals who superintend them have been instructed in the mode of conducting their mechanical arrangements. They ought to be persons of good sense, of benevolent dispositions, having their minds thoroughly imbued with the principles of Christianity, of an easy, communicative turn, and possessed of all that knowledge of history, art, and science, which they can possibly acquire. For no one can communicate more knowledge to others than what he himself has acquired; and no teacher can render a subject interesting to the young, unless he has acquired a comprehensive and familiar acquaintance with it. In order to secure efficient teachers for these establishments, normal schools, or other seminaries, would require to be established, in which candidates for the office of infant teachers might be instructed, not only in the mode of conducting such institutions, but in all the popular branches of useful knowledge. For, upon

Since the above period, infant schools have been established in most of the populous towns, and even in some of the villages, of the British empire; and,

and intelligence, have uniformly been accompanied with many interesting and beneficial effects. They have also been established in many towns on the continent of Europe, and even in Southern Africa, and in the peninsula of Hindostan. The enlightened inhabitants of the Northern States of America, who eagerly seize on every scheme by which moral and intellectual improvement may be promoted, are now rapidly establishing such institutions, along with Maternal Associations, throughout every portion of their increasing and widelyspreading population; and, I trust, they will soon be introduced into every nation under heaven. But, before society at large feel the full influence of such seminaries, they will require to be multiplied nearly a hundred fold beyond the number that presently exists.

CHAPTER V.

ON SCHOOLS FOR YOUNG PERSONS, FROM THE AGE OF
FIVE OR SIX, TO THE AGE OF THIRTEEN OR FOUR-
TEEN YEARS.

DURING a period of two or three centuries, we have
had schools established among us for the instruction
of the young, during the period of life to which I

lectual improvement,-a system of tuition by which the memory has been tortured, the understanding neglected, and the benevolent affections left waste and uncultivated. The effects it has produced, are visible to every intelligent mind that looks around and contemplates the ignorance, servility, and licentiousness, which still abound in every department of society.

now refer. There are few countries in Europe | of the community in the path of moral and intelwhere such institutions, for the instruction of the great mass of society, are more numerous and respectable than in the island in which we reside; and had we not unfortunately stopped short at the very porch of the Temple of Science, we might by this time have been as far superior, in point of intelligence, to every other nation, as we now are to the savages of Patagonia and New Zealand. But, what is the amount of all the instruction generally If we, therefore, desire to behold knowledge and furnished at our common initiatory schools? The religious principle more extensively diffused, and elements of spelling and pronunciation-a jargon society raised to its highest pitch of improvement, of abstract grammar rules crammed into the memo- we must adopt more rational and efficient plans than ry without being understood-the art of writing-those on which we have hitherto acted, and extend the capacity of repeating the vocables of a cate-the objects of education to all those departments of chism, and a mechanical knowledge of arithmetic, knowledge in which man is interested, as a rational, without understanding the foundation of its rules. social, and immortal being.-The following remark This is the sum of all that tuition which is gene- are intended to embody a few hints in reference to rally considered as necessary for enlightening the such a system of tuition;—and, in the first place, I human mind, and carrying forward the great body | shall attend to the PLAN, SITUATION, AND ARRANGEMENT OF SCHOOL-ROOMS.

The efficiency of any system of intellectual edu- ample accommodation afforded for the scholastic cation that may be formed, will in some measure exercises and amusements of the young. Every depend upon the situation of school-rooms, and the school-house should be erected in an airy and plea

sant situation in the outskirts of a town or village, detached from other buildings, with an ample area around it; and, if possible, should have a commanding view of the variegated scenery both of the earth and of the heavens, to the various objects of which the attention of the young should be occasionally directed, in order to lay a foundation for general knowledge, and for a rational contemplaion of the works of the Almighty. Both the interior of the school, and the surrounding area, should be arranged and fitted up in such a manner, as to be conducive to the pleasure, the convenience, and Amusement of the young, so that the circumstances connected with education may not only be associated with agreeable objects, but rendered subservient to the expansion of their minds, and to their progress in the path of knowledge.

The foregoing is a rude sketch of what might be the plan and accommodations of a village school. The plot of ground allotted for the establishment, might be about 180 feet long, by 100 in breadth, or more or less according to circumstances. Nearly in the centre of this plot, the schoolhouse might be erected, which should contain at least the following conveniences:-1. A large room, or hall, for general teaching, about 40 feet long, by 30 in breadth, and 12 or 14 feet high. 2. Two rooms, about 18 feet long and 15 broad, into which certain classes may Occasionally be sent, to attend to their scholastic exercises, under the inspection either of an assistant or of monitors. 3. Two closets, or presses, ST, off the large hall, about 12 feet, by 4 in breadth, for holding portions of the apparatus, to be afterwards described, for illustrating the instructions communicated to the pupils. 4. At each end of the plot, or play-ground, should be two covered walks, A B, one for boys, and another for girls, in which the children may amuse themselves in the winter

season, or during rainy weather; and, during winter, a fire might be kept up in them, and a few forms placed for the convenience of those who come from a distance, who may partake of their luncheon, and enjoy themselves in comfort during the dinner hour. 5. The spaces C D E F might be laid out in plots for flowers, shrubs, and evergreens, and a few forest trees. A portion of these plots, as G H, might be allotted for the classification of certain plants, as illustrations of some of the principles of botany. They might be arranged into 24 compartments, as in the figure, each exhibiting a different class of plants. The remainder of the plot, particularly that portion of it immediately in front of the schoolhouse, might be smoothed and gravelled for a playground, and be accommodated with a few seats, or forms, and an apparatus for gymnastic exercises. 6. Behind the building, two water-closets, I K, should be erected, one for boys, and another for girls, separated by a wall or partition. The roof of the building should be flat, and paved with flagstones, and surrounded with a parapet, three or four feet high. The pavement of the roof should be formed so as to have a slight slope towards one corner, so that the rain which falls upon it, may be collected in a large barrel, or cistern, placed underneath. An outside stair conducting to the roof may be erected at the posterior part of the building. This flat roof is intended as a stage, to which the pupils may be occasionally conducted, for the purpose of surveying the terrestrial landscape, of having their attention directed to the several objects of which it is composed, and of listening to descriptions of their nature, positions, properties, and aspects,-and likewise for the purpose of occasionally surveying the apparent motions of the stars, and of viewing the moon and planets through telescopes.

Such are some of the external accommodations | Franklin, Pascal, Howard, Clarkson, Wilberforce, which every village school ought to possess. The and Venning, and particularly of those who in early plan here presented, is not intended as a model to life were distinguished for knowledge and virtue. be generally copied, but merely as exhibiting the requisite conveniences and accommodations-the plan of which may be varied at pleasure, according to the taste of architects, or the superintendents of education. The plot of ground should not, if possible, in any case, be much less than what is here specified; but where ground can be easily procured, it may be enlarged to an indefinite extent. I do not hesitate to suggest, that even two or three acres of land might, with propriety be devoted to this object. In this case, it might be laid out in the form of an ornamental pleasure ground, with straight and serpentine walks, seats, bowers, and the various trees and shrubs peculiar to the climate. In these walks, of bowers, busts might be placed of such characters as Bacon, Newton, Boyle, Penn, Washington

At every short interval, sentences, expressing some important truth, or moral maxim, should be inscribed on posts erected for the purpose; such as, "God is every where present. His Wisdom and Goodness shine in all his works. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you. The Lord is good to all; He maketh his sun to arise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. God resisteth the proud, but bestoweth favor on the humble. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but lying lips are only for a