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第13章

a new view of society-第13章

小说: a new view of society 字数: 每页4000字

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; they defy ingenuity itself to confute them; nay; the most severe scrutiny will make it evident that they are utterly unassailable。     Is it then wisdom to think and to act in opposition to the facts which hourly exhibit themselves around us; and in direct contradiction to the evidence of our senses? Inquire of the most learned and wise of the present day; ask them to speak with sincerity; and they will tell you that they have long known the principles on which society has been found to be false。 Hitherto; however; the tide of public opinion; in all countries; has been directed by a combination of prejudice; bigotry; and fanaticism; derived from the wildest imaginations of ignorance; and the most enlightened men have not dared to expose those errors which to them were offensive; prominent; and glaring。     Happily for man this reign of ignorance rapidly approaches to dissolution; its terrors are already on the wing; and soon they will be compelled to take their flight; never more to return。 For now the knowledge of the existing errors is not only possessed by the learned and reflecting; but it is spreading far and wide throughout society; and ere long it will be fully comprehended even by the most ignorant。     Attempts may indeed be made by individuals; who through ignorance mistake their real interests; to retard the progress of this knowledge; but as it will prove itself to be in unison with the evidence of our senses; and therefore true beyond the possibility of disproof; it cannot be impeded; and in its course will overwhelm all opposition。     These principles; however; are not more true in theory than beneficial in practice; whenever they are properly applied。 Why; then; should all their substantial advantages be longer withheld from the mass of mankind? Can it; by possibility; be a crime to pursue the only practical means which a rational being can adopt to diminish the misery of man; and increase his happiness?     These questions; of the deepest interest to society; are now brought to the fair test of public experiment。 It remains to be proved; whether the character of man shall continue to be formed under the guidance of the most inconsistent notions; the errors of which for centuries past have been manifest to every reflecting rational mind; or whether it shall be moulded under the direction of uniformly consistent principles; derived from the unvarying facts of the creation; principles; the truth of which no sane man will now attempt to deny。     It is then by the full and complete disclosure of these principles; that the destruction of ignorance and misery is to be effected; and the reign of reason; intelligence; and happiness; is to be firmly established。     It was necessary to give this development of the principles advocated; that the remaining parts of the New Institution; yet to be described; may be clearly understood。 We now proceed to explain the several purposes intended to be accomplished by the School; Lecture Room; and Church。     It must be evident to those who have any powers of reason yet undestroyed; that man is now taught and trained in a theory and practice directly opposed to each other。 Hence the perpetual inconsistencies; follies; and absurdities; which everyone can readily discover in his neighbour; without being conscious that he also possesses similar incongruities。 The instruction to be given in the School; Lecture Room; and Church; is intended to counteract and remedy this evil; and to prove the incalculable advantages which society would derive from the introduction of a theory and practice consistent with each other。 The uppermost storey of the New Institution is arranged to serve for a School; Lecture Room; and Church。 And these are intended to have a direct influence in forming the character of the villagers。     It is comparatively; of little avail to give to either young or old 'precept upon precept; and line upon line'; except the means shall be also prepared to train them in good practical habits。 Hence an education for the untaught and ill…taught becomes of the first importance to the welfare of society。 and it is this which has influenced all the arrangements connected with the New Institution。     The time the children will remain under the discipline of the playground and school; will afford all the opportunity that can be desired to create; cultivate; and establish; those habits and sentiments which tend to the welfare of the individual and of the community。 And in conformity to this plan of proceeding; the precept which was given to the child of two years old; on coming into the playground; 'that he must endeavour to make his companions happy'; is to be renewed and enforced on his entrance into the school: and the first duty of the schoolmaster will be to train his pupils to acquire the practice of always acting on this principle。 It is a simple rule; the plain and obvious reasons for which children at an early age may be readily taught to comprehend; and as they advance in years; become familiarized with its practice; and experience the beneficial effects to themselves; they will better feel and understand all its important consequences to society。     Such then being the foundation on which the practical habits of the children are to be formed; we proceed to explain the superstructure。     In addition to the knowledge of the principle and practice of the above…mentioned precept; the boys and girls are to be taught in the school to read well; and to understand what they read; to write expeditiously a good legible hand; and to learn correctly; so that they may comprehend and use with facility the fundamental rules of arithmetic。 The girls are also to be taught to sew; cut out; and make up useful family garments; and; after acquiring a sufficient knowledge of these; they are to attend in rotation in the public kitchen and eating rooms; to learn to prepare wholesome food in an economical manner; and to keep a house neat and well arranged。     It was said that the children are to be taught to read well; and to understand what they read。     In many schools; the children of the poor and labouring classes are never taught to understand what they read; the time therefore which is occupied in the mockery of the instruction is lost。 In other schools; the children; through the ignorance of their instructors; are taught to believe without reasoning; and thus never to think or to reason correctly。 These truly lamentable practices cannot fail to indispose; the young mind for plain; simple; and rational instruction。     The books by which it is now the common custom to teach children to read; inform them of anything except that which; at their age; they ought to be taught; hence the inconsistencies and follies of adults。 It is full time that this system should be changed。 Can man; when possessing the full vigour of his faculties; form a rational judgement on any subject; until he has first collected all the facts respecting it which are known? Has not this been; and will not this ever remain; the only path by which human knowledge can be obtained? Then children ought to be instructed on the same principles。 They should first be taught the knowledge of facts; commencing with those which are most familiar to the young mind; and gradually proceeding to the most useful and necessary to be known by the respective individuals in the rank of life in which they are likely to be placed; and in all cases the children should have as clear an explanation of each fact as their minds can comprehend; rendering those explanations more detailed as the child acquires strength and capacity of intellect。     As soon as the young mind shall be duly prepared for such instruction; the master should not allow any opportunity to escape; that would enable him to enforce the clear and inseparable connection which exists between the interest and happiness of each individual and the interest and happiness of every other individual。 This should be the beginning and end of all instruction; and by degrees it will be so well understood by his pupils; that they will receive the same conviction of its truth; that those familiar with mathematics now entertain of the demonstrations of Euclid。 And when thus comprehended; the all 

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