Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 568

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Report of the Morrison Education Society.

Oct

intellect and amount of knowledge, evidently superior to those of their neighbors in the old way. Perhaps the cession of a neighbor- ing island to the crown of Great Britain, has opened a spot on which the experiment may be made. To effect this change on a large scale must require a long period of peaceful intercourse with this people, time enough to do away their prejudices against us and our learning. The commencement of that period has I trust arrived, for while I am writing, we are greeted by the intelligence of "lasting peace" confirmed. Now from the platform of the philanthropic institutions established in and in behalf of China, we hail the day yet distant, but surely approaching, when the mind of this great people shall come forth from its long hibernation, with the fresh- ness and life of spring.

But in the meantime we must not be idle, for we can do much to inspire some individuals with new activity, and make them powerful- ly reäct upon the slumbering multitude. The plan of instruction adopted by the Morrison Education Society, provides for the supply of the very deficiency that the Chinese system of education creates. We open to our pupils the sources of knowledge that lie in English literature. While we deny to the Chinese youth nothing that can be gained from his native soil, we give him access to as much as possible of occidental lore, thus securing to him that which gives weight and respectability to a man in his own country, but at the same time taking care that his mind shall be cultivated, and well fur- nished. That part of the man, which is so sadly neglected, to wit the reason, judgment, imagination, affections and conscience, is here subjected to the best culture we can give it through a foreign medium. This leads me to speak of the progress of the boys in their English studies, and the effect they have produced upon their character.

The first step taken in the instruction of the new class received last autumn, was of course to teach them to read. For this purpose a few copies of the "Mother's Primer,” by a distinguished writer of elementary books for children, were put into their hands. According to the plan of the author, they were taught the powers of the letters first, and the names afterwards. At first the pupil may not seem to be making as rapid progress as in the usual mode of teaching, but in a given time, the amount of his attainments is greater, be- sides that he is much more interested in his task, than when taught first to call certain arbitrary marks, or letters, by certain arbitrary sounds, or the names of the letters. The new method has also a double advantage where it is adopted ainong boys that are learning a