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Untitled Article
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Untitled Article
false watchman , and caution an unnecessary guard . Tear the whole fabric of education , as it is called , into atoms ; the particles , then , are easily separated ; the good may be retained , the rest be buried and forgotten : —or if it live , let it live to the scorn it merits . I insist on it that the bettering of the condition of mankind can never be effected but by a reform in education . Let this be done , and a vicious government will sicken of its labours , and die of sheer feebleness . As the
matter of education now stands , its ethical purport to the wealthy is , 4 acquire and secure power ; ' to the poor , * comply with the will and authority of the rich ; ' and to the latter so much instruction is given as shall further this purport , no more . Exquisite dovetailing of interests ! amiable reciprocity of morality and affection ! 4 Educate the
people to our purposes / This is the sole principle which , for ages , has stirred sects and parties to activity in forming the minds of those whom they coveted as disciples . ' Throw the light around vsy and leave all else in darkness . Do not let them have a farthing-candle ' s worth of glimmer , that shall enable them to rrrope through the dark
avenues , which it is oar interest to keep for ever unknown . ' How ¦ willingly would they have all in pitchy night , rather than those avenues should be explored ! How they have wished , ay , and struggled and railed , to keep all dark ! and nothing but the fear that the poor man would strike a light for himself , to scan and scare themselves , has ever inclined them to ignite their own lamps . Thank heaven , the misty halo round the flame has made itself visible too ; but fools mistake the
mist for radiations of the light , and knaves conspire to call it so . It is time education should have other objects , be promoted on other grounds , productive of different result ? ; for this purpose the system must be changed . Scatter , annihilate those hot-beds in which the precocious love of domination , arid selfish right to exclusive power , in the wealthy and high born , are nurtured ; and even in childhood taught to burst their buds , and become ranker of growth through
foliage , flower , and fruit ; and as vicious in the last sear of the leaf , as in the first unfolding of the verdure , for then the shrunken-sinewed and peery-eyed grandpapa wheezes forth his approbation of the tottering infant ' s first practical essay in tyranny . Let us no longer slander and disgrace good principles and virtuous-meaning words , by using them as panders to bad passions . Let contention for superiority and sway , no longer be nick-named emulation . Let good-will be taught
as the only laudable ascendency , and it will be found easy of acquirement , and delightful in practice . Then shall we see a political regeneration , we shall then have good government , and legislation will be based on justice to all . Then will the words 4 happy , beautiful England / become the one outspreading , grand chorus of joy—not till then will they cease to sound like the * pleasant day , sir , ' of Jack Ketch , when he slips the noose round the neck of a victim . Then should some despot legitimate , hater of the free , arrange his legioned slaves and ruffians for the battle , every heart will throb with sterner courage , and every arm be nerved with tenfold vigour . Authority need not fear the amplest instruction of the governed , if authority be honest . If it be otherwise , let it shake and tremble , and be driven as the smoke before the gale .
Untitled Article
698 Autobiography of Pel . Verjuice .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1833, page 698, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2624/page/38/
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