Proper Education
15
been agricultural and manufacturing establishments. There should
have been teachers also of household labor. There should have been
a portion of the time each day devoted to labor, that the physical and
mental might be equally exercised. If schools had been established
upon the plan we have mentioned, there would not now be so many
unbalanced minds.
I have been led to inquire, Must all that is valuable in our youth be
sacrificed in order that they may obtain an education at the schools? If
there had been agricultural and manufacturing establishments in con-
nection with our schools, and competent teachers had been employed
to educate the youth in the different branches of study and labor, de-
voting a portion of each day to mental improvement, and a portion of
the day to physical labor, there would now be a more elevated class of
youth to come upon the stage of action, to have influence in moulding
society. The youth who would graduate at such institutions would
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many of them come forth with stability of character. They would
have perseverance, fortitude, and courage to surmount obstacles, and
principles that would not be swerved by wrong influence, however
popular. There should have been experienced teachers to give lessons
to young ladies in the cooking department. Young girls should have
been instructed to manufacture wearing apparel, to cut, make, and
mend garments, and thus become educated for the practical duties of
life.
For young men there should be establishments where they could
learn different trades, which would bring into exercise their muscles
as well as their mental powers. If the youth can have but a one-sided
education, and it is asked, Which is of the greater consequence, the
study of the sciences with all the disadvantages to health and life, or
the knowledge of labor for practical life, we unhesitatingly say, The
latter. If one must be neglected, let it be the study of books. There are
very many girls who have married and have families who have but little
practical knowledge of the duties devolving upon a wife and mother.
They cannot cook, but they can read, and play upon an instrument of
music. They cannot make good bread, which is very essential to the
health of the family. They cannot cut and make garments, for they
did not learn how to do these things. They did not consider these
things essential, and they are in their married life dependent, as their
own little children, upon some one to do these things for them. It is