At the same time, no greater
obstruction to industrious study could be proposed than the presence,
the intrusions and the noisy turbulence of a multitude of small boys;
and if they are to be placed here for the rudiments of the languages,
they may be so numerous that its character and value as an University
will be merged in those of a Grammar school. It is, therefore,
greatly to be wished, that preliminary schools, either on private or
public establishment, could be distributed in districts through the
State, as preparatory to the entrance of students into the
University. The tender age at which this part of education
commences, generally about the tenth year, would weigh heavily with
parents in sending their sons to a school so distant as the central
establishment would be from most of them. Districts of such extent
as that every parent should be within a day's journey of his son at
school, would be desirable in cases of sickness, and convenient for
supplying their ordinary wants, and might be made to lessen sensibly
the expense of this part of their education. And where a sparse
population would not, within such a compass, furnish subjects
sufficient to maintain a school, a competent enlargement of district
must, of necessity, there be submitted to.
Pages:
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218