L. C. PREFATORY NOTE. THE thought of compiling a volume of choice selections from different educational writers is by no means a new one to me. I have long had it in mind, and have been deterred from the attempt partly by the labor involved in copying, and partly by a steady pressure of regular work. But thanks to the type-writer and to one whose industry is only surpassed by her skill and good taste. the thought has at last become a reality, and all that remains is a prefatory note, a sort of inscription over the portal, for the information of those who look within. Let me say frankly that it makes no high pretensions. It is not a pedagogical encyclopædia in any sense of the word, nor does it profess to be exhaustive in any direction. It is very far from being a systematic treatise on education; on the contrary, I have aimed to avoid any rigid philosophical arrangement, and have purposely omitted any bibliographical or biographical notes, as being foreign to its simple character and aim. I cannot claim that every good writer is represented, or that each is represented by his best. I have been constantly embarrassed by the abundance of riches, and sorely perplexed what to leave out. It would have been easier to make a volume of twice the size; and, should another edition be called for, considerable additions may be made. All that is claimed for the volume is, that everything in it is worth reading. Those who are acquainted with educational literature will recognize many familiar paragraphs and favorite passages. Those who lack either opportunity, time, or inclination to read the numerous writings on Education, and who still desire to know something of the drift of educational thought, will find it here in brief compass. Those who love beautiful thoughts on great themes will meet with many such in these mosaics. Teachers who have a few leisure moments, interspersed with hard hours of toil, will find much to interest, to comfort, to stimulate, and to help. While especially designed for teachers, it is full of thought-provoking matter for the intelligent parent, and for all those who are interested in that greatest of all living questions - the proper education of the ten million youth of America who, in our private and public schools, are being trained for life's duties, pleasures, and privileges. PROVIDENCE, R.I., July, 1887. T. J. M. CONTENTS. The brief selections without titles are omitted from this table. See List of Authors. |
