Excerpt from Levana: Or, the Doctrine of Education

At a time when the public mind is so fully awakened to the importance of education, it appeared to the Translator that the thoughts of one of the greatest Germans on the subject were worthy of deep consideration; and he offers them with the more satisfaction because he believes it impossible either for the advocates or for the opponents of the government scheme of education to draw offensive weapons from this arsenal. For Levana treats neither of national nor congregational education; it elevates neither state nor priest into educator; but it devolves that duty, where the interest ever ought to be, on the parents, and particularly on the mother.

It is far from the Translator's object to disparage the great efforts now making to improve the state of popular education; but he believes that, in propounding general systems, it is too much forgotten that real education is the work of individuals on individuals. It may be necessary - it is necessary - to provide instruction, and, as far as possible, education, for the classes who are too ignorant to seek it for themselves. But let us not, in the mania for systems, forget how little these alone can effect. And, farther we would ask, is the education of the upper classes so perfect that they may leave all care for it to watch over only that of the lower? If there be much of crime - the acknowledged consequence of ignorance - among the masses, is there less of vice - the equally sure accompaniment of bad education - among the higher grades of society?

In the belief that Levana may tend much to ameliorate that department of education which is most neglected and needs most care - home training - the Translator makes no apology for clothing it in an English dress. He is, indeed, surprised that it has not previously been presented to the English reader.

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