Address of
Massilon Field Taylor
for the
Dialectic Society, March 9, 1861: "Is a Knowlege of the Classics
Necessary for a Thorough Education?"
Taylor, Massilon Field
Cover page
Is a knowledge of the classics necessary for a
thorough Education?
M. F.
Taylor
Granville Co N.C.
Delivered in the hall
March 9th 1861
Page 1
Is a knowledge of the classics necessary for a
thorough Education?
In all civilized nations an education has been considered the most desirable
acquisition, more sought for and prized, than any other possession it has been
the lot of man to enjoy. By it the mind is ennobled; by it that principle about
man most resembling God is advanced many degrees towards the attributes of
divinity. And as much higher one mind is raised above that of the common
subject, so much power do we have over them
But to the subject before us!
Thus an education in its strictest sense is seldom comprehended, and as seldom
correctly applied as any other word with which we are acquainted: knowledge is
generally supposed to be its whole end and aim, when really
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[unrecovered] hops it can hardly be said to be even one
of its attributes. It has a wider scope, its object is one of a more exalted
character.
Education according to the most approved authentics, constitutes the bringing up
of a person and training him for the toils and varied circumstances that he must
experience while in the great theatre of life. Hence since youth is the proper
season for such training, education can only be applied to youth and thus we
clearly see that whenever a person is being educated he is in the act of
preparing himself for the vicisitudes of life, so that whatever will facilitate
his success and happiness in after life should be the object of education. As a
tender twig is to be fostered and nourished with a careful hand — is
to be defended from the storms of winter
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and drouths
of summer — to be freed from every thing that impedes its
growth,— its supernumerary branches to be left off and every other
inconvenience that attends its progress to be removed, so that it may increase
in strength and size and finally to be transplanted, in an orchard, there in a
short time to bring forth an abundance of good fruit: so is youth to be treated.
His tender mind must carefully be dealt with must be trained and strengthened
gradually and with circumspection in real with this the evil passions should be
nipped, and distroyed in the bud and all the moral faculties cherished and
fostered with the uttermost care and attention; as he advances in age urbanity
of manners or good breeding ought to be imported to him and as his mind is
strengthened — habits of study and thought should
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[unrecovered] impressed in him to
ensure infalliable [unrecovered]ccess. But in order to train the
mind study must be used, and those studies especially which have a greater
tendency to call forth the uttermost exertions of every faculty of his mind. to
withdraw it from the considerations of surrounding objects — to
oppose the slightest glance, but yielding to continued and persevering study,
thus accostoming the mind to look at a subject apart from everything else, thus
teaching it to use greater exertions in proportion to the opposition it meets
with and thus learning it to expose the subject to our view in every light in
which it is susceptible. The dead languages are especially remarkable for the
qualities in an emminent degree, and this has been chosen as the best means to
train youthful minds in the ways of thought and study. and as they have the
qualities necessary to import although education
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in
a greater degree than any other [unrecovered]ith which we can
exercise the mind, thus it is necessary that we should in order to acquire a
thorough and complete education and if we study study we are certain that we
will get a knowledge of them, and hence it necessarily follows that a knowledge
of the is necessary for a thorough education. thus have I discribed to you an
education, when any one thus thorough educated having the training and other
things I have mentioned in an emminent degree, transfers himself from his
college and takes his [unrecovered] of the world with suitable
natural talents, he will soon make senates tremble with his eloquence or become
the delight or head of refined society, be the bearer of his countrys standard
of literature or excell in any persuit to which he may direct his attention, and
above all he will be truly relegious and good man. upholder
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of his countries freedom and laws supporter of its constitution and
last though not least be a good old democrat