CHAPTER XXI.

REMARKS ON SCHOOLS.

National schools—­British and foreign societies—­Sunday schools—­Observations

CHAPTER XXII.

HINTS ON NURSERY EDUCATION.

Introduction to botany—­First lessons in natural history—­First truths of astronomy—­Geographical instruction—­Conclusion

THE INFANT SYSTEM.

* * * * *

CHAPTER I.

RETROSPECT OF MY CAREER.

Days and scenes of childhood—­Parental care—­Power of early impressions—­School experience—­Commencement in business—­Sunday-school teaching and its results—­Experiment on a large scale—­Development of plans and invention of implements—­Heavy bereavement—­Propagation of the system of education, in the neighborhood of London, and ultimately in most of the principal places in England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland—­Misapprehension and perversion of the principles of infant education—­Signs of advancement—­Hope for the future.

* * * * *

  Be it a weakness, it deserves some praise,
  We love the play-place of our early days;
  The scene is touching.”—­Cowper

  “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under
  the sun?”—­Ecclesiastes i. 3.

* * * * *

How came you to think of the Infant School system of teaching?—­is a question that I have often been asked; and my friends think it advisable that it should, in part at least, be answered.  I proceed therefore, in compliance with their wishes, to give some little of the required information in this place, as perhaps it may throw light upon, or explain more clearly, the fundamental principles laid down and advocated throughout this volume.  In few words, then, I would reply,—­circumstances forced me to it.  Born an only child, under peculiar circumstances, and living in an isolated neighbourhood, I had no childish companions from infancy; I was, consequently, thrown much on my own resources, and early became a thinker, and in some measure a contriver too.  I beheld a beautiful world around me, full of everything to admire and to win attention.  As soon as I could think at all, I saw that there must be a Maker, Governor, and Protector of this world.  Such things as had life won my admiration, and thus I became very fond of animals.  Flowers and fruits, stones and minerals, I also soon learned to observe and to mark their differences.  This led to enquiries as to how they came—­where from—­who made them?  My mother told me they came from God, that he made them and all things that I saw; and also that he made herself and me.  From that moment I never doubted His wonderful existence.  I could