CHAPTER VI.
NATURE AND THOUGHT STUDIES.[1]
1. “Being the tender son of my father (says Solomon, the wisest of mortals) and the beloved of my mother, he taught me, instructing me that wisdom is the beginning of all things, and that prudence must be acquired and secured as a complete possession.” It will therefore be the prudence of parents, not only to provide that their children have the means of living, and possess competent fortunes, but they ought also to labor with all their means, that their minds may be imbued with wisdom. “For wisdom is more precious than gems and pearls, and all things which are desired cannot be compared with it; length of days is in her right hand, and in her left are riches and glory; her ways are beautiful and all her paths are peaceful; the tree of life is to them who have apprehended her, and they who possess her are blessed.” These are the words of the Holy Spirit.
2. Do parents consider well when these exercises of wisdom should be begun with children? Solomon says that he
- ↑ In the present chapter Comenius considers the studies which furnish the materials of thought,—the elements of science, optics, astronomy, geography, history, economics, politics, and stories. In the next chapter he discusses the studies which furnish the symbols of thought,—language, writing, drawing, arithmetic, geometry, and music. This classification is suggestive of his notions of content and form—questions now agitating the educators in this country.
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