|
 Continuing
from last month our quote from Memoirs of A. Campbell, by Robt.
Richardson (V.2, P. 467-f), we call attention to the original
purpose Campbell had in founding Bethany College, We question
certain practical aspects, and its church "tics;" but
feel current "Our Schools" discussions will be better
informed by considering these early views. RFT
------------------
"The
relations of the great principles taught in the Bible to human
rights and political and social freedom had for some time been
partially recognized, but no one had assigned to it its proper
position in respect to moral science, which had, as yet, found
no better foundation than philosophy, and the study of which
even was postponed to the latest period.
Mr.
Campbell was convinced that a very great chasm was suffered to
exist in the ordinary course of education between the primary
school and the college. The almost total neglect of moral
culture during this period left, he thought, pupils quite
unprepared to engage in the studies and encounter the
temptations of college life. He argued that there could not be
any proper preparation for college without such a development of
the moral faculties and such instruction as would enable
students to take correct views of life and of society, and
justly to recognize the obligations and responsibilities resting
upon them. This preparation, imparted only in exceptional cases
in home education, he thought should be assiduously communicated
to all, and that a proper foundation should thus be laid for all
subsequent attainments.
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This
moral education, in his view, could be derived from no other
source than the Bible, whose lessons alone furnish the proper
basis for such an attainment, which he did not conceive to
consist in mere instruction in the principles or in the
philosophy of morality, but in the formation of character.
This which had heretofore formed no part of the purpose for
which schools were established, he thought should be made the
chief object, believing it quite possible to form the human
character by early discipline and instruction, to implant proper
motives, direct the feelings in a proper course, and fix in the
mind moral and religious principles. His conceptions, indeed, in
regard to these points, corresponded closely with those of the
eminent be Fellenberg, who for many years had been endeavoring,
under many difficulties, to put his ideas into practice at
Hotwyl, but of whose views Mr. Campbell does not appear to have
known anything until after he had published his own.
****
Impressed
with the great deficiency of competent teachers for schools and
for the churches, Mr. Campbell had many years before conceived
the plan which he now submitted... In his earnest desire,
therefore, to promote the highest interests of society and to
appropriate his own time and abilities to the most beneficent
ends, he resolved to consecrate much of what remained to him of
life in preparing for the coming generation better-instructed
teachers than had been formed by the old methods."
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