Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 2]
(2)
Heidesheim is a palace, or castle, well built, and situate in one of the most beautiful parts of the Palatinate, about six miles from Worms, and sixteen from Manheim [also spelt Mannheim]. The building forms a quadrangle, containing a spacious court of near six German acres, which is the usual play ground of the scholars. It is surrounded by a moat of running water, beyond which there are pleasant gardens and orchards, and it consists of more than eighty good dwelling rooms. The sovereign is Count Leiningen, who has given this castle with all it's appurtenances for the use of this institution, by the name of the LEININGEN ACADEMY. There are at this time in the house, ten Professors, six Masters in the different kinds of corporal exercises, and fifty two young pupils, all protestants, with several servants, one of which is always provided for ten boys. Several pupils dwell together in one room, each in a separate bed, with one of the teachers in the same apartment, to keep a constant and watchful eye over their conduct.
The idea of perfect equality is preserved amongst these children. Whether noble or of common extraction, they are all subjected to the same manner of life, dwelling, food, dress, furniture and laws. And it is the particular care of the teachers that nothing but merit may give the least claim to preference or pre-eminence.
Their usual mode of life is as follows: at five o'clock in summer, and after six in winter they are waked by their teachers or inspectors. The servants attend at the same time, and are ordered to administer whatever may be necessary to dressing and cleaning: within half an hour's time the teachers and their pupils appear in the dining hall, where the latter are placed in order, and examined in regard to cleanliness and dress. Each then receives his breakfast which consists of milk and water and a roll. The breakfast ended, they hear a short prayer pronounced, after which the hours of instruction begin. Each lesson lasts only three quarters of an hour, there being eleven of them in the course of each day, namely six relative to Sciences, and Languages, Religion, Geography, History, Mathematics, Tactics, Engineering, Italian Book-keeping, Belles Lettres, &c. Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and every modern language of Europe that can be named, and five relative to the arts of Fencing, Dancing, Drawing, Writing and Music. Besides which, such as are desirous of acquiring skill in Mechanics, for instance, Turning, Grinding Glass, also in Painting, &c. find proper instruction. The scientifical lessons continually change with those which exercise the body, in order to prevent that disgust which children are apt to conceive against any particular and continual occupation. Six lessons are given before noon, after which the pupils go to their play ground, accompanied and superintended by their teachers. At twelve the dinner is announced by ringing a bell; each inspector previously ranges the pupils under his immediate tuition, to examine their dress, and such as are found disorderly or inattentive to cleanliness are excluded from table. Their dinner consists of four dishes: soup, beef, and greens being served every day. Each pupil receives half a pint of wine, or if that does not agree with him, he may drink to the amount of a pint of beer. Teachers and pupils dine at the same table. After dinner follows another hour of recreation, and after this, a series of five lessons, which are interrupted only by a short pause of a few minutes, during which a roll and some beer is given to each of the children. At half past five all the lessons for the day are ended, and the scholars divide again, in the company of their professors, partly to go walking, partly to play at billiards, nine pins, ball, &c. Such as chuse it may likewise go to the reading-room, where a collection of the best English, French, and German books adapted to their age, taste and capacity, is provided for their amusement and instruction. At half past seven o'clock they are called to supper, which consists of three dishes, commonly a ragout, a pudding, and some kinds of milk-porridge, flummery, or the like; together with the same quantity of wine or beer as at dinner. After supper there is commonly a concert, which the teachers and pupils form among themselves, and which is chiefly intended to exercise the youths in singing. At half past nine they hear evening prayers, and these ended each of the teachers leads his pupils to the bed-room intended for their reception. At ten o'clock the inspector goes his rounds throughout the castle, to see that every one is in bed, that all the candles are extinguished, and the doors locked.
Such is the order of every day; and this alone will serve to shew that the constant tuition, and uninterrupted course of well timed occupations to which the children are subjected, must habituate them to regularity, exactness, cleanliness, and subordination, in a much more perfect degree than the best private education can boast of; besides which they have the advantage of a constant and familiar intercourse with their teachers, whose aim it is to encourage reasonable chearfulness among them.
The founders of this new plan of education, which at first was named a Philanthropinum, would think of their time as mis-spent if they went no farther in forming the morals of youth. With this view they have followed several rules peculiar to themselves, which are described at large in a separate work by Dr. BAHRDT, the Curator of the Academy or Philanthropinum at Heidesheim.* The most important points of this kind are 1. Such instructions in religious principles, as serve to make virtue, and particularly social virtue, the nearest and greatest concern of the heart. 2. Judicious and well regulated methods of exercising the spirit of beneficence. 3. Rewards equally
[Footnote] * The Title of this Book in the German Language is Philanthropinischer Erziebungs Plan, or System of Education adopted in the Philanthropinum.