poor, should meet together. And to prevent any
of the distinctions of vanity, they should be dressed alike, and
all obliged to submit to the same discipline, or leave the school.
The schoolroom ought to be surrounded by a large piece of ground,
in which the children might be usefully exercised, for at this age
they should not be confined to any sedentary employment for more
than an hour at a time. But these relaxations might all be rendered
a part of elementary education, for many things improve and amuse
the senses when introduced as a kind of show, to the principles of
which, dryly laid down, children would turn a deaf ear. For
instance, botany, mechanics, and astronomy, reading, writing,
arithmetic, natural history, and some simple experiments in natural
philosophy, might fill up the day; but these pursuits should never
encroach on gymnastic plays in the open air. The elements of
religion, history, the history of man, and politics might also be
taught by conversations in Socratic form.

"After the age of nine, girls and boys intended for domestic
employments or mechanical trades ought to be removed to other
schools, and receive instruction in some measure appropriated to
the destination of each individual, the two sexes being still
together in the morning; but in the afternoon the girls should
attend a school where plain work, mantua-making, millinery, etc.,
would be their employment.

"The young people of superior abilities or fortune might now be
taught, in another school, the dead and living languages, the
elements of society, and continue the study of history and politics
on a more extensive scale, which would not exclude polite
literature. 'Girls and boys still together?' I hear some readers
ask. Yes; and I should not fear any other consequence than that
some early attachment might take place....

"Besides, this would be a sure way to promote early marriages, and
from early marriages the most salutary physical and moral effects
naturally flow....

"... Those (youths) who were designed for particular professions
might attend, three or four mornings in the week, the schools
appropriated for their immediate instruction....

"My observations on national education are obviously hints; but I
principally wish to enforce the necessit