herland(她乡)-第32节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
tendency to atrophy in the disused portions of the brain。 We like to keep
on learning； always。〃
〃What do you study？〃
〃As much as we know of the different sciences。 We have；
within our limits； a good deal of knowledge of anatomy； physiology；
nutritionall that pertains to a full and beautiful personal life。 We have our
botany and chemistry； and so onvery rudimentary； but interesting； our
own history； with its accumulating psychology。〃
〃You put psychology with historynot with personal life？〃
〃Of course。 It is ours； it is among and between us； and it
changes with the succeeding and improving generations。 We are at work；
slowly and carefully； developing our whole people along these lines。 It is
glorious worksplendid！ To see the thousands of babies improving；
showing stronger clearer minds； sweeter dispositions； higher capacities
don't you find it so in your country？〃
This I evaded flatly。 I remembered the cheerless claim that the
human mind was no better than in its earliest period of savagery； only
better informeda statement I had never believed。
〃We try most earnestly for two powers；〃 Somel continued。 〃The
two that seem to us basically necessary for all noble life： a clear； far…
reaching judgment； and a strong well…used will。 We spend our best
efforts； all through childhood and youth； in developing these faculties；
individual judgment and will。〃
〃As part of your system of education； you mean？〃
〃Exactly。 As the most valuable part。 With the babies； as you
may have noticed； we first provide an environment which feeds the mind
without tiring it； all manner of simple and interesting things to do； as soon
as they are old enough to do them； physical properties； of course； come
first。 But as early as possible； going very carefully； not to tax the mind；
113
… Page 114…
HERLAND
we provide choices； simple choices； with very obvious causes and
consequences。 You've noticed the games？〃
I had。 The children seemed always playing something； or else；
sometimes； engaged in peaceful researches of their own。 I had wondered
at first when they went to school； but soon found that they never did to
their knowledge。 It was all education but no schooling。
〃We have been working for some sixteen hundred years；
devising better and better games for children；〃 continued Somel。
I sat aghast。 〃Devising games？〃 I protested。 〃Making up new
ones； you mean？〃
〃Exactly；〃 she answered。 〃Don't you？〃
Then I remembered the kindergarten； and the 〃material〃 devised
by Signora Montessori； and guardedly replied： 〃To some extent。〃 But
most of our games； I told her； were very oldcame down from child to
child； along the ages； from the remote past。
〃And what is their effect？〃 she asked。 〃Do they develop the
faculties you wish to encourage？〃
Again I remembered the claims made by the advocates of
〃sports；〃 and again replied guardedly that that was； in part； the theory。
〃But do the children LIKE it？〃 I asked。 〃Having things made
up and set before them that way？ Don't they want the old games？〃
〃You can see the children；〃 she answered。 〃Are yours more
contentedmore interestedhappier？〃
Then I thought； as in truth I never had thought before； of the dull；
bored children I had seen； whining； 〃What can I do now？〃； of the little
groups and gangs hanging about； of the value of some one strong spirit
who possessed initiative and would 〃start something〃； of the children's
parties and the onerous duties of the older people set to 〃amuse the
children〃； also of that troubled ocean of misdirected activity we call
〃mischief；〃 the foolish； destructive； sometimes evil things done by
unoccupied children。
〃No；〃 said I grimly。 〃I don't think they are。〃
The Herland child was born not only into a world carefully
prepared； full of the most fascinating materials and opportunities to learn；
114
… Page 115…
HERLAND
but into the society of plentiful numbers of teachers； teachers born and
trained； whose business it was to accompany the children along that； to us；
impossible thingthe royal road to learning。
There was no mystery in their methods。 Being adapted to
children it was at least comprehensible to adults。 I spent many days with
the little ones； sometimes with Ellador； sometimes without； and began to
feel a crushing pity for my own childhood； and for all others that I had
known。
The houses and gardens planned for babies had in them nothing
to hurtno stairs； no corners； no small loose objects to swallow； no fire
just a babies' paradise。 They were taught； as rapidly as feasible； to use
and control their own bodies； and never did I see such sure…footed； steady…
handed； clear…headed little things。 It was a joy to watch a row of toddlers
learning to walk； not only on a level floor； but； a little later； on a sort of
rubber rail raised an inch or two above the soft turf or heavy rugs； and
falling off with shrieks of infant joy； to rush back to the end of the line and
try again。 Surely we have noticed how children love to get up on
something and walk along it！ But we have never thought to provide that
simple and inexhaustible form of amusement and physical education for
the young。
Water they had； of course； and could swim even before they
walked。 If I feared at first the effects of a too intensive system of culture；
that fear was dissipated by seeing the long sunny days of pure physical
merriment and natural sleep in which these heavenly babies passed their
first years。 They never knew they were being educated。 They did not
dream that in this association of hilarious experiment and achievement
they were laying the foundation for that close beautiful group feeling into
which they grew so firmly with the years。 This was education for
citizenship。
115
… Page 116…
HERLAND
CHAPTER 10
Their Religions and Our Marriages
It took me a long time； as a man； a foreigner； and a species of
ChristianI was that as much as anythingto get any clear understanding
of the religion of Herland。
Its deification of motherhood was obvious enough； but there was
far more to it than that； or； at least； than my first interpretation of that。
I think it was only as I grew to love Ellador more than I believed
anyone could love anybody； as I grew faintly to appreciate her inner
attitude and state of mind； that I began to get some glimpses of this faith of
theirs。
When I asked her about it； she tried at first to tell me； and then；
seeing me flounder； asked for more information about ours。 She soon
found that we had many； that they varied widely； but had some points in
common。 A clear methodical luminous mind had my Ellador； not only
reasonable； but swiftly perceptive。
She made a sort of chart； superimposing the different religions
as I described them； with a pin run through them all； as it were； their
common basis being a Dominant Power or Powers； and some Special
Behavior； mostly taboos； to please or placate。 There were some common
features in certain groups of religions； but the one always present was this
Power； and the things which must be done or not done because of it。 It
was not hard to
