第 20 节
作者:嘟嘟      更新:2021-04-30 16:07      字数:9322
  favourable report of those who have attended upon his
  instructions; and these favourable sentiments he is likely to
  gain in no way so well as by deserving them; that is; by the
  abilities and diligence with which he discharges every part of
  his duty。
  In other universities the teacher is prohibited from
  receiving any honorary or fee from his pupils; and his salary
  constitutes the whole of the revenue which he derives from his
  office。 His interest is; in this case; set as directly in
  opposition to his duty as it is possible to set it。 It is the
  interest of every man to live as much at his ease as he can; and
  if his emoluments are to be precisely the same; whether he does
  or does not perform some very laborious duty; it is certainly his
  interest; at least as interest is vulgarly understood; either to
  neglect it altogether; or; if he is subject to some authority
  which will not suffer him to do this; to perform it in as
  careless and slovenly a manner as that authority will permit。 If
  he is naturally active and a lover of labour; it is his interest
  to employ that activity in any way from which he can derive some
  advantage; rather than in the performance of his duty; from which
  he can derive none。
  If the authority to which he is subject resides in the body
  corporate; the college; or university; of which he himself is a
  member; and which the greater part of the other members are; like
  himself; persons who either are or ought to be teachers; they are
  likely to make a common cause; to be all very indulgent to one
  another; and every man to consent that his neighbour may neglect
  his duty; provided he himself is allowed to neglect his own。 In
  the university of Oxford; the greater part of the public
  professors have; for these many years; given up altogether even
  the pretence of teaching。
  If the authority to which he is subject resides; not so much
  in the body corporate of which he is a member; as in some other
  extraneous persons… in the bishop of the diocese; for example; in
  the governor of the province; or; perhaps; in some minister of
  state it is not indeed in this case very likely that he will be
  suffered to neglect his duty altogether。 All that such superiors;
  however; can force him to do; is to attend upon his pupils a
  certain number of hours; that is; to give a certain number of
  lectures in the week or in the year。 What those lectures shall be
  must still depend upon the diligence of the teacher; and that
  diligence is likely to be proportioned to the motives which he
  has for exerting it。 An extraneous jurisdiction of this kind;
  besides; is liable to be exercised both ignorantly and
  capriciously。 In its nature it is arbitrary and discretionary;
  and the persons who exercise it; neither attending upon the
  lectures of the teacher themselves; nor perhaps understanding the
  sciences which it is his business to teach; are seldom capable of
  exercising it with judgment。 From the insolence of office; too;
  they are frequently indifferent how they exercise it; and are
  very apt to censure or deprive him of his office wantonly; and
  without any just cause。 The person subject to such jurisdiction
  is necessarily degraded by it; and; instead of being one of the
  most respectable; is rendered one of the meanest and most
  contemptible persons in the society。 It is by powerful protection
  only that he can effectually guard himself against the bad usage
  to which he is at all times exposed; and this protection he is
  most likely to gain; not by ability or diligence in his
  profession; but by obsequiousness to the will of his superiors;
  and by being ready; at all times; to sacrifice to that will the
  rights; the interest; and the honour of the body corporate of
  which he is a member。 Whoever has attended for any considerable
  time to the administration of a French university must have had
  occasion to remark the effects which naturally result from an
  arbitrary and extraneous jurisdiction of this kind。
  Whatever forces a certain number of students to any college
  or university; independent of the merit or reputation of the
  teachers; tends more or less to diminish the necessity of that
  merit or reputation。
  The privileges of graduates in arts; in law; physic; and
  divinity; when they can be obtained only by residing a certain
  number of years in certain universities; necessarily force a
  certain number of students to such universities; independent of
  the merit or reputation of the teachers。 The privileges of
  graduates are a sort of statutes of apprenticeship; which have
  contributed to the improvement of education; just as the other
  statutes of apprenticeship have to that of arts; and
  manufactures。
  The charitable foundations of scholarships; exhibitions;
  bursaries; etc。; necessarily attach a certain number of students
  to certain colleges; independent altogether of the merit of those
  particular colleges。 Were the students upon such charitable
  foundations left free to choose what college they liked best;
  such liberty might perhaps contribute to excite some emulation
  among different colleges。 A regulation; on the contrary; which
  prohibited even the independent members of every particular
  college from leaving it and going to any other; without leave
  first asked and obtained of that which they meant to abandon;
  would tend very much to extinguish that emulation。
  If in each college the tutor or teacher; who was to instruct
  each student in all arts and sciences; should not be voluntarily
  chosen by the student; but appointed by the head of the college;
  and if; in case of neglect; inability; or bad usage; the student
  should not be allowed to change him for another; without leave
  first asked and obtained; such a regulation would not only tend
  very much to extinguish all emulation among the different tutors
  of the same college; but to diminish very much in all of them the
  necessity of diligence and of attention to their respective
  pupils。 Such teachers; though very well paid by their students;
  might be as much disposed to neglect them as those who are not
  paid by them at all; or who have no other recompense but their
  salary。
  If the teacher happens to be a man of sense; it must be an
  unpleasant thing to him to be conscious; while he is lecturing
  his students; that he is either speaking or reading nonsense; or
  what is very little better than nonsense。 It must; too; be
  unpleasant to him to observe that the greater part of his
  students desert his lectures; or perhaps attend upon them with
  plain enough marks of neglect; contempt; and derision。 If he is
  obliged; therefore; to give a certain number of lectures; these
  motives alone; without any other interest; might dispose him to
  take some pains to give tolerably good ones。 Several different
  expedients; however; may be fallen upon which will effectually
  blunt the edge of all those incitements to diligence。 The
  teacher; instead of explaining to his pupils himself the science
  in which he proposes to instruct them; may read some book upon
  it; and if this book is written in a foreign and dead language;
  by interpreting it to them into their own; or; what would give
  him still less trouble; by making them interpret it to him; and
  by now and then making an occasional remark upon it; he may
  flatter himself that he is giving a lecture。 The slightest degree
  of knowledge and application will enable him to do this without
  exposing himself to contempt or derision; or saying anything that
  is really foolish; absurd; or ridiculous。 The discipline of the
  college; at the same time; may enable him to force all his pupils
  to the most regular attendance upon this sham lecture; and to
  maintain the most decent and respectful behaviour during the
  whole time of the performance。
  The discipline of colleges and universities is in general
  contrived; not for the benefit of the students; but for the
  interest; or more properly speaking; for the ease of the masters。
  Its object is; in all cases; to maintain the authority of the
  master; and whether he neglects or performs his duty; to oblige
  the students in all cases to behave to him; as if he performed it
  with the greatest diligence and ability。 It seems to presume
  perfect wisdom and virtue in the one order; and the greatest
  weakness and folly in the other。 Where the masters; however;
  really perform their duty; there are no examples; I believe; that
  the greater part of the students ever neglect theirs。 No
  discipline is ever requisite to force attendance upon lectures
  which are really worth the attending; as is well known wherever
  any such lectures are given。 Force and restraint may; no doubt;
  be in some degree requisite in order to oblige children; or very
  young boys; to attend to those parts of education which it is
  thought necessary for them to acquire during that early period of
  life; but after twelve or thirteen years of age; provided the
  master does his duty; for