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[3] d [Journal Comments on Fuller in 1836 and 1838] Amos Bronson Alcott Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888), educator, lecturer, reformer, conversationalist , poet, essayist, and father of Louisa May Alcott, was a self-taught Connecticut farmer’s son. He instituted such educational reforms as light and airy classrooms, comfortable furnishings, Socratic question-and-answer discussions, allowing students to come to knowledge on their own rather than having it spoon-fed to them, and keeping journals. On the other hand, he spoke rather too candidly for the times about sexuality and religion, and he put more emphasis on the moral and spiritual growth of his charges than he did on their obtaining practical book knowledge. Like Fuller’s own Conversations, Alcott’s Socratic method of questioning presupposed the innate goodness of his students, and he felt his role was to bring out their abilities rather than follow the tradition of seeing them as empty vessels to be filled with knowledge. Fuller taught Greek and Latin at Alcott’s Temple School in Boston, while also serving as secretary, copying down his conversations with his children. She began in December 1836 but resigned in April 1837 because Alcott failed to pay her. Alcott moved to Concord in 1840, visited a group in England interested in his ideas in 1842, and (with one of the Englishmen, Charles Lane) participated in the Fruitlands community in Harvard, Massachusetts, during the last half of 1843. After the failure of Fruitlands, the Alcotts moved about a good deal before permanently settling in Concord in 1857. While Alcott considered Fuller to be “the most brilliant talker of the day,” one whose “wit is ready” and “speech fluent,” she did not feel the same about him. As editor of the Dial, she accepted his collection of “Orphic Sayings ” reluctantly, mainly to please Emerson. While Fuller’s friendship with and support of Alcott never wavered, her personal impressions fluctuated. After talking with Alcott in 1839, she wrote Emerson that “he appeared to me so great, that I am inclined to think he deserves your praise” (7 January 1839, Letters, 2:32). She did notice, though, that there was a difference between the private and public Alcott: “With me alone he is never the Messiah but fuller in her own time [4] [17 December 1836] . . . I have secured the services of Miss Fuller, a lady of high reputation, and competent to enter into the views of education, which direct the experiment in which I am now engaged. . . . [28 March 1837] Tuesday evening I spent with Miss Fuller;—Rev Mr. Dwight also. Miss Fuller seems more inclined to take large and generous views of subjects than any woman of my acquaintance. I think her more liberal than almost any mind among us. She has more of that unspoiled integrity of being, so essential to the apprehension of truth in its unity, than any person of her sex whom I meet; and vastly more of intellectual power. Her skill in conversation is ready; few converse with greater freedom and elegance. Her range of topics seems wide; and she looks at them without narrowness or partiality. Leisure and encouragement will do much for her growth. I am glad that some interest is felt in her behalf, by those of this metropolis , whose good word is a passport to success. She is destined, I think, to do a good work; and whether she go forth from this city, or another, on her intellectual errand, must attain her end. To her has been given, with the gift of genius, that of prudence; and when these are united, the inward cometh forth from its hidden retreats, without damage to the outward. The spark passeth harmlessly through other hearts, and doeth no hurt to the one that called it forth. When the muse holds companionship with Prudence, she shall reap her own reward; nor shall another enter into her labours, save by doing her meet honours. . . . [April 1837] Miss M. Fuller left town this week for Groton, her paternal residence. Here she intends spending a few months, chiefly with a view of recruiting her health and fitting herself to enter the Institution at Providence under the care of Mr. Fuller, which opens in June next. She has spent the winter in this city, engaged in teaching classes in French and German, one beautiful individuality and faithful soul,” one who “seems really high and not merely a person of high pretensions” (31 May 1840, Letters, 2:135). Still, she could...

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