〔1〕古之教者，教以人伦：后世记诵词章之习起，而先王之教亡。
In education the ancients taught the fundamental principles of human relations.As the habits of memorization, recitation, and the writing of flowery compositions of later generations arose, the teachings of ancient kings disappeared.
今教童子，惟当以孝弟忠信礼义廉耻为专务；其栽培涵养之方，则宜诱之歌诗以发其志意，导之习礼以肃其威仪，讽之读书以开其知觉。
In educating young boys today, the sole task should be to teach filial piety, brotherly respect, loyalty, faithfulness, propriety, righteousness, integrity, and the sense of shame.
The ways to raise and cultivate them are to lure them to singing so their will will be roused, to direct them to practice etiquette so their demeanor will be dignified, and to urge them to read so their intellectual horizon will be widened.
今人往往以歌诗、习礼为不切时务，此皆末俗庸鄙之见，乌足以知古人立教之意哉！
Today singing songs and practicing etiquette are often regarded as unrelated to present needs.This is the view of small and vulgar people of this degenerate modern age.How can they know the purpose of the ancients in instituting education?
大抵童子之情，乐嬉游而惮拘检，如草木之始萌芽，舒畅之则条达，摧挠之则衰痿。
Generally speaking, it is the nature of young boys to love to play and to dislike restriction.Like plants beginning to sprout, if they are allowed to grow freely, they will develop smoothly.If twisted and interfered with, they will wither and decline.
今教童子必使其趋向鼓舞，中心喜悦，则其进自不能已：譬之时雨春风，沾被卉木，莫不萌动发越，自然日长月化：若冰霜剥落，则生意萧索，日就枯槁矣：故凡诱之歌诗者，非但发其志意而已，亦所以泄其跳号呼啸于咏歌，宣其幽抑结滞于音节也：导之习礼者，非但肃其威仪而已，亦所以周旋揖让而动荡其血脉，拜起屈伸而固束其筋骸也：讽之读书者，非但开其知觉而已，亦所以沈潜反复而存其心，抑扬讽诵以宣其志也：凡此皆所以顺导其志意，调理其性情，潜消其鄙吝，默化其粗顽，日使之渐于礼义而不苦其难，人于中和而不知其故，是盖先王立教之微意也；若近世之
In teaching young boys today, we must make them lean toward rousing themselves so that they will be happy and cheerful at heart, and then nothing can check their development.As in the case of plants, if nourished by timely rain and spring wind, they will all sprout, shoot up, and flourish, and will naturally grow by sunlight and develop under the moon.If ice and frost strip them of leaves, their spirit of life will be dissipated and they will gradually dry up.
Therefore, to teach young boys to sing is not merely to rouse their will.It is also to release through singing their jumping around and shouting, and to free them through rhythm from depression and repression.To lead them to practice etiquette is not only to make their demeanor dignified.It is also to exhilarate their blood circulation through such activities as bowing and walking politely, and to strengthen their tendons and bones through kneeling, rising, and extending and contracting their limbs.To urge them to read is not only to widen their intellectual horizon.It is also to preserve their minds through absorption in repeating passages and to express their will through recitation, now loudly and now softly.All this is smoothly to direct their will, adjust and regulate their nature and feelings quietly to get rid of their meanness and stinginess, and silently to transform their crudeness and mischievousness, so that they will gradually approach propriety and righteousness without feeling that it is difficult to do so and will steep themselves in equilibrium and harmony without knowing why.This is the subtle purpose of the ancient kings in instituting education.However, in recent generations the teachers of youngsters merely supervise them every day as they recite phrases and sentences and imitate civil service examination papers.They stress restraint and discipline instead of directing their pupils in the practice of propriety.They emphasize intelligence instead of nourishing goodness.They beat the pupils with a whip and tie them with ropes, treating them like prisoners.The youngsters look upon their school as a prison and refuse to enter.They regard their teachers as enemies and do not want to see them.They avoid this and conceal that in order to satisfy their desire for play and fun.They pretend, deceive, and cheat in order to indulge in mischief and meanness.They become negligent and inferior, and daily degenerate.
是盖驱之于恶而求其为善也，何可得乎！
Such education drives them to do evil.How can they be expected to do good?
凡吾所以教，其意实在于此。
In truth the following is my idea of education.
恐时俗不察，视以为迂，且吾亦将去，故特叮咛以告。
I fear that ordinary folk do not understand it and look upon it as being wide of the mark, and moreover, since I am about to leave, I therefore earnestly say to all you teachers:
尔诸教读其务体吾意，永以为训，毋辄因时俗之言，妀废其绳墨，庶成“蒙以养正”之功矣，念之念之！
Please understand and follow my idea and forever take it as a counsel to you.Never alter or give up your standard just because ordinary folk may say something against it.Then your effort to cultivate correctness in youngsters will succeed.Please bear this in mind.
〔2〕每日清晨，诸生参揖毕，教读以次偏询诸生：在家所以爱亲敬畏之心，得无懈忽未能真切否？
Every day, early in the morning, after the pupils have assembled and bowed, the teachers should ask all of them one by one ^-1 whether at home they have been negligent and lacked sincerity and earnestness in their desire to love their parents and to respect their elders, ^+1
温清定省之仪，得无亏缺未能实践否？
whether they have overlooked or failed to carry out any details in caring for their parents in the summer or the winter,
往来街衢步趋礼节，得无放荡未能谨饬否？
whether in walking along the streets their movements and etiquette have been disorderly or careless,
一应言行心术，得无欺妄非僻未能忠信笃敬否？
and whether in all their words, acts, and thoughts they have been deceitful or depraved, and not loyal, faithful, sincere, and respectful.
诸童子务要各以实对，有则改之，无则加勉；教读复随时就事，曲加诲谕开发，然后各退就席肄业。
All boys must answer honestly.If they have made any mistake, they should correct it.If not, they should devote themselves to greater effort.In addition, the teachers should at all times, and in connection with anything that may occur, use special means to explain and teach them.After that, each pupil should withdraw to his seat and attend to his lessons.
〔3〕凡歌诗须要整容定气，清朗其声音，均审其节调，毋躁而急，毋荡而嚣，毋馁而慑；久则精神宣畅，心气和平矣。
In singing, let the pupils be tidy in appearance and calm in expression.Let their voices be clear and distinct.Let their rhythm be even and exact.Let them not be hasty or hurried.Let them not be reckless or disorderly.And let them not sound feeble or timid.In time their spirits will be free and their minds will be peaceful.
每学量童生多寡分为四班。
Depending on the number of pupils, each school should be divided into four classes.
每日轮一班歌诗，其余皆就席敛容肃听；每五日则总四班递歌于本学。
In rotation each class sings on one day, while the others sit down to listen respectfully with serious expression.Every five days all the four classes will sing one after another in their own school assembly.
每朔望集各学会歌于书院。
On the first and the fifteenth day of every month the several schools will assemble to sing together in the academy.
〔4〕凡习礼需要澄心肃虑，审其仪节，度其容止，毋忽而惰，毋沮而怍，毋径而野，从容而不失之迂缓，修谨而不失之拘局。
In the practice of etiquette, let the pupils be clear in their minds and serious in their thoughts.Let them be careful with details and correct in demeanor.Let them not be negligent or lazy.Let them not be low-spirited or disconcerted.
And let them not be uncontrolled or rough.Let them be leisurely but not to the point of being dilatory and be serious but not to the point of being rigid.
久则礼貌习熟，德性坚定矣。
In time their appearance and behavior will be natural and their moral nature will be firmly established.
童生班次皆如歌诗。
The order for the pupils to follow should be the same as that in singing.
每间一日则轮一班习礼，其余皆就席歛容肃观。
Every other day it will be the turn of one class to practice etiquette, while others are seated to observe respectfully with a serious expression.
习礼之日，免其课仿。
On the day of etiquette practice, the pupils will be excused from composition.
每十日则总四班递习于本学。
Every ten days all four classes will assemble in their own schools and practice in rotation.