[For the District School Journal.] ORLEANS. TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. Resolved, That in the opinion of the Teachers' Association of this county, the course pursued by J. O. Willsea, the present Superintendent of common schools in this county, is praiseworthy and conducive to the interest of common schools. Resolved, That Mr. J. O. Willsea be requested to act with the town superintendents, to organize town associations, and they are to act as auxiliaries to the county association. Resolved, That the teachers of the county of Orleans, are earnestly requested to come togeth er at Albion, on the first Friday and Saturday of Pursuant to notice, the Teachers' Association ciation, and that Mr. J. O. Willsea and the sev February, 1845, to re-organize a Teachers' Assomet at the Court-House in Albion, and was cal-eral town superintendents be requested to use led to order by J. O. Willsea, County Superin- every effort to procure a general attendance of tendent, who briefly stated the object of the meeting. Mr. N. W. Butts was called to the chair, pro tem, and Mr. Chauncey Brown, appointed Secretary. Mr. Isaac Cox, J. Fuller and H. H. Lewis, were appointed a committee on resolutions. Meeting adjourned until 1 o'clock, P. M. Meeting was called to order in the afternoon by Judge Penniman, President of the Association.) The committee on resolutions reported the following for the consideration of the meeting. Whereas, at the present time men of every other profession are associating themselves together for mutual aid and advantage-therefore Resolved, That it is incumbent upon teachers for their own protection and advancement in the scale of public opinion, and for the benefit of those under their charge, to associate themselves together to hold converse with each other as often as practicable, and in every honorable way within their power, to promote good fellowship and brotherly kindness among themselves, thereby presenting opportunities which must produce the most beneficial results. Wherees, order is nature's first law-Therefore Resolved, That in the common school, where most children receive their practical education, a strict course of discipline should be adopt ed and maintained by every teacher. Resolved, That we as teachers, do now discountenance corporal punishment entirely; but we believe that other means if properly administered at the proper time, will generally super sede the necessity of such punishment by securing submission on the part of the pupil. Resolved, That the District School Journal furnishes the best and most economical method of becoming acquainted with the condition of common schools, past and present, as well as the most approved methods of teaching, not only in this, but in foreign countries; and that it should be placed in the hands of every teacher of common schools in this state. Resolved, That we recommend to teachers to hold public examination at the close of each term, and that they invite the parents and guar. dians of the children, and all other persons interested to attend at such examination, Resolved, That we regard the Normal school as one of the best means that has hitherto been devised to qualify teachers for the discharge of their important duties; inasmuch as its tendency is to introduce a uniform method of teaching, and to bring into use a uniformity of text books. teachers. The association then appointed Mr. H. H. Lewis, to prepare an address to the citizens of Orleans county. [For the District School Journal.] A convention of superintendents, teachers and friends of common schools, was held at Riverhead, in the county of Suffolk, on the 2nd and 3d days of October inst. The meeting was quite numerously attended and a considerable degree of interest was manifested, not only by superin.. tendents and teachers, but by others present, in the cause of common school education; the promotion of which in this county, was the object for which the convention had been called. A number of political meetings were being held at the same time in the immediate vicinity of thie convention, and the subject of politics being so all engrossing as it is in this county, as well as throughout the country at this time, this tended to detract very much from the interest that would otherwise have been had in the meeting. Thom as H. Palmer, Esq., was present and delivered a number of lectures, all of which were very well received, but more especially his lecture on moral education, which met with a hearty re sponse from a great majority of those who heard it. The convention was addressed by others also on the general subject of education, as well as by authors and agents of school books, whe spoke of the merits of their respective works. The convention was very harmonious and unani. mous in all its action, and all were willing to award to the objects of the meeting the assent of their understandings, though all were not in clined to take any efficient action in the premi ses. There were one or two individuals howev er, from the county of Orange, who were dis posed to intrude themselves upon the convention, and to avail themselves of that opportunity to at tempt to sow some of those dissensions in this county, which they may have been instrumental in effecting in their own county but they met with such a reception as will probably prevent their making the like attempt again in this county. A committee of seven was appointed to consider and report on the subject of text-books. which report is hereto appended. This committe was principally composed of teachers, and it will Geography before half past two, they may devote be perceived that they are rather careful about the surplus of that time eiiher to practical arithmaking any particular selection. The want of sys-metic-drawing, or writing on slates. tem in our common schools was felt to be a ve- 4. The scholars learning definitions in spelry great evil, and something of a uniformity in ling books or dictionaries, and those who spell this particular was thought to be very de- out of the book without definitions, will proceed sirable in this county, inasmuch as teachers to those studies immediately after the recess;" are generally changed every few months. A all others in arithmetic will proceed to that committee was appointed to report on this also. exercise. This committee merely reported a plan of school exercises, as taken from a card which is kept suspended in the school-room of one of their number, and practised upon by him. This also is herewith sent. 1844. SATURDAYS. FOR TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND 2nd 10 Suffolk County, Oct. 21, "The report on text-books omitted for the 4th reasons assigned in the last Journal."-ED. 6th 10 Mental Arithmetic. "10 Recess. "11 Spelling Classes. Afternoon Exercises. 1st From 1 o'clock to 1 Reading. 24 Writing on Paper. "23 Recess. 2nd 66 11 3rd 21 3 Spelling Classes. 31 Prac. Arithmetic. 4 Spell. and Def., &c. Explanations. 1. The reading exercise during the first quarter of an hour is performed by the assistance of monitors. 2. An hour and a quarter is allowed for the writing exercise, but if any of the writers perform their part to the satisfaction of the teacher before the expiration of that time, they may devote the surplus of that time to practice at arithmetic, drawing or writing on slates. 1st From 9 3. After reading, the scholars who are not stu. dying Arithmetic, will proceed to writing on slates, and those in Arithmetic will prepare for 3rd a mental exercise in that study. 4. The male scholars will first take a recess of 7 minutes, during which time the females will be supplied with water. After which the females will take a recess, and the males will be supplied with water. 5. After recess, the scholars not in arithmetic and who are learning tables, or lessons in the spelling book, will proceed to those studies, and the scholars in English grammar, will prepare a lesson for recitation. 6. The exercises in practical arithmetic, consists in the solution of examples on slates and illustrations with the black board. 1 WEDNESDAYS. Forenoon Exercises. 91 9 Review in History. 64 10 "Arithmetic. Geography. 10/1/ 103" 11 7th 8th 1st From 1 to 14 Reading. 11 2 Composition on paper. Recess. MANY of the schools of the county, I am hap. · py to say, are in a very flourishing condition. In them, I found well qualified teachers, faithfully and successfully laboring, though frequently under many disadvantages, in training youth of both sexes in the principles of science and 1. The scholars in geography, will omit the virtue, in a manner not surpassed in any of the reading exercise and prepare a lesson in geogra-higher inst.tutions. Such teachers deserve the phy for recitation. 2. After reading, the scholars in arithmetic will proceed to that exercise, and those not in arithmetic will write on slates. 3. If any of the scholars learn their lessons in gratitude and respect of the community in greater proportions than they generally receive. There are, I am sorry to say, some schools of a very opposite character. In them, I found tenchers whose only business seemed to be, to hear their pupils read a certain number of times, (and that in a very careless maner,) to work a certain number of sums, and "get the answer" without asking them one question, or making them understand that there was any meaning in what they had read, or why the answer was obtained to their sums. The only recommendation such teachers present, (and that can have no weight with any but those who set a higher value upon their dollars and cents than on the immortal minds of their children,) is the cheapness of their wages. How often the saying is heard, "such a teacher will do for our school;"" our children are not very forward." I would say to such persons, your children never will be forward under such instruction. Persons in whom are combined all the necessary qualifications for good teachers, are not so easily found as some would seem to imagine. I have found a less number who have failed for the, want of learning, than for the want of a faculty of imparting knowledge, and in discipline. In some districts, I found the trustees and inhabitants, taking a very commendable interest in their schools; visiting, encouraging both teacher and pupils; supplying them with books and apparatus; in a word, doing their duty. But in a larger number I found an entirely dif. ferent state of things. A teacher is employed by the trustees, directed to a place called a school-house, and there suffered to work his way, without books, without apparatus, with out a visit, nay, it would seem, without a thought from his employers, from the beginning of a term to the end of it. In some districts, if they can have a school long enough to answer the requirements of law, and to expend the public money, it is all they do,-all they wish. The law authorizing trustees to tax the inhabitants to pay the tuition of indigent children, and to supply the school with fuel, meets with great opposition; from persons too from whom we ought to expect better things; from persons who would wish to be considered patriots; nay, from some professing to be christians. I know of one of the last named, who expended from ten to fifteen dollars in litigation, rather than pay a tax of one dollar fifty-four cents, for the repairs of a school-house, which was judiciously expended. In some districts, it is difficult to find suitable men, willing to act as trustees; knowing the opposition they will have to encounter, in the discharge of their official duty. "As the teacher, so the school," is already passed into a proverb; to which I will add ; as the school, so the neigh. borhood; for in my peregrinations through, the County, where I have found a well constructed, well furnished school-house, and a good school kept therein, there I found an enlightened, sober, moral, and religious community; and vice versa. Surely no enlightened man, unless he means to become a missionary. In proof of this, I will record one example, which was related to me when visiting schools. "A person wishing to purchase a farm, took up a newspaper, saw an advertisement of a farm for sale; the descrip. tion suited him. A few days subsequent, he met with a person from the vicinity of the said farm; of him he obtained a description, with which he was well pleased; he then enquired concerning the schools? After hearing their description, he replied, "I would not take the farm as a gift." WYOMING COUNTY. Teacher's Institute, Oct. 17, 1844. F. DWGIHT, Esq.-DEAR SIR-I write you a word from our Institute, we have now before. us 65 to 70 teachers engaged in mutual instruc tion for improvement in the great science of teaching, and to the credit of our female teachers, although not regarded as winter teachers, many of them are present, adding great interest to our exercises. This is the second week of our meeting; we are deeply engaged and much interested. We have had Mr. Fowle and Mr., Fitz of Boston, with us, from whom we have received many new and valuable suggestions, which will be felt in this region for many years, to come. Our teachers were delighted with both of them. Mr. Fowle gave us many valuable hints in relation to teaching grammar, writing, composition, &c., and on the government of schools. Mr. Fitz, with his common school music for children, created a feeling of interest: in this respect unlike any before known among us, and from the effect of which we shall not soon be likely to recover. There is something in these meetings of teachers, which is not only inspiring them with new zeal and energy, but is securing a union of effort on their part, more valuable than any thing known to me that has been before tried. They are becoming one united band of sisters and brothers in the great cause of their country's preservation; each pos sessing by means of mutual communication, the knowledge of all, to a very great extent. The Allegany Institute is 16 miles southwest of us, with over 130 teachers, deeply engaged. There is also an Institute in Genesee county, 16 miles northwest of us; I believe doing well. 27 miles still further northwest there is one at Albion, Orleans Co., under Messrs. Wiltsea and Reynolds, engaged with good success in the same cause. Our summer school celebrations passed off remarkably fine. In 9 of the 13 towns in the county, celebrations have been held, at which at least 4,000 school children in procession have been present. The last was in Covington, on There appears to be a shortsightedness on the the 28th Sept., and much to the praise of the part of those whose only object is lucre. For scholars and teachers, and to the credit of the what intelligent man does not know, that it is inhabitants of the town, the exercises were ably less expensive to support schools, than to sup-conducted and well attended. Some of the banners port almshouses, courts of justice, prisons, &c.? and mottoes were peculiarly beautiful and touchIf the former were properly supported, the lat-ing. The bordering, flowers and mottoes on ter would need none. Who does not know that one banner in district No. 6, were embroidered a farm in an enlightened, well educated commu-with colored worsted by the young ladies of the nity, will bring twice as much in the market, as in one of the opposite character! Who will purchase a residence in the vicinity of a dilapi. dated, miserable school-house and school? school. In the centre encircled in a green wreath was the motto, "CANDIDATES FOR GOOD CITIZENS," in large capital letters; and the unas. mous expression there was that all the oands} dates should be elected. On the other the motto A. 8. STEVENS, Co. Supt. TRACHERS' INSTITUTE. At a meeting of the members of the Teachérs' Institute, held at Perry Centre, on Friday, the 18th of October, 1844, the following Constitution was reported by a committee appointed for that purpose and unanimously adopted: ART. I. This society shall be called the "Wyoming County Teachers' Association;" its object shall be to arouse public attention on the subject of education, the improvement of teachers in their professions by an interchange of views, and the general advancement of science. ART. 2. The officers of this association shall consist of a president, thirteen vice-presidents, a secretary and treasurer, who shall perform the usual duties pertaining to their respective offices, and shall continue in office one year and antil a new appointment shall be made. ART. 3. The parliamentary rules of other deLiberative bodies shall be the common law of this association. ART. 4. Any teacher of the county may be come a member of this association by subscrib. ing to its constitution; and the deputy superintendent of the county, and the several town superintendents, shall be ex.officio members of this association. ART. 5. This constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regular meeting of the association. The association was fully organized by a choice of the following officers for the ensuing year: DISTRICT SCHOOL JOURNAL. NORMAL SCHOOL. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Normal School on the 23d inst., it was Resoloed, That the STATE NORMAL SCHOOL be opened for the reception of Pupils on Wednesday, the 18th of December, at halfpast 10 o'clock A. M., at which time the Executive committee will be in attendance. F. DWIGHT, Secretary of the Committee. The County Superintendents arerequested to give such notice to the pupils selected by: the Board of Supervisors, as will secure their punctual attendance. EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS. WE have, during the past year, adopted, with some slight modifications, the Philadelphia method of examining teachers, and having fully tested its great excellence, we venture to recommend its trial to the school Superintendents. An examination should be deliberate, thorough and impartial. "You hurried me," "-"I could have answered every question you asked him,"—" I was frightened and could not think”—are the expressions of dissatisfaction often heard from the disappointed candidates, and in these, not unfrequently, parents and children join in censuring the injustice of the examiner. Certainly, a method of examination, so obviously just as to defy these and similar censures, must commend itself to every mind, and such is the method to which we ask attention. Let a series of questions be previously prepared by the Superintendent, and when the canJ.didates for certificates are assembled, let each write on paper answers to the proposed questions. The questions should relate to all the common school branches, and if prepared with care, sift the minds of the candidates. President J. S. DENMAN, Attica. Secretary-C. J. Judd, Warsaw. Resolved, That Miles A. Hinman, of Sheldon. and Ezra Bishop, of Attica, be hereby consti. tuted honorary members of this association. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be sent, with a request for publication, to the several newspapers of this county, and also to the District School Journal, Albany, Resolved, That this association adjourn to meet at the Court House, in the village of War. saw, on the first Saturday in December next, at 9 o'clock, A. M. will We give a few of the questions used in Philadelphia by the Board of Examiners, merely as examples. They are numbered, that the teachers may number their corresponding answers. 4. How would you teach Geography? Should the text of the Geography be committed to memory? Should the questions on the maps be answered by the pupil with out the map before him? Should the pupil be required to make maps! If so, why and how far? SCHOOL GOVERNMENT. 1. What are the prinicpal sources of disorder in a school room? 2. Should talking among the pupils be entirely exclu ded? 3. How would you prevent injury and defacement to the books, desks, floor, &c. ? 4. By what means would you secure obedience and attention to study? Would you in any case resort to corporal punishment? HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. 1. Where and under what circumstances was Washington obliged to surrender? 2. What is Mason and Dixon's line," and what is the origin of the name? GRAMMAR. Parse the following sentences. 1. "To reign is worth ambition, though in hell." "Wo worth the chase, wo worth the day, That costs thy life, my gallant Gray." 4. Correct the following sentences, giving your reason for each correction. If he learns the children to behave good, it is more than his predecessor ever done. Lysias promised his father never to abandon his friends. And we have been amazed, at the ignorance of common principles and simple rudiments, thus forced upon our attention. A MAP OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. Shall the schools make the Legislature of the State, a present of a more perfect map than has ever been published? It can be done, and without much difficulty. Let some of the leading schools of each town, take Burr's county map as a basis, and from it lay down the map of their town, on the scale of a mile to an inch. Then, let all necessary corrections be carefully made, and-judging from the county of Albany-these will be numerous. By comparing the maps thus prepared in two or more schools, the town superintendent can forward to the county officer, that which is correet, and the County Superintendent may readi 3. Parse the words italicised in the following sen-ly have the several towns carefully combined in sence: "Wisdom, though richer than Peruvian mines, And sweeter than the sweet ambrosial hive, What is she but the means of happiness? That unobtained, than folly more a fool; A melancholy fool, without her bells." 4. Give the meaning and etymology of the following words: intermit, fulsome, perquisite, rectitude, mani fold, revert, with sentences illustrating the use of the words defined. 5. Parse the words italicised in the following senrenee: "Were I Brutus, and Brutus Anthony, there were an Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue ARITHMETIC. 1. Express in words .00710301. 2. Explain the following terms as used in Arithmetic; common measure, primenumber, progression, involution, evolution. one map, by some skilful pupil of the com. mon schools, and retaining one copy for his own use, forward the other to our honored State Superintendent, for such disposition as that officer may see fit. That this can be done, and with such taste and beauty as to prove most honorable evidence of our schools, we doubt not. In Albany, arrangements are already made to produce a map, on or before the 15th of February, and we hope that not only the counties which exhibited such beautiful specimens of mapping at the Convention, but all others, will show that Albany county neither in this, nor in any thing else, can take or keep the lead in the glorious career of general improvement. TEACHERS' DEPARTMENT. When the answers are all written, let each candidate sign his name to his list, and hand them to the superintendent, who should, at once examine them, and point out errors, inviting the discussion of moot questions, and offering such remarks as will make the answers of each useful to all. The ultimate decision can usually be Manchester, Nov. 18, 1844. made more judiciously on a subsequent day, and ble criticisms contained in your paper we occa Mr. Dwight-SIR-Among the many valuathen more delicately communicated to the un-sionally find some wholesale denunciations which successful applicants. This method, says the town superintendent of Coeymans, in communicating the result of his examination, on the 15th ult., "is fairer, more thorough and more satisfactory than any other;" and such will be the decision of all, who faith fally test its utility. We do not, however, recommend that this should be a substitute for all other methods, but while we use oral examination, black-board, slate exercises, sentence framing, "L vocabulary gauging," &c., to vary the labor of the day, we rely mainly on this, to turn up the weeds of the mind. we as teachers feel are rather severe. The Oct. No. contains a remark of this kind, from the pen that if their pupils read over a certain number of of Dr. Alcott. He says, "teachers seem to think pages daily and make no glaring errors, they will at some time or other, and some how or other, wool or cotton who puts the raw material into become good readers; like the carder of one end of the machine, expecting after a certain number of revolutions a proportional quanwill make their appearance at the other." Now tity of rolls, (he hardly knows how or why) what teacher of common sense would expect to teach the sublime art of reading by such a meThe learned Dr. may have been acquainted with chanical process, I am at a loss to determine. such; but if he had been acquainted with the |