J. B. THOMSON, PRES'T.

C. P. WILLIAMS, Sec'y.

[From the Le Roy Gazette.]
GENESEE.

the committee on resolutions. The resolutions | our thanks for gratuitously publishing the notice gave rise to an animated and interesting discus- of our meeting. sion upon the importance of forming teachers' associations, on the prevailing defects and the best mode of teaching reading, spelling, geography, grammar and arithmetic. Among the speakers who participated in the discussion, were Messrs. Glendening, Storke, Hopkins, Allen, Benedict of Union Springs, Van Fleet of Owasco, Dr. Andrews of Victory, Meachan of Cato, and Hunt of Aurelius. Perfect harmony and unanimity prevailed throughout the meeting, and a real enthusiasm in the great subject of education was awa. kened, that cannot fail to give an impulse to every school in the county.

The following resolutions were presented, and unanimously adopted:

1st. Resolved, That in vew of the importance of common schools, we consider them entitled to the active co-operation of all friends of our common country and of human happiness.

2d. Resolved, That in order to carry out fully the views of the Hon. Salem Town, and act efficiently in extending the "Empire of Mind," the teachers in every town should form themselves into an association, to meet at specified times, hear an address from one of the members, and discuss the various topics connected with their profession.

3d. Resolved, That a correct habit of reading can best be fixed by the frequent example of the teacher. That in our opinion this has been too frequently neglected, and formal directions too much relied upon, and that therefore an immediate change in this particular is earnestly called

for.

4th. Resolved, That in our opinion, arithme. tic has been taught too much by rules-" rules which played around the head, but have never entered it"-and that its application either to the business of life or to the purposes of mental discipline, have been too generally unattended

to.
5th. Resolved, That in the teaching of Eng
lish grammar, we conceive a great error has ex-
isted, viz that of imparting the theory without
the practice, which renders it a dead letter to
the pupil, and that this defect should be correct-
ed by giving more time to practice and less to
the theory of the science.

6th. Resolved, That geography can best be taught in connection with drawing, and to this end we recommend the teachers of this county not to require their pupils to learn descriptions of any country, town, river, &c., until they can produce them in outlines on their slates and

black boards.

7th. Resolved, That the experience of a large number of schools in this county during the past year, clearly shows that spelling can be most successfully taught by writing upon slates. thus accomplishing a double object of improving in spelling and penmanship.

8th. Resolved, That we tender to Hon. Salem Town our warmest thanks for his highly useful and interesting address on this occasion, and request that he will give us a copy for publication. 9th. Resolved, That we tender to Prof. Hopkins our warmest thanks for the use of his school-room on this occasion.

10th. Resolved. That we tender to the editors and publishers of the several papers of Auburn,

COMMON SCHOOLS.

School Education to know that an interest in IT is gratifying to the friend of Common their improvement is awakening in this county. lected, is now particularly attracting the attenThe branch of Elocution, hitherto so much neg. tion of teachers, stimulated and encouraged by Professor Child. Our county superintendent is discharging the duties of his office with fidelity.

At a meeting of the teachers of common schools in the town of Le Roy, held on Tuesday. December 10, called at the special request of Mr. Nay, the county superintendent, for the purpose of mutual improvement particularly in reading: David Nay was called to the chair, and Ezra D. Barker appointed secretary.

In view of the too lax and indifferent state of feeling on the part of the patrons of our public schools and community at large, as respects a due and progressive interest therein, and also a want of organization and mutual support and improvement on that of teachers, it was

Resolved, That we, the teachers and friends of popular education in the town of Le Roy, do hereby form ourselves into an association, for the purpose of perfecting our profession,' and awakening an interest in our behalf and that of

our schools.

Voted, That a committee of five be appointed to draft resolutions indicative of our regard for the exercises of the day.

Whereupon Messrs. Pierson, Marshall, Faulkner, Wright and Tomlinson were named as such committee.

The committee after a short absence reported the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:

Whereas, We believe that the teachers of common schools are imperfectly qualified to teach elocution, therefore

Resolved, That the paramount importance of this subject should be sufficient inducement for us to devote more attention to it.

Resolved, That we will use our efforts in ma king this branch of study a more prominent exercise in our schools.

Resolved, That we appreciate the efforts made by our county superintendent as at once calculated to awaken a permanent interest in the cause of education, and also to give that interest a proper direction.

Resolved, That we have been particularly fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Child, for, as an elocutionist, we regard him as unsurpassed by any in the circle of our acquaintance.

Resolved, That with exhibitions of Mitchell's outline maps, and the illustration of their use by Mr. Nay, we were highly pleased, and would recommend their introduction into schools.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meet-
ing be published in the Le Roy Gazette.
DAVID NAY, Chairman.
EZRA D. BARKER, Secretary.
Le Roy, Dec. 13, 1844.

plain and practical exposition of his views on the best methods of teaching and governing schools. His address was listened to with the deepest interest by all who heard him, and made an impression which must be productive of much practical good.

vited the teachers of the county and such as proposed to engage in teaching, to meet at Syracuse, in accordance with a recommendation made at a meeting of county and town superintendents, for purposes of mutual improvement as teachers of common schools. That meeting was continued for three weeks, and was attended by about one hundred different persons, most of whom are now engaged in the schools of this county. A report of their proceedings was prepared and published, together with reports from

Resolutions expressing the thanks of the association to Messrs. Randall and Dwight, for their several addresses, were then adopted. Al so, to the trustees of the Second Presbyterian Society, for the use of their room. Orson Barnes, Esq., then offered the follow-committees, to whom several matters were reing, which was adopted unanimously.

Resolved, That our thanks are cordially tendered to E. W. Curtis, Esq., late president of this association, for his successful efforts in its behalf, and in promoting the objects for which it was formed.

Messrs. Phelps, Parsons and Salisbury, were appointed a committee to prepare the proceed ings for, and to see to their publication in the several county papers, and in the District School Journal, whereupon the meeting adjourned.

E. W. CURTIS, President.

D. P. PHELPS, Secretary.

ferred in the course of their meeting. It will not be expected of me here to enter into details in regard to the effect produced by that meeting. It is sufficient here to say, that no step taken in this county for the improvement of schools, has been attended with more beneficial results. The same testimony is borne in other counties where the plan has been tried, and it has also met with favor from the public authorities at Albany.

The undersigned cannot suffer this occasion to pass, without urging upon your notice the enq ui. ry, whether much good might not be accomplished by a small appropriation to each county, towards defraying the necessary expenses of these The Report of the Secretary of the On-lature in establishing the normal school at AlbaTeachers' Institutes. The design of the legis ondaga County Common School Association, was made at the late annual meeting, and by a resolution of the Association, was ordered to be published. We regret that we can give but the following concluding portion of this excellent paper :

ny, was to provide the state with a class of superior teachers, to be located in the different counties of the state, after they shall gradua te. Of necessity it is accessible to but a very small number of those who are to engage in the em ployment of teaching, and some time must elapse, before these few will have entered upon the active duties of a teachers' profession. In the mean time, an appropriation from our ample school fund of the small amount which would be required for the purpose named, would afford facilities which, in no other way for so small a sum, could possibly be obtained, and its benefits so generally realized. The undersigned hopes this association will not adjourn, without a formal expression of their views upon this subject.

This association has been now a little more than one year in operation. During that time, marked and visible improvements have been made in the general character of the schools of the county. While it is not to be claimed for this association by any means, that such a desirable result has been obtained through its influence alone, it is but proper for the undersigned to ask in its behalf what you will doubtless be willing to award it-some credit for the aid it "In regard to the text books recommended by has rendered. From the reports of town asso- the association, the undersigned is of opinion ciations annexed hereto, it cannot be doubted that they have very generally been adopted. that the meetings of these town associations, the Certain it is, that a much greater uniformity exassembling together of teachers, classes and ists now, than a year since, and in every respect, schools, to compare, discuss, and criticise in a so far as has been represented to the undersigned, friendly and familiar manner, different methods the benefits anticipated in the practical workof communicating instruction and of governing ings of adopting a common standard, have been schools, have, in all cases, had a direct tendency fully realized. The teacher is much better able to awaken new and increased interest, and to to do justice to a large number of pupils-adexcite a laudable spirit of emulation in the minds vancement of the pupil in his studies is more of all who have attended them. Parents have rapid, and parents are less frequently subjected been aroused to a sense of their duty, the teach-to that which is at all times an annoyance-the er has been made to feel the responsibility of his purchase of a new book to suit the notions and office, and has caught higher and nobler views prejudices of every new teacher. The want of of the dignity of the profession he has embraced, some uniform standard of text-books for a defiand the pupil has found a thousand new and honite period, has always been a source of comnorable incentives to exertion, in a pathway which soon yields to his feet more flowers than thorns. We must keep alive this spirit, and we must extend it. The meetings of this and auxil. iary associations must be made laboratories, for engendering by their discussions, lectures and reports, new ideas of improvement, and new zeal to propagate and enforce them. In this way our association may do much, in furtherance of the object for which it was formed.

plaint and annoyance, well illustrated in the anecdote of the father and son who called at a bookstore for Mitchell's Geography. Purchasing the book and handing it to the boy, the father says, "Now run quick to school, my son, or the master will change the book before you get there."

"The consolidation of districts, has been justly regarded as a measure of the highest importance. Whenever practicable, it is worthy of adoption. In an economical point of view, it is undoubtedly In the month of October last, Messrs. Curtis much cheaper, and an arrangement and classifi and Barnes, the then acting superintendents, in-cation of classes and pupils can be made much

it.

"In closing a report, which has been extended much beyond what was originally in-tended, I should omit an act of justice were I not to speak of the earnest and untiring efforts of the county superintendents, to fulfil the duties entrusted to them. From the large number of districts under their supervision, of course but a limited amount of time can be given by them to the different schools. So far as the undersigned has information, their labors have been eminently successful, and have tended to confirm and strengthen a feeling favorable to the system under which they are appointed. "All which is respectfully submitted. D. P. PHELPS,

Sec'ry Onon. Co. Com. School Asso. Syracuse, Jan. 14, 1845."

[From the Westchester Herald.]

WESTCHESTER.

SCHOOL MEETING.

more efficient, than under the single district sys-which he had seen four hundred boys drawing tem. Such, at all events, is the experience in all at one time. He said, it gave a better training districts which have adopted the plan, and pro- to the eye and mind than manuscript writing, fiting by that, other districts are preparing for and sustained his position with showing a variety of outline cards, and stating on the authority of Professor MANN, of Massachusetts, that in France every child was instructed in drawing. Writing, however, he said, should follow in close connection with this branch of instruction. He likewise commended to the young the formation of scientific parties, for the prosecution of these enlivening and instructive objects. The lecturer then opened a box of natural productions, well filled by the industry and research of the members of the Rye school who had been awakened to the subject by his lecture at that place, delivered a few weeks previ ously. He then explained the meaning of the terms Geography, Geometry and Geologyand drew from the box of collections made at Rye, specimens of the rocks which compose the higher parts of the Andes, and other mountains of the earth-viz: quartz, feldspar, and mica. He then held up a beautiful specimen of quartz, of which he said most of the gems are formed; of feldspar, nearly allied to the former, and mica, of which three, as has been stated, the highest mountains are formed. Quartz, when subjcted to the action of heat, produces glass; felspar, china, etc. These three letters of the geological alphabet, may be learned in an hour. The lecturer also presented a fine specimen of pudding stone, picked up on Rye beach, of which there are vast quantities between Providence and Boston, and he had found it also high up on the Catskill mountains. Its peculiarity.was noticed, as notwithstanding its being composed of a vast number of pebbles imbedded in the adhering mass, having seams by which the mass might be divided, as in other rock, but which separated the pebbles also in their centre. He next showed the varieties of acorns that had been collected, and explained that the kinds of oak, of which there are fortyfour in America, may be determined by the form and appearance of the fruit. So also of the gum tree, locust, etc. He then offered to the inspection of the audience.several curious specimens of the productions of other countries, viz. a handsomely wrought basket made by the wife of an Indian chief in Oregon, a bell made in Mexico, sent in return for articles forwarded from schools in New-York, strings of shells from the Fejee Islands, &c. &c.

We availed ourself of the priviledge of attending the lecture of JOSIAH HOLBROOK, Esq., of New-York, announced in the public journals for Saturday last at White-Plains; and our only regret is that hundreds of the friends of education in this county had not done likewise. Mr. H. is extensively and favorably recognized as a literary and scientific gentleman of high qualifications, and eminent ability to impart instruction. His whole life, as we believe, has been devoted to the acquirement and extension of knowledge, and the peculiarities of his system of instruction. (which will be discovered in the course of this article,) appears to us to be in every respect worthy the attention of parents, preceptors and patriots.

Mr. HOLBROOK commenced his lecture by declaring his object to be, to induce efforts in youth for the acquirement of knowledge and self-improvement; and adopted as his motto "Nature before Books,"-drawing before writing, &c., and argued as well as illustrated that the mind can learn more, and be more effectually impressed by the presentation of natural objects, than from artificial or arbitrary signs. He then exhibited, and recited his remarkably lucid illustrations with natural fruit, products, etc., which he averred, would much more lastingly impress the child's mind than simple pictures or emblems of these objects in a book. In support of his principle of teaching drawing before writing, he introduced a number of interesting facts, showing incipient talent, and the absorbing influence of these pursuits; and in proof, presented a number of drawings recently made by the scholars from Rye, among which was one, much ad. mired, inscribed "our school-house."-and added, that in this way, a system of scientific exchanges might be established, and extended from school-house to school-house, from country to city, etc. He also exhibited some handsome specimens of maps of Westchester county, and other places, drawn by pupils of public school No. 8 in the city of New York; together with his sheet of Geometrical Diagrams, from one of

The morning lecture was closed with a display of drawings of Mamaroneck, Rye, Westchester, Liberia, the eclipse, etc., made by the boys in the school at Rye Neck, under the eharge of Miss JANE DUNCAN, and presented by Mr. BARRY, town superintendent, who also took an active part and interest in the proceedings.

The meeting was attended by JOHN HOBBS, Esq., county superintendent, Mr. VERMILYE, of Mamaroneck, Messrs. BARRY, SMITH, TOMP. KINS, of Rye, and a few other friends of common school education, who are entitled to high praise for their activity and zeal in the good work. The scholars too, are well deserving unqualified commendation for their industry, talent, and research, in providing specimens, drawings, &c. for the occasion.

At the close of the meeting, the following reso

lutions were submitted to the meeting, and adopted separately and unanimously:

Resolved, That this meeting has been much interested and highly gratified by the exhibition of specimens, from various parts of the world, by Mr. JOSIAH HOLBROOK, of New-York, and particularly by his explanations and illustrations showing their utility.

Resolved, That we consider the system of education suggested by Mr. HOLBROOK, as far superior to that which has been generally ado. ted and acted upon hitherto, in every respect; but chiefly in this, that by it Nature is allowed to take the lead in the acquisition of knowledge, instead of being forced in some instances and repressed in others.

Resolved, That we earnestly recommend the system of Mr. HOLBROOK, to the attention of the friends of education generally; and advise that he be invited to deliver lectures on the sub: ject to the youth in every town and principal village in the county-fully believing that his plan will contribute largely to the general growth and diffusion of useful knowledge.

[From the Hempstead Inquirer.] THE COMMON SCHOOLS OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD.

We have read with advantage various communications to the people of Hempstead, from one of which the following is an extract in relation to the proper management of their district schools. Such zealous and intelligent advocacy of the sacred cause of education encourages the doubtful and strengthens the firmest friends of the sys

tem.

sion at least, has occurred in that crazy, unnecessary, uncalled-for excitement which has recently swallowed up for a time the entire energies of the republic, and by which all the great interests of vital importance to the welfare of society have been almost totally sunk in the comparison. Moral honesty, the great bond or cement of society, has been greatly impaired, and may be easily destroyed by such frenzied movements. These things are to be kept in check by the right kind of intelligence; no other means exist in a free government. We should all bear in mind the important fact that the most flourishing republics which have ever been known have lasted but a few years, or a few generations at most, and have passed like a shadow; while despotic and tyrannical governments have endured for many centuries, even upon the ruins of the republics. Our case may be similar; and the only security against it is in the virtue and intelligence of the people, to be derived from a faithful, persevering and sacred regard to the inte rests and prosperity of the common schools. For want of such a controlling principle as a basis, 'the government of almost every country has been the most wantonly extravagant and ill-managed establishment that the people have had to support.' Shall we bequeath to posterity the means of establishing and pepetuating the most enlightened and magnificent government, and the greatest and most powerful nation that has ever been known upon our planet, or shall we by a perverse, obstinate adherence to ignorance, vice and folly-social and political-bequeath to the unborn millions the most consummate wretched. ness that human nature ever encountered?

"A departed patriot has said-'Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.' Now this vigilance does not properly consist in political demagogues watching each other's movements, nor in "THE more enterprising of our teachers are any one's watching a teacher, or a trustee, for in possession of the secret of success, which faults and imperfections. This vigilance conthe sole purpose of discovering and condemning consists in addressing the understanding and ex-sists in watching the rising generation, to sec ercising the reasoning powers of their pupils, morally as well as intellectually,-not in hurry. ing them along through a great number of lessons for the purpose of flattering their parents, as some of those migratory teachers do, who stay but a quarter or two in a place. Parents will not now be so readily duped by a mere show of progress which is measured only by the number of pages or of unmeaning lessons, that scarcely make a single impression of any duration.

To borrow the idea of a distinguished teacher, words and rules and lessons which are not understood by a scholar, are of no more use to him in after life, than any quantity of me chanics' tools to a man utterly incapable of comprehending the purpose and manner of employing them. Words are the tools of mankind in their common intercourse with each other; but they are of no service unless their meaning is known. The repetition of words in a school-room, with out any ideas being in the mind, will effect little more than an evanescent knowledge of the orthography, pronunciation, &c., as given in those unmeaning columns of words in many of the spelling books with which little learners have so long been punished.

"Let us be up and doing, if we do not wish to be our own enemies. The political horizon is comparatively clear, and a temporary suspen

that they do not go astray in vice and iniquity,
instead of attending good schools, pursuing their
studies, and learning such things under the direc-
tions of good teachers as will tend to make them
wise and virtuous citizens. The great cri-
terion that distinguishes man from the brute
creation, in respect to intellect, consists in the
ability of man to rise in the scale of meatal and
moral excellence, to advance from the utmost con-
intellectual capacity and attainments; while the
ceivable imbecility to the possession of the highest
various animal tribes remain, in respect to intel-
lect, precisely the same through every genera-
cies of birds of the present day build their nests,
tion and throughout all time. The different spe-
the bee its cells, and the beaver his dam, in exactly
the same style and manner as the individuals of
those species did before the flood. There are
persons who would have mankind to grow and
do likewise; but it is to be hoped, that under
the benign influence of the common school sys-
will evince that they are not in vain given ability
tems of modern times, the rising generations
to become wiser than the fowls of the air, and
to have more understanding than the beasts that
perish.'
ELIJAH A. SMITH,
Town Supt.