preserve a watchful care over the formation of following is the description of our system as given youthful character, assuring us that public liberty by that accomplished, able, and indefatigable chamcannot, for one moment, exist after intelligence, pion of popular education in the Massachusetts and virtue have ceased to be diffused among the Common School Journal of July 15, 1845: masses of the people. This is the grand moral of New-York has the best common school system in American history-the cardinal maxim of Ameri-the world. The state has a magnificent fund. There is a library in every school district. Provisions are can politics. It has a Normal school for the preparation of teachers; and it has devised the plan of Teachers' Institutes, which are short Normal schools. An educational paper is also sent, at the expense of the state, to every school district in it. The school system of New-York, is not only superior in its structure and organization, but it is worked with more efficiency than any other. Indeed, the working may be said to result from the structure. It goes easily, powerfully, and with as little friction as such a vast piece of machinery could be expected to do." The late distinguished superintendent of com-made for introducing apparatus into all the schools.mon schools, the Hon. Samuel Young, whose efficient and judicious action, as a school officer, is cordially and unanimously approved by the wise and patriotic of every sect and party, has recently and publicly declared, that the subject of popular education is second in importance to no other claiming the attention of a free people. In the justness of this sentiment, I cannot for a single moment doubt that every gentleman of this board, unrerservedly concurs; and I am confident that each is unalterably resolved that this great and vital interest shall never suffer by carelessness in the performance of any act in relation to it, with which he is charged. The history of the reform which has been achieved in our common school system, has already become a subject of deep interest; and those who originated its plan, or afterwards aided in its progress, are now very generally receiving credit for good services performed for their country o The duty of appointing county superintendents, Perhaps it may not be inappropriate to the pre is by law assigned to the boards of supervisors; sent occasion, briefly to review the proceedings of and safer and more discreet depositories of this the people of this county for several years past in delicate and responsible power do not exist. The relation to this interesting topic. In the fall of selections which have been made for four years 1836, a convention of the friends of popular educa. past, almost uniformly attest, that sound judgmenttion and common school reform, was called to meet and discretion, competent literary and scientific in January next ensuing. This call was signed by attainments, unblemished moral character, and ar- Messrs. Abijah Beckwith, Abel Hannahs, and B. dent and untiring devotion to the great cause of Phileo, of Columbia; John Holmes, Ezra Holmes, popular instruction, have been the only effectual and Asa Wilcox, of Danube; David Chassell, Morecommendations which have led to these appoint-ses Johnson, and V. S. Kinyon, of Fairfield; Abiments; and while selections for this office shall be influenced only by such considerations, there can be no doubt that the action of these officers will be highly conducive to the prosperity and salutary influence of the common schools. It has been objected by some that the system of supervising the schools through the agency of county and town superintendents, is complicated and expensive. To this objection it may be truly answered, that while this system is far more efficient and salutary, its expense is at least one-third less than that of any system which has preceded it. The true standard by which to determine the value of our common school system, is the influence it exerts upon the character of its pupils and of the public at large. To all objections that may be urged against our common school system on account of its expense, it may be properly answered, that it will always be safer and better economy to appropriate hundreds for education, than hundreds of thousands for the suppression of insurrection and rebellion. The common school system of New-York, comprising its eleven thousand school districts, with its free library in each of them; its state, county, and town superintendents; its Normal school and Teachers' Institutes; its District School Journal, and Teacher's Advocate; its state, county, and town associations of teachers; its six or seven hundred thousand of pupils; its intelligent, harmonious and efficient action, has excited the wonder and admiration of every state in our Union-many of which have already paid us the high compliment of essentially adopting it by legislative enactments. The record of this glorious system will hereafter glow upon the impartial page of history as the proudest monument of our legislation. Indeed, it has been already pronounced by the hon. Horace Mann, and a more competent judge does not exist, th best common school system in the world. The ah Mann, jr. G. B. Judd, and Caleb Budlong, of assembled at the court-house, on the third day of From the series of resolutions reported by LAUREN FORD, esq., and adopted by the convention, the following is an extract: "Resolved, That this convention do respectfully sug gest to the legislature of this state, the propriety of providing by law for the appointment and payment of a general instructor of common schools for each county, or given number of school districts, whose time shall be exclusively devoted to the personal inspection and superintendence of all the schools in his district or county, with such powers, and subject to such regulations, as may be adopted by a general superintendent for the state, or by a board of county inepectors, as the legislature may provide. From the address to the people adopted by that convention, the following is an extract: "It is believed that a more thorough supervision of ted intelligence and wisdom of our whole people; our schools is necessary to their success. The super when we think of the hundreds of thousands of intendence of the education of half a million children and youth, is a task equal to the undivided energies of human beings whose minds are to be enlightthe most competent individual, even when aided by aened, whose souls are to be purified by the preboard of education and all necessary sub-agents. This cious influences which it is constantly sending duty, in our state, has hitherto been incidentally per-forth, is it too much to hope and believe, that in formed by the Secretary of State, and has been as effi- reference to this great cause, "we shall all of cient and salutary as could be expected under the circumstances of the case; but we believe the able officer us grow candid, and bury in silence the odious now filling that station (Gen. Dix) would unreservedly epithets of party distinction ?" concur with us in our views upon this subject. We hope soon to number a minister of public instruction among our state officers, and to see that minister ad vised and aided by a state board of education, and also by active county inspectors of common schools." Such were the recommendations of the people of this county more than four years before the passage of our present school act; nor does their action here terminate. The bill, as originally reported, gave the appointment of county superintendents to the secretary of state. On the suggestion of the Hon. A., Loomis, then member of the Assembly from this county, it was so amended as to give the appointment of these officers to the board of supervisors; and when so amended, it was supported by the votes of both Messrs. Loomis and Hoffman. This amendment was a most important one, for such is the jealousy of central power, that without it, the act, in all human probability, would have been long since repealed. It is now ten years since I became a resident in this county; and during that whole period, the improvement of our common schools has been one of the chief objects of my pursuit.— For four years past, I have been exclusively employed in investigating the great principles upon which useful and practical education is based, and in the performance of my official duties. In view of this long period of service. I trust that I may now respectfully announce that I am no longer a candidate for the office of county superintendent. Be pleased, gentlemen, to accept my cordial thanks for the confidence which you and your predecessors have reposed in me. The relations which have existed between me and the several boards of supervisors, during both my official terms, will ever be a subject of grateful remembrance. Permit me, through you, to make public acknowledgment of the many tributes of regard bestowed upon me by the good citizens of Herkimer county-to return them my sincere thanks for the generous hospitality with which they have ever welcomed me to their well furnished and happy homes. Never will the recol. lection of their generosity be effaced from my never known; and to the last day of my life, my ardent prayers shall be offered for their hap piness and prosperity. Lastly, a citizen of this county, one who had been most active and prominent in recommend. ing the reforms which, in practice, have proved so beneficial-the Hon. N. S. Benton-has been recently called to the superintendency of our unrivalled common school system. At the late Syracuse Convention of County Superin-memory. More true and constant friends I have tendents, he publicly declared that his original views had been confirmed rather than changed by his observation of the practical effects of our present common school organization, and that it was his fixed resolution to devote his best powers to make it as efficient and salutary in action as it is judicious and comprehensive in principle. In the fulfilment of this resolution, he will be aided and sustained by the cordial co-operation of the people of New-York; but in no part of the state, judging from their past history, will his efforts be more cheerfully, perseveringly and effectually supported than in the county of Herkimer. One of the most striking and valuable characteristics of our common school system is its entire destitution of sectarian or party prejudice. It is reared in that liberal, though catholic spirit, which so generally pervades the constitution of the Union; establishing a perfect equality of rights, and diffusing its benefits, like the dews of heaven, alike on the rich and poor. We trace such a spirit in the conduct of those distinguished citizens who have, from time to time, been charged with the administration of the system. Hence we see a YOUNG publicly and magnanimously surrendering his preconceived opinions, perfecting the details, and with all the indomitable energies of his soul, entering into and carrying out in practice the admirable ar rangements of the sagacious and accomplished SPENCER. On such conduet, indicating the purest and loftiest virtue, the patriot and philan. thropist will always dwell with ever-increasing delight. When we contemplate this munificent system of popular instruction, reared by the uni On the conclusion of Mr. Henry's remarks, George Avery, esq., Supervisor of Salisbury, offered the following resolution, which was adopted unanimously: Resolved, That the thanks of this board be tendered to James Henry, jr., esq., late county superintendent which he has discharged the duties of that office; and of common schools, for the ability and fidelity with that, in the opinion of this board, his retirement is a severe loss to the cause of education in this county and state. THE following choice extract is sent us by Mr. William Goodman, of New-York, author of "The Social History of Great Britain, during the reigns of the Stuarts, beginning with the 17th century, being the period of settling the United States," two small cheap vols. "OBJECTIONS TO LEARNING ANSWERED." BY GEORGE ENSOR. THE puerile and ignorant make many impertinent objections to learning. They say it causes pedantry. It may alter the direction of this folly, but not create it. Pedantry is the formality of cold, or the fastidiousness of weak minds:-a learned pedant had been a coxcomb in dress, if finery instead of books had first caught his attention. Every state and condition has its pedants:lawyers, and apothecaries, and stockjobbers, and sportsmen, and village surveyors, often display as much pedantry in their respective pursuits, as he recluse of a college; with this distinction, that the pedantry of a learned man has a relish of precious things. I do not wish to screen the affectedly literate from reproach: those who render their discourse a medley of foreign and antique terms; which to understand requires a diploma from Babel, are disgusting. Those who make a parade of their literary pursuits, discredit letters, and dishonor themselves. Another objection is, that great learning injures the sprightliness of man's wit. Did it Lucian's, or Rabelais, or Cervantes, or Butler's, the author of Hudibras? Cervantes was a studious reader, and the others without wit, had been famous singly by their learning. It has been asserted, that an intimacy with books prejudices the mind. They who intimate this opinion talk much of reading the world. One of the most visionary of those fanaties is a traveller called Steward. He felicitates himself on his ig norance of literature, and to this, he attributes the liberal state of his understanding. Had he been at all a reader, he might have avoided repeating Witwood's sneering reason for the happiness of Petulant's wit in Congreve's "Way of the World." "His ignorance gives him the more opportunities to show his natural parts." It is objected to the studious, that they neglect their private affairs. Sophocles was cited before a court of justice for this imputed omission; and Patru informs his readers, † that the love of letters had ruined his fortune. I do not wish to conceal or palliate this carelessness.‡ I would reprehend it: for the fascination of literature to one imbued with its principles, is so powerful, that the studious cannot be too frequently guarded against its seductions. But prudence in domestic economy is not incompatible with lite rary habits; and if authors are seldom worldly in their speculations, they are seldom prodigal in their expenses. entertain themselves; they do not require the presence and the noise of the many to be assured of their existence, or their enjoyments.pwO The most curious objection is, that learning unfits a man for active life. Hipparchus, called the sage, was extremely learned: he governed Athens by the assistance of learned men; and his admin istration was termed a revival of the golden age. Demetrius Phalereus, who presided over Athens for many years with the greatest dignity, and Pericles, and Phocion, and Aristides, and Ephialtes, and Longinus, were all deeply versed in learning and philosophy. So was Lycurgus, the legis tor of Lacedemon: and the philosophers, Saleucus, Charondas, Archytus, Solon, Bias, Thales, Chilo and Pittacus; Cleobulus, who reformed many states; and Epaminondas, and our own Alfred, (that exemplar of ability, activity and goodness); were the most literary characters of their respective ages. Rome, during the reign of Marcus Antoninus, and Thebes during its prosperity, and other states, fully authenticate Plato's opinion, that "nations would never be well regulated till philosophers were governors, or governors philosophers."Contrast the administration of Antoninus and Domitian; he, who banished by consent of a base senate, the philosophers from Rome;-an act only equalled by the Ephesians, and the revolutionary French. The former condemned an aristocracy of virtue, and banished Hermodocus: the latter despots, an aristocracy of talents; and those who did not fly from persecution were destroyed. Such is the influence of learning in political life, that nations were happy when they enjoyed its influence. Nero was a prosperous ruler under the direction of Seneca: and Hermosus, when he enjoyed the advice of the philosopher Burzug; but when those were gone, how lamentably did the two empires fall into disorder! Confucius established, that "learning should be the road to magistracy" in China; and examples prove his wisdom, and their absurdity, who esteem literature incompatible with active life. It is incessantly urged, that the possession of letters is not profitable. No one who has conversed much with a dealer's arithmetic who does not babble this objection; and they may exem- It is a common objection with the superficial, plify their remarks by Milton, who sold, with that study injures the health, and abridges the term some difficulty, his "Paradise Lost," for a few of life. It is true, that Euler, in his too close appounds; but they should know, that the object of plication to solve a problem, fell into a fever, and their own craving is not the ambition of all. I lost one of his eyes; and that Madame du Chatelet, am persuaded that there are men who had rather a most extraordinary woman, by too intensely labe authors of one ode, than make a profitable con-boring her version of Newton, shortened her days. tract for a loan. If these jobbers and contractors, But these are extreme instances, and only exem (and I have no objection to them, when they do plify the ill effects of study prosecuted to excess. not prate about what they cannot comprehend,) Were such objections against study admitted, then limit the epithet profitable to money, I agree with they who died through abstinence would disprove them; for the day-laborer is prodigally paid in the advantage of sobriety. If the female editor comparison to the studious. But profit has a more of Newton prematurely died, Cassandra Fidele, liberal interpretation: an author looks to his fame, the most studious and learned female of her time, and the entertainment and the instruction of the lived till she was a hundred and two! world. These are his remuneration! I scarcely know any description of people longer lived than the studious. Gorgias lived till he was a hundred and seven; Democritus till he was a hundred and nine; Hippocrates till he was a hundred and four; Galen till he was a hundred and forty; Plato reached the grand climateric; Carneades, who was so studious that he neglected his meals, lived till he was eighty-five or ninety; Craterus composed his comedy of the Flagon, and bore away the prize, when he was ninety-six. Theophrastus informs his readers that he dre up his characters when he was ninety-nine; and Sophocles composed a tragedy when a hundred. Varro, the most learned of all the Romans, would prove interesting and useful, wrote on agriculture at a very advanced age. aware, is customary at many school celebrations, Cato the elder, made his famous speech in his but this particular plan, in all its details, has own defence at eighty-six; and this universal scholar, according to Livius, continued his orato- not been tried in this state. It possesses some rical exertions with undiminished vigor after his obvious and important advantages, and as accesninetieth year. Magliabechi was immensely stu-sory to the separate examination of each school, dious, and he survived the age of four score.Huet, (in France,) studied unremittingly till he was ninety-one. Fontenelle almost completed a century. D'Aguesseau, who never knew a greater relaxation than a change of studies, was long lived. Voltaire, though puny born, and who wrote so much that his works fill thirty or forty volumes, might also be remarked for his longevity.t We have received a part of the report of the recent eclectic examination of the first class of each of the Boston Grammar Schools, on the Philadelphia and Albany plan of printed questions and written answers, which makes some strange revelations. We shall draw from it freely for the next Journal. In our own country, (England,) Hobbes lived till he was ninety-two; "neither was his eye dull, nor his natural force abated;" and many others, whom it is unnecessary to enumerate, who were [Extract from the Annual Report of the Visitors of most eminent for their studious habits, like Cow-Common Schools of the city of Cincinnati, for 1844.] ley, "blossomed soon and flourished long." It is an irreverend mistake to conceive that study, which is the source of knowledge, (and Bacon says that "man is but what he knoweth,") should prematurely terminate his life. tions. After the annual visitation, the trustees pro posed to hold an Eclectic Examination of a cer-c tain number of the more advanced pupils, selected as nearly equally as practicable, from each Shall any dare henceforward to depreciate of the schools. The object of this was, to exstudy? The dull and the ignorant should know, hibit to the citizens, who might not have had that stupidity and ignorance are no more excused an opportunity of witnessing the general visitaby belying study and its acquisitions, than thation, the actual condition of these public institu audacity extenuates the crimes of murder and robAccordingly fourteen pupils, seven male and bery. Let those who ebb ingloriously with the lapse of life, and who account all glorious efforts the same number of females, were selected from folly or Quixotism, withhold their profane tongues the more advanced classes in each school, How can man entertain himself as innocently as These were congregated in the Wesley Chapel with books? They amuse, they instruct, and on the 26th June; and divided into classes, emthey provide futurity with a pleasing resource.-bracing the various branches of Reading, ModAs Bolingbroke wrote the foundations of aern Geography, Arithmetic, United States Hishappy old age must be laid in youth, in the use tory, Book Keeping, Ancient History and Geo. of retirement and study." By books calamities graphy, Algebra, Geometry, Natural Philosoare prevented or moderated when they arrive; phy, and Astronomy. they are advantageous by various means, the knowledge they impart, the occupation they give; or, as Xylander, who made books which were the amusement of his youth supply his wants when he became old: they are the faithful monitors and friends of all times and fortunes. Literature is the pleasure of youth, the delight of manhood, and the foundation of authority to the old. The Hindoos, according to their monarchical notions, say, "that knowledge attained by a man of low degree ranks him with princes. As the goal is the station of victory to runners, the reward of study is appropriated to old age."§ ECLECTIC EXAMINATION. The several classes were subjected to the examination of the visitors and inspectors of the common schools, without any, preconcert whatever. To bring the pupils away from their respec to examine them in the pretive schools, sence of a large promiscuous audience, and to do this by means, not of their instructors, but of gentlemen to whose phraseology and manner of examination, they were almost entire strangers, was undoubtedly as severe a test of the accuracy of their knowledge as could be desired. To say that almost without an exception, the examination was highly creditable both to the pupils and their instructors, would only be responding to the opinions already expressed by a large audience, composed in part of various WE ask the careful attention of school competent judges, including not only many of officers to this brief notice of a novel method of examining schools. Something similar, we are *If Cornaro could be accounted a literary man, he would be a curious example for this purpose. He was a writer; and at the age of ninety-five, in his Amerouoli Essortazioni, and in his Della Vita Sobria, written a few years earlier, he speaks of the improvement of his senses, and the superiority of his singing voice then, to what it was at any former period. "In 1938, M de Chateaureuf made a calculation on the duration of studious life of the ascertained ages of 900 men of the four old academies. The medium of life was 67 years and 10 months, and of academic existence twenty-six and a half years. † Sir W. Jones. Demophilus. our most intelligent citizens, but several distinguished strangers, who happening to be in the city, availed themselves of the opportunity to witness the exercises. In addition to the classes examined, much interest was excited by the beautiful specimens of Penmanship exhibited, the recitations of the pupils and the compositions, and also by the exercises in Music of the classes taught by Mr. Colburn and Mrs. Thatcher. On the whole the exhibition was highly satis factory, and we trust has contributed in some degree to awaken a still more deep and lasting interest among our citizens, in the welfare and prosperity of the common school system. DISTRICT SCHOOL JOURNAL, VOL. VI. OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. TERMS. ALBANY, FEBRUARY, 1846. No. 11 gan of communication between the department and the varicus officers connected with the local administration of our common school system. It will be the representative and advocate of no partial views or favorite hypotheses—the organ of no sect-the instrument of no narrow and dis. torted theory of education—but its columns will at all times be open to the full and free, but temperate discussion of all subjects having a direct and practical bearing upon the education of the people and their children. And the editor will endeavor to avail himself, in the discharge of this portion of his duties, of the assistance of the ablest teachers and most experienced educators The superintendent of common schools having directed the subscription on the part of the state to be continued to the Journal for the ensuing year, to an amount sufficient to supply one copy for each organized school district, the undersigned, with the approbation and assent of the department, will assume the editorial manage ment of its columns during this period-relying for such compensation as his services may be deemed to deserve, wholly upon the subscription list with which he may be favored, independently of the state appropriation, Intending faith.nal, must necessarily be dispensed with, in order fully to devote his best abilities to the dissemi- to afford room for the discussion of topics of more general and comprehensive interest; and nation, through this channel, of sound and prac. a portion of each number will be exclusively detical views of common school education, and to voted to scientific information, and miscellaneous the elevation and progressive improvement of selections from the purest and most attractive our elementary institutions of public instruction, he confidently appeals to the several county and moral faculties of the youth of our land. In sources, designed to improve the intellectual and town superintendents, trustees and other officers short, it is the intention and design of the editor, of school districts, teachers, and the friends of aided as he hopes to be by individuals in whom popular education generally, for the renewal and the friends of education have been in the habit of extension of that patronage which has hereto-reposing the highest confidence, to render the fore been bestowed upon the Journal, while un-Journal the true friend and instructive compader the control of its late eminently gifted and nion of youth-the teacher's safe manual of redeeply lamented editor. While he cannot hope ference-and the school officer's best guide in to equal, much less to surpass, the zeal, ability, the discharge of his burdensome and responsible and devotion which characterized this distin-duties. Above all will it be his ambition and guished champion of our common school system, in this his favorite field of labor, he ventures the assurance that no pains shall be spared, and no industry be wanting in the endeavor to sustain the high reputation which the Journal has already attained-to make it the faithful exponent of the enlightened spirit of the age in reference to the great interests of elementary public instruction to render it a welcome and instructive guest at the family fireside, and on the teachers' able; and to enhance its utility as the direct or endeavor to infuse into our entire system of popular education, that comprehensive and enlightened spirit of Christian morality—that appreciation and practical application of the great elements of TRUTH, GOODNESS, ORDER, HARMONY, PURITY, and DUTY, which, alone, can permanently elevate and improve humanity. As the present subscriptions to the Journal terminate with the next number, the undersigned respectfully requests their renewal upon the same terms as heretofore, at as early a period as |