work of visiting the schools had better be performed by the Town Superintendents-the County Superintendent furnishing them with blanks for recording statistical information. This left the County Superintendent at liberty to meet the Teachers in the different towns, and to hold what were called "Teachers' Drills." Mr. R. is of opinion that this course has been attended with the happiest results, and much more good accomplished by improving the capacity of the teachers, than could in any other way be accomplished by himself alone.

Mr. WILLIAM WRIGHT, of Washington, has been in the habit, so far as practicable, of sending notice in advance of the day on which he would visit any particular school, with an invitation to all the people of the district to meet him. That though he at first found many opposed to the present system, by a familiar explanation of its objects, he has succeeded in winning over many who were avowed enemies to the system. When he differed with teachers as to the modes of instruction, he would ask permission to afford a practical illustration of his own views, and then leave the teacher at perfect liberty to pursue his former course, or to adopt the plan of the Superintendent. By this course, he has found teachers desirous to adopt all that should appear to be improvements, and they have looked upon him as a friend and fellow-laborer, and not as one who desired to dictate to them the course they should pursue.

and take note of all improvements. Mr. L. and two Town Superintendents, have adopted a code of suggestions for the management of schools, which have been adopted in Convention and a copy furnished every teacher in the county.-Upon visits at the schools, a lecture is announced for the evening, at which all the neighboring inhabitants are invited to attend, who do so with great punctuality, and with manifest benefit, as exhibited in the increasing interest in the cause of education and the state of their schools.

[A motion was here made to suspend the call upon the County and Town Superintendents, for the day; but the State Superintendent sug demands upon his time, would compel him to gesting that the feeble state of his health, and leave by the afternoon train; the motion was withdrawn, that the State Superintendent might listen to such suggestions as should be made].

The call upon the County Superintendents having been completed, such Town SuperintenMr. D. C. SQUIRES (Town Superintendent of dents as were present were then called upon. Cortland), spoke of the evils which result from frequent changes in the law, and of which offi apprised. cers in school districts were frequently not fully

Mr. S. F. MERRY (Town Superintendent of Herkimer), spoke of difficulties which arise in the districts, from a want of a knowledge of the requirements of the law, on the part of the officers. Thinks a part of the evil arises from the too frequent changes in the officers. That if some or all of them held their offices for a longer term, it would be better.

Mr. N. S. BENTON, Secretary of State, remarked that if Town Superintendents would apprise the County Superintendent of any defi. ciency of a copy of the School Laws, the State Superintendent would, on information, immediately supply it].

Mr. HOBBS, of Westchester, says there is a strong attachment to the office of Superintendent, in his county: and that the people there take deep and lively interest in his visits. That there are some who think the system expensive; this is the only objection he has heard of; but this is not general. In regard to granting licences to teachers: he never grants a certificate Mr. BELLOWs, Town Superintendent of until after he has visited the school, and ob. served the practical results of its management. Monroe, says that in his village for many It is not learning alone which makes a man years, five select schools were maintained, at an That three well qualified to teach, in his estimation. He expense of $1.500 per annum. has been cautious in the granting of certificates, years ago the people raised $2.000 to build a lest the Town Superintendents should regard UNION SCHOOL HOUSE, and established a school him as trespassing upon their rights-that the with three departments, all under the superincertificate of the County Superintendent made tendence of one man-and that they have one the teacher comparatively independent of the of the best schools in the western part of the town officer. That some difficulty has arisen in State. That by this plan, they have in a small his county, from the law requiring 78 days to village, one excellent school, instead of three or the quarter-whereas, in colleges and acade- four ordinary or inferior schools. The exmies, a less time is regarded as a quarter. Mr. pense in this village is now $800 per year. He H. thinks this subject calls for attention, and believes that in all small villages, great benefit that some definite arrangement should be made. would result from the establishment of this Mr. LINDSLEY, of Yates, says in his county a system. That in Canandaigua, there was too uniformity in inspection of schools has been at- much feeling of aristocracy, for many to allow tained-the County and Town Superintendents their children to be educated under the same poor, and what inspecting upon the same points. The inspec- roof with the children of the all democrats; all tion embraces a ground of 200 facts-relating to they are pleased to term the common classes." four great departments of School management But in Pittsford, they are Organization, Instruction, Government, and stand upon the common level of the human faScholarship. And by this method, they are en-mily;" and the system works to a charm. He abled to report at the end of each year, precise- made these suggestions for the consideration of ly what improvement, if any, has been made in the people of villages in every part of the each school. They spend, each year, 4 days in State. each town, in "teachers' drills;" at which the various duties of teachers are thoroughly canvassed. They have aimed to establish MODEL SCHOOLS in each town, which schools, all the teachers in the town are encouraged to visit,

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Mr. A. H. WELLS, Town Superintendent of Onondaga county, wished to bear testimony to the favorable influence of the system of County and Town Superintendents of Common Schools, upon the interests of education. Before this

It is as you know but recently that I have been called to the supervision of the public instruction of our state. But I have always been deeply impressed with the absolute necessity of intelligence for the perpetuation of our free institu tions. For when we shall fail to instil intelliOn motion, the hour of adjournment on each gence into the mind of him who exercises the afternoon, was fixed at five o'clock. elective franchise, that moment we fail to susDr. POTTER begged leave to make the sugges-tain a free government. I have always and at tion, that were he a county or town superintendent, he would make his ordinary visits without any notice. His object would be to see the school in its every day, working condition, instead of seeing it in a prepared, gala day dress.

I learn that there are memorials from some fourteen counties in favor of abolishing the present county supervision. I am apt to think that in some cases this movement has arisen from political antipathies, unfortunately but too strong among the people. Opposition of a sectarian description, I am informed, has existed in one or two cases. These causes are made to work against the system itself-most unjustly and improperly, as I firmly believe.

Gentlemen who are county superintendents, of whichever political party, will at once perceive that they are marks for the opposition party in their own county to aim at. They should therefore redouble their prudence and circumspection. Nothing, I am satisfied, except perhaps some degree of agitation, will be accomplished at the present session of the legislature. gentlemen, to sustain the system, and this chiefly It is for us, by making it worthy in the highest degree of public confidence and favor. I inquired of the gentlemen in the legislature what the objection was, for, if valid, I desired to know it and would acknowledge its force with perfect candor. Why: sir, said my informant, the objection in my county is that the town and county superintendents get into a wagon and ride round inspecting schools together, thus making an unnecessary expense. I desire to say to this convention, though it is perhaps not proper that I should be committed on this subject-yet I do not hesitate to say that it is my opinion that in the end we shall find free schools in all respects the best adapted to our wants and our condition. And I am persuaded that as a matter of economy they are preferable to any other system. I propose to prepare my self to show as I hope and believe, that that system would bear less heavily upon the property of the state than the present mixed system does. We shall tax property no more in the aggregate, I think, than we do now. And I cannot but look forward with joy to the state of things indicated in the excellent remarks of the gentleman from R. I. who has just addressed the convention, when wealth, which is really no distinction, will cease to be regarded as such, and the children of all our citizens placed on a footing of happy and honorable equality.

GEORGE B. EMERSON, Esq., of Boston, being invited by the President, addressed the convention.

ours.

We in Massachusetts regard this principle of supervision in New York, as the one point in which your schools are decidedly superior to There is now in Massachusetts no system of public and constant general supervision like that of this state. I wish there were--and in some towns indeed something of the kind does exist. But not as a public provision. It results from private benevolence. I should rejoice to be able to look forward to the time when we too shall enjoy the blessings of a system like yours. The question has been asked how shall the public schools be made to take the place of private schools already established. I can give a single instance.

Some few years ago a citizen of Salem resolved that he would devote himself to the great interests of education. He collected information and devoted himself chiefly to the improvement of the public schools. Before he commenced there were seventy private schools in Salem. Now there are but half that number. The ex

51

pense of the public schools has indeed increased. But the difference between the amount now paid to private teachers in that city and the sum paid at the time when the gentleman begun his benevolent exertions, is considerably greater than the whole present cost of public instruction in that place. The public schools there are under supervision.

There now are, and can be no flourishing private The private schools have none. with the public schools. Private schools there schools occupying precisely the same ground are and doubtless will be-but they will occupy a ground somewhat different from that of the public schools.

that is schools for children from four to seven, Some years ago primary schools, so called, were established in Boston. These have been citizens of all ranks, the highest and the lowest, constantly growing in favor, and at present many send their children to these primary schools. In the schools of the highest grade in Boston, the son of the wealthiest man sits on the same seat with the son of a washerwoman, or of a hand-cartman. And both are treated alike. This is true republicanism. This condition of the public schools can only exist under a system of careful, intelligent and faithful supervision. You, gentlemen, have the interests of this great question of supervision committed to your hands. Upon you, more than upon any body and every body else, depends the putting down of the opposition which I regret to hear has to some degree arisen in your state. There will be opposition. Some are opposed to every thing that is new for no better reason than that it is new. ness, faithfulness and pains taking on your part, will, I cannot doubt, overcome every obstacle. The friends of education in other states look with anxious eyes upon the experiment now making by you, and earnestly pray for its success. you, gentlemen, rests the great and weighty responsibility of the result. Upon

But kind.

which was unanimously adopted:
Mr. DWIGHT offered the following resolution,

with high gratification, that the present state su-
Resolved, That this convention have learned
perintendent of common schools, was one of the
gislature, our present organization; that they
earliest to recommend to the adoption of the le-
have heard, with the deepest interest, the cheer-
have undergone no change; and that its mem
ing assurance, that his views, upon experience,
bers, collectively and individually, pledge them.
selves to use their best endeavors to aid him
making the system a blessing to the children ot
the state.

n

Dr. REESE said he begged to correct the erroschool system did not exist in the city of Newneous impression, if it existed, that the free York as perfectly as in Boston, or Salem, or any other place. That the public schools in the city of New-York are FREE SCHOOLS; that every child in the city attends these schools without any charge whatever for tuition.

The PRESIDEUT announced that Mr. Emerson, instead of Mr. May, would lecture this evening, whereupon the convention adjourned to seven o'clock.

EVENING SESSION-7 O'CLOCK.

The PRESIDENT announced, that as there were several authors present, who wished to present their works to the consideration of the conven

tion, the time until eight o'clock would be devoted to that purpose.

Mr. BRODT read a letter from Dr. N. S. Davis, of Binghamton, stating that he has a work on AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY nearly completed, which he is willing to submit to a committee of this convention. Mr. Wilson mentioned in the course of his remarks, that in New Jersey, they have no county superintendents, but have associations which meet quarterly for discussion. The Rev. Mr. May favorably mentioned reading books, especially one in verse, compiled by Miss Robbins, of N. Y. Mr. Woodin presented to the notice of the convention, three works by Mrs. Emma Willard, on the History of the U. States. Mr. Gillam represented that he was an agent for the school books of Salem Town, "Town's Analysis," &c.

Mr. HAZEN made some remarks in reference to his Grammar, Spelling Book, Technology, &c. He also used some very appropriate and convincing arguments in reference to that great and fundamental error in teaching-not adapting the lessons to the capacity of the child.

Some remarks having been made by one of the authors. in reference to the limited time (ten minutes) allowed to each author, and, to him, an apparent disposition not to give them a full hearing, the President remarked, that he looked upon authors as efficient co-laborers in the present effort to advance education-that he regarded them as friends, not as enemies, and that they had the same time allotted to them, that the superintendents had allotted to themselves. The hour of eight having arrived, the President introduced to the large audience present, GEORGE B. EMERSON, Esq.; having prefaced the introdution with a neat and well-timed compliment to Mr. E.

The Rev. Mr. MAY, of Syracuse, said he never heard his friend from Boston speak on the subject of education, without its stirring his inmost soul within him. After some further prelimi. nary remarks, Mr. M. said he held that very little could be effected except through teachers, moved by the right spirit. It is to the CHARACTER OF THE TEACHER We must look-not to books; not to legislation; not to systems. Why are schools instituted? If parents were what parents should be, there would no longer be need of schools. Yet, as it is desirable that children should associate with those who are to pass through life with them, he would therefore ad vise those parents who are competent, to send their children to school. My friend tells us, that he who wipes a tear from the eye of a child, does an angel's work. Mr. M. had observed with pain a besetting temptation on the part of superintendents and teachers, to commend those who are cared for at home, and who would get along well enough in the world, without their attentions and commendations. He had also seen the less fortunate class-those not so well dressed, perhaps-feel injured, feel insulted, and, may be, feel wrathful Let us rather go into our schools with a determination to look after those uncared for elsewhere, and from whom, smarting under a sense of injury, disturbances often arise. Go into schools with a determination to love the unlovely; those who need all the genial influences that can be brought to bear upon them to develop and strengthen their moral nature. He

had ever looked upon prizes in schools with dread. Prizes never do good. It is not well to attempt to stimulate a child to excellence from any other motive than a love of excellence itself. Commendation is not due to success, but to effort. Let us not interpose a prize to dissipate the consciousness of well doing from the breast of the child who has done as well as he can. In this way, he had seen the spirit of many a child crushed. I regard, said Mr. M., the introduction of prizes into the Boston schools as a fatal error. The progress you will make without them may not be as rapid, but it will be real progress. If we have enkindled the aspiration for knowledge and moral excellence, we have done the best thing we could do for the child. Go into our schools and take note of the children that are uncared for-though they be unwashed and scantily clothed-let them feel that they are cared for there. Do this, and I care nothing about systems, nothing about books; for I KNOW that then your schools will be blest.

The PRESIDENT, in reply to some inquiries, stated that he believed that in the state of NewYork, of all the motives offered to the child, EMULATION was not one.

The convention then, at half past ten, adjourned to eight o'clock on Thursday morning. THIRD DAY.

THURSDAY, 8 o'clock.

Prayer by Rev. Mr. Warner. The call of the counties was suspended, this morning, for the purpose of hearing reports from the several committees.

On motion of H. E. Rochester, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Rochester, Dwight, A. Wright, Sprague, Wetmore, Shumway, Trull, Curtis, Gaylord, Robertson, Woodin, W.Wright, Barnes and Edwards, were appointed to visit the Teachers' Institute, then in session in Syracuse, the room not being large enough for the superin. tendents to attend in a body.

Mrs. EMMA WILLARD, of Troy, Miss ELIZA ROBBINS, of New York, IRA MAYHEW, Esq., state superintendent of Michigan, and SALEM Town, of Aurora, were, at the suggestion of the President, unanimously admitted as honorary members of the convention.

Dr. A. WRIGHT, from the committee on character and deportment of Teachers, made a report, which was adopted, and will appear next month.

Mr. DWIGHT, from the committee on Normal Schools and Teachers' Institutes, also reported.

Messrs. Town, REESE, and A. D. WRIGHT, in the course of a discussion, bore testimony to Teachers' Institutes, as forming a new era in the history of education, and as more important than any other institution ever established.

Mr. DWIGHT, having been called upon for par. ticular statements with respect to the NORMAL SCHOOL, said, in answer to numerous questions: There are one hundred and eighty pupils; all the counties represented save Putnam. One objection to the school has been, that those educated there will not teach-or will not long continue to teach-that becoming well educated, they will go into other and more lucrative professions. But is this probable? Nearly all are over twenty-one years of age-and a majority over twenty-five. This is a strong guaranty, for at this age they