associates and friends, Col. STONE, of New-nent. He illustrated his system by using cubes, York, and RALPH K. FINCH, Esq., of Steuben cones, spheres, cylinders, spheroids, &c., with county, the cause of Education has been de- class taken from one of the schools in Syracuse. prived of two of its most faithful and efficient We believe that his exhibition gave general advocates, and the schools of their counties of satisfaction. the kind and discriminating supervision of those whose judgments were matured by experience, whose minds were enlightened by knowledge, and whose hearts were the seat of those virtues which fitted them in a peculiar manner for the discharge of all their high duties.

2. Resolved, That while their loss is deeply felt by us, their fellow-laborers, we are not unmindful of the deeper pain their death has inflicted upon those who were bound to them by the ties of kindred and of love, and that we deeply sympathize with those who have been thus deprived of kind husbands and affectionate fathers.

3. Resolved, That as a tribute of respect to the memory of our deceased brothers, these resolutions be embodied in the miuutes of this Convention, and copies thereof transmitted to their families, and published in the papers of their respective counties.

On motion of Dr. A. WRIGHT, the following resolution was adopted:

Mr. BARNES offered the following resolution : Resolved, That the Hon. SAMUEL YOUNG, for his devotion to the cause of Education; for his comprehensive and practical recommendations and suggestions; the untiring ardor with which he consecrated the energies of his great intellect to the elevation of our system of Common Schools; deserves and will receive the thanks, not only of this Convention, but of all the friends of equal and universal education throughout the world.

Mr. ROCHESTER rose to second the resolution. He most fully concurred in its expression of the high estimate in which Col. Young is held by the members of this Convention. It had been his (Mr. R.'s) fortune, almost from his earliest acquaintance with the political position of Col. Young to differ with him on almost all the important political questions of the present day; and perhaps it was his duty to confess that he had imbibed a strong prejudice against him. The correspondence and acquaintance with Col. Y., attending the duties of his (Mr, R.'s) late position as Superintendent, had served not only to remove all such prejudices but to place Col. Young high in his respect and esteem; and he believed that he but expressed the opinion of the Superintendents and intelligent friends of education every where, without distinction of Mr. INGRAHAM, from the Committee on Union party, when he said that Col. Young had Schools, submitted a report, which was adop-shown himself not only a most honest and ted: capable public officer, but an enlightened and At 10 o'clock a resolution was passed, re-efficient advocate of Popular Education, and questing all Authors who wish to present their friend of the present admirable Common School works to the notice of the Convention, to do so system of this State this evening. The following authors were heard :

Resolved, That we recognize authors of school books, as co-workers with us in the great work of elevating our common schools, and as such we heartily welcome them to attend our Conventions, and thank them for the valuable suggestions we have received from them, and also for copies of their work put into our hands.

true to the great cause of popular education and human progress, he should be happy, with the permission of the Convention, to add his voice to the unanimous vote which this acknowledgement of Col. YOUNG'S services will receive from

Mr. BARNARD, of Connecticut, said that disJ. H. Mather, on penmanship; S. N. Sweet, connected as he was from all political relations on Elocution; O. H. Wickham, Educational and parties in this state-resolved to know or Incentives; A. L. Smith, Hart's Book of Poe-to care for no man's political faith, so be he is try; do. of Prose; do. Constitution United States. Smith's Geography; do. Arithmetic, Key, and Cube Block. Mr. Fisher, a Chart illustrating the Sun's Declination at all seasons. S. R. Sweet, Miss Swift's Natural Philosophy; Olmsted's Rudiments of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy. Mr. Newman, Chart of Ancient History; O. B. Pierce, Grammar and Ancient Geography; Mr. Sanders, Spelling Book, and Reading Books; Lyman Cobb, Spelling Book and Reading Books. Adjourned at 20 minutes past 12.

FOURTH DAY.

Friday, 8 o'clock A. M. The Convention opened by prayer by the Rev.

Mr. HOLBROOK.

all present. His manly and energetic administration of your wide spread school system: his fearless assertion of the great principles of virtue and morality in his official papers resPecting the selection of books for school libraries, and the qualification of teachers; and the noble manner in which he came forward and surrendered his preconceived prejudices against the system of county Supervision adopted by his predecessor in office, and avowed his determination to give that system a fair trial, and when he had done so,'acknowledged it to be avaluable improvement on the old plan; these things have won for him the highest respect of all the friends of education in other states. It has fallen to the lot of but few men to be able to do so much The object of his Apparatus is, to excite the for the more complete and universal education curiosity of the children, and thus engage their of the people, as this gentleman has done by his attention; he said the mediums of communica- early and continued advocacy of the School ting knowledge were the eye, the hand, &c., as Library enterprise, and the establishment of well as the ear; that the senses wanted cultiva- Normal Schools and Teacher's Institutes. The tion, as much, if not more, than the mind; that organization of the Normal School at Albany impressions thus gained were the most perma-under the charge of its present wise, energetic

The Convention having passed a resolution to that effect, the Rev. JOSIAH HOLBROOK OCcupied a portion of the morning hour in exhibiting his "Common School Apparatus."

have it apparent to them that his first object was to do all in his power to advance their improvement, rather than to make it his business to blazon their defccts. That he derived great benefit from the suggestions of teachers. He sought information from them, and imparted in return all in his power.-He found one great source of embarassment, when he found an incompetent teacher, in his estimation, who was lauded by the majority of the inhabitants of the district.-He had annulled some certificates.

[Mr. S. was here cut off by the ten minutes' rule. A motion was made to restrict Superintendents to five minutes. It was strenously opposed by Messrs. Nay, Pierce, Rockafellow, and others, taey maintaining that the most profitable business in which these Conventions could engage, would be in the communication by Superintendents of the results of their labors during the past year. The resolution was negatived by a decided vote.]

and accomplished Principal, during his admi-teachers of his county together, he took care to nistration of the School Department; and the introduction and rapid extension of TEACHER S INSTITUTES during the same period, will mark a new era in the history of popular education in your state, and will most materially strengthen the hands and the hearts of those who are laboring in this field in other parts of the country. No man at all acquainted with the history of education elsewhere, or who has reasoned out the causes and agencies best calculated to advance it, can have any reasonable doubt of the success, immediate, extensive and permanent, which must follow a fair trial of these institutions. They are carrying and will carry still more the spirit and the methods of improvement up to the very source of all real and permanent improvement-the teachers of the schools. The sooner they can be reached, the higher their attainments, eharacter and skill can be carried, the better. All the rest-school houses, books, supervision-are but the machinery for securing and continuing the services of good teachers, and giving the means and instruments by which teachers can work in this high mission to the best advantage. Every teacher, every parent, every school officer, and every friend of the state, ought to be grateful to the late Super intendent for his agency in establishing these Institutions. Sure I am, (said Mr. B.), that the thousands and hundreds of thousands of children whose capacities for happiness and usefulness will be increased by the better instruction they will receive from teachers made better by these Institutions, will rise up and call him blessed.

Mr. ROCKAFELLOW (of Allegany) suggested the importance of County and Town Superintendents visiting schools together at least once a year. In granting licenses, he first grants a Town License. After visiting the School, if he finds the teacher apt, well qualified to give practical instruction, he gives him a County License. If he has any suggestion or reprimand to make to a teacher, he makes it to the teacher alone-never in the presence of his scholars. Thinks highly of public examinations of studies, at the close of a term, or at any time in the course of a term. Prefers them to exhibitions, which do not embrace detailed examina

The question was then taken and the resolution of studies. The "Pirate's Own Book," tion adopted unanimously.

On motion, Messrs. ROCHESTER, BRODT, and A.WRIGHT, were appointed a Committee on unfinished business.

and others of that character, he had expunged from libraries. He understands the instructions of the Department to be to remove all "Text Books" from the libraries.

Mr. BARNES, from the Committee on Organi. Mr. BRODT (of Broome) represented a seczation of School Districts, made report. tion of country which was once called "sequesThe Committee on School Celebrations re-tered" and "benighted," but he hoped it was ported through their chairman, Mr. PALMER. Mr. A. WRIGHT, from the Committee on Phy. sical Education, reported.

So no longer. When the present system was first instituted, the schools were in a very bad state-was happy to state they were better now The Committee on Town and County Asso--some good schools. Held stated meetings ciations also reported.

Mr. CURTIS, of Syracuse, offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the County and Town Superintendents throughout the State, will very greatly aid the moral and temperance reform, by introducing the temperance pledge into all the schools under their respective supervisions.

with Town Superintendents for examination of teachers, but did not always succeed in getting a full attendance of teachers-had succeeded well in one town with drill and examinationrequested teacher to pursue his usual course in conducting and governing the school during the inspection, and not to put on a Sunday dressendeavored to pursue a conciliatory course with The above having elicited considerable de teachers, and not to force any new system upon bate on account of its supposed inexpediency them or the parents. Had not been able to enin connexion with the other many duties of the gage the Town Superintendents in holding Superintendents, and the supposition that they town celebrations, although he hoped to do so would naturally exert a more salutary influence this summer-has lectured in nearly every disby examples than by such a course was with-trict, the past season, in which he was in the drawn by the mover. evening-had not succeeded in forming town associations.

The call upon the Counties in order, which was suspended the day before, was then taken up, each Superintendent telling the manner of his proceeding in the performance of his various duties. Each Superintendent was limited to ten minutes, the last three of which were to be devoted to answering such questions as the other members might wish to ask; this explana. tion will account for some of the reports.

Mr. SPENCER, of Allegany, said in calling the

Mr. RANDALL (of Chenango) said he circulated printed notices throughout the county, of the Instructors expected to be present at the Teachers' Institute, and the time, place, expense, &c., the result of which has been to secure a large attendance. In schools, use Cobb's Spelling Book, Colbourn's Arithmetic, and Bullions' Grammar.

Mr. WOODIN (of Columbia) said he had paid

great attention to reading and spelling. He he had finished that operation-he gave fre had endeavored to maintain a sound discipline quent lectures. Mr. H. would not enquire into in schools by exciting the interest of scholars in the religious opinions of the individual to be their studies-which does away with the ne-examined, or whether he had any. He would cessity of fear. I am asked what I do with an know that his moral character was good; his incompetent teacher? I detain him after the opinions he would leave where the law, in conschool is dismissed, and kindly admonish him, formity with the spirit of our institutions, left and point out his defects. If on a second visit them-in the breast of the individual. a reform is not visible, his license is annulled.

Mr. INGRAHAM (of Dutchess) said one of the best teachers in his county required his pupils to spell every word in their reading lessons. He gave some specimens of deplorable incompetency on the part of some teachers he had met, but the standard of qualifications was improving in his county as in others.

the school into his own hands when he visits it,
P. MONTGOMERY [of Jefferson] usually takes
has made special efforts to secure the full use
of the district libraries. In the town of Ant-
werp, the people have resolved that the Town
Superintendents visit the schools three times in
winter, and twice in summer.
He goes for al-
most any course in school that will break up the
monotonous and mechanical system of opera-

Mr. FERGUSON (of Delaware) remarked that
there had existed in his county a strong oppositions which has hitherto prevailed.
tion to County Superintendents-and furnished
some other statements which were more imme-
diately interesting to the members of the Con-

vention.

[Mr. WM. WRIGHT here made the general inquiry, as to what course a Superintendent ought to pursue, when a man presents himself for a license who possesses the requisite literary attainments; ability to teach; whose general conduct is unexceptionable; but who publicly avows a disbelief in the divine authenticity of the Bible? Should he receive a license?]

Mr. E. S. ELY gave an extended, interesting, and spirited account of his course of management, which we are unable to report, having been compelled to bestow our attention at that time in another direction. He is sensible of a decided improvement of the schools of his county, to accomplish which, he at all times pursues a course of kindness and conciliation, and directs every effort to increasing the interest of scholars in their studies.

Mr. SPRAGUE (of Fulton) holds meetings of teachers for examination, and requires answers in writing. Has frequent meetings of teachers for discussion. Seldom gives notice of his first visit to a school, but generally of the second. Would not give a license to a man who attends balls, plays checkers, cards, or uses alcohol as a beverage.

Mr. SYLVESTER [of Lewis] said his county for some time hesitated about complying with the new law, but objections were rapidly subsiding-he invites all the neighborhood to assemble and listen to the inspection of teachers. When he finds a teacher defective in practice, he usually takes his place, and illustrates the change desired.

Mr. MANN [of the country towns in Monroe] paid a high and deserved compliment to the labors of his predecessor [Mr. Rochester]. In he town of Clarkson, on one of the coldest days last winter, 900 persons assembled at a town celebration. Some young men have entered Harvard College direct from a Union Common School in the town of Pittsford; and there are some other Union Schools in the county but little behind. Sometimes gives notice, and at others he does not. Makes it a point to lecture in the evening, when on his visits, and has rarely had a small audience. He would not annul a teacher's certificate for dancing, or playing checkers, alone. Would annul the license of a man who publicly proclaimed the Bible an "old wife's fable."

The hour of 12 having arrived, the Conven. tion adjourned to 1 P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Friday, 1 o'clock P. M. tion, which was adopted: Mr. SPENCER presented the following resolu.

E. S. SHUMWAY (of Essex) makes his first visit alone, and reports to Town Superintend. ent, who then makes a visit and reports to him. They afterwards sometimes visit in company. Has town examinations and celebrations, with a good effect. Would not give a man a certificate who proclaims the bible to be a fable-nual Convention of this body, each member be would annul the license of such a person.

Resolved, That between this and the next an

required to draw up a brief report to present to the Convention, containing his peculiar mode of examining teachers, counseling patrons, and whatever else he may deem important practical information; also, the general results of his labors.

D. NAY (of Genesee) generally gives notice of his visits, invites in the inhabitants of the district, and asks parents to say something on the occasion. Mothers sometimes have address. ed the scholars, and with an excellent effect. Mr. N. exhibited a chart for teaching Orthography, which he said had been found exceeding was adopted: ingly useful.

JAMES HENRY, Jr. [of Herkimer, President of the Convention,] after referring to his printed code of Common School Rules, and list of Text Books, said he paid both expected and unexpected visits to the schools-thinks both valuable. In examining a teacher, he usually, in the first place, requested him to make a pen and write a few lines, and could generally form a pretty correct idea of the result by the time

On motion of Mr. WM. WRIGHT, the follow.

Resolved, That the members of this Conven. tion will take immediate steps to collect, so far as may be, specimens of the various shells, organic remains, and other rare and curious specimens of nature or art, found in their respective counties; with the view of being presented at the next Convention, for the purpose of exchanging for like specimens from other coun. ties.

The call of counties was then resumed.

Mr. ROCHESTER, (ex-superintendent of Monroe county,) said he had been compelled in but two instances to annul a teacher's license. He had found fifty incompetent teachers; he had privately advised them to quit teaching, and they complied. There are seventeen union schools in his county. The houses cost from $600 to $2,000. The union system is economical. Mr. R. regarded it as of great importance; and in his section it is rapidly increasing. He has often made out complete specifications and models of houses for the use of districts; and in this way a great many excellent school houses have been secured. He would have but two children at a desk, and about one-third of the floor an open area. Would have side lights only-the ends of the school house blank-one for the door and portico; the other for black boards, &c. In the union school, the principal classifies the scholars into different departments. The districts in which union schools have been established, invariably testify to their cheap. ness and superiority.

on them and invited them to visit the school with him; and they expressed themselves pleased with the practical effect of the supervi sion. He said that five years ago there was not a district school in Syracuse worthy the namenow he would court criticism upon them. He usually gave notice of his visits.

Mr. WILSEA, (of Orleans,) said they established town associations, held meetings for discussions in different parts of the town; parents and teachers take part in the decision of questions discussed, which excite close attention and keen inquiry on the part of children. They also have county conventions of teachers for discussions-say of one or two days. Delivers a good many lectures. Has found them useful in impressing upon parents the necessity of having text books within the capacity of the child that uses them.

Mr. RANDALL, of Oswego, absent on account ' of illness in his family.

Mr. PALMER, of Otsego, ascertains the age of each scholar, the time of his attendance, and his scholarship. The exact condition of each school was thus obtained. Makes it a rule to give every one connected with a school fall credit for all the good that has been done. Sug. gestions for improvement are then received kindly. To show the value of the visits of su perintendents, Mr. P. stated one or two facts. He visited sixteen of the twenty-two towns ; was taken sick, and did not visit the balance. At a teacher's convention shortly after, out of ninety-seven present, only three were from the six unvisited towns.

Mr. MACK, (of the city of Rochester,) says they have 5,850 children between four and sixteen; fifteen school districts; ten of them have 500 to 700 children each; there they have good houses with four or five departments in each; in each of these schools they have a male teacher for principal, the balance of teachers females; do not make special efforts to make children very wise when very young; have various modes of teaching; encourage individuality in teachers; have a general conformity in arrangements; the superintendent classifies the scholars; there is but one trustee in a district; he and the superintendent nominate the teachers-the board of education decide upon them; the city has ap-c plied to the legislature to have the apportion ment of public money graduated according to

actual attendance of scholars.

Mr. Cook, (of Niagara,) bore testimony to the improvement which has within two or three years been effected in school houses, teachers, and methods of instruction in his county. When he commenced, he had in some instances shortened the legs of benches, to make the children comfortable. So deplorably deficient were many of the houses.

Mr. BARNES, (of Onondaga,) always endea vors to secure the attendance of parents upon his visits. If he found a teacher who had any trait as a teacher which was peculiar and valuable, he called the attention of the public to it in every proper way. Every town in his section of the county has an association. Great interest is excited by public examinations. The discussions before the town associations are valuable. The teachers' institute in this county had already been of vast benefit. He was in the habit of requiring teachers to write from dictation, which would test their orthography and their skill.

Mr. EDWARDS, (of Onondaga,) said his first effort was to induce the people to visit the schools with him, and that the attendance was highly gratifying. The people of his county generally concur heartity in the wisdom of the present system. Mr. E. said in one district many, before his first visit, objected to the system because it was expensive; because it increased officers, and because it did no good. He called

"went it on foot" in his county; he took his Mr. ROBERTSON, of Tompkins, said they rpet bag on his shoulder, and went where he could do the most good, not neglecting the weaker districts. They had frequent meetings district the ladies fitted up the school house and of the teachers of a town for one day. In one put it in good order. That was the spirit of Tompkins county. They had just passed through the fifth session of their teachers' instiAt the town examinations each teacher gives an tute-regard it as a means of incalculable good. illustration of his method of instruction-no at. tempt is made to display how much the scholars know.

Mr. POWELL, of Tioga, regards public examinations and exhibitions as calculated to draw out the best offorts of teachers, and the active co-operation of parents and others. Calls the schools of a town together. The day of examination is always a day of interest in that town. On these occasions, has usually two or three short addresses-some one, from another town. Also, exhibit specimens of drawing, penman. ship, composition, declamation, and vocal music. [Mr. P. had with him some specimens of "outline maps," drawn with the pen, which were calculated to make the heart of the lover of common schools, exult.]

Mr. THOMPSON [of Warren] said he felt dif fidence from want of experience in assuming his responsible station; stated that the character of teachers in his county had improved within the past three years, though they have not been yet able to establish a Teachers' Institute.

Mr. ALBERT WRIGHT [of Washington] u ally gave a teacher a pen and paper, and re