SCHOOL LIBRARY. The author of Amercan Popular Lessons offers to in.' ENGLISH HISTORY resembles the Grecian inits arrange- character, as it is exhibited in the benefactors of MrD. kind. ELEMENTS OF MYTHOLOGY. This work is highly useful These books invite the examination of teachers. They have been approved by the best scholars in this country. 1 Without increasing the expense, they greatly facilitate and extend the usual course of common education. They are printed in a convenient form; are cheap, and of a durable fabric. The following notice of Grecian History is from the pen of Win. C. Bryant, Esq. Is This work is drawn up by one of the most able and successful writers of school books that we have in this country, who, to a mind of enlightened and enlarged views, and to the stores accumulated by various and di- ligent reading, adds the faculty of communicating know- legde, and of accominodating her eonception to the comprehension of immature intellects. If we were re- quested to point out the historical work in the English language best adapted to the instruction of the younk, Extract of a letter from S. S. Randall, Esq. cher of themselves commend her and her undertaking to all the aid and countenance we can give her. Of the merits of her books we have the highest assurances from Win. C. Bryant, Gulian C. Verplanck, John O'Sul- livan, Orville L. Holley, and others of like scholarship New-York, April, 1843. | "The subscribers, being well acquainted with the se. ries of School Books prepared by Miss Robbins, are de school tuition, these works are replete with useful in. and mental powers of youth. These books have obtain- ed a wide circulation, and the approbation with which they are regarded is commensurate to the use made of I them. 16 We (the undersigned) hope that such as are inter- ested in selecting books for the use of schools will er. I life to this object | the Public Schools in the city of New York. VALUABLE SCHOOL BOOKS, PUBLISHED BY And for sale by book sellers generally. same as heretofore. and heet 11thoritice. A svstem of em. SMITH'S NEW ARITHMETIC, 12 mo. in three part. Key to the same, designed for teachers oply. For Colleges, Academies, Common Schools and General Readers. · HISTORY OF EUROPE. From the Commencement of the French Revolution in 1789 to the Restoration of the Bourbons in 1815. BY ARCHIBALD ALISON, F. R. S. E., Advocate. ABRIDGED FROM THE LAST LONDON EDITION, FOR THE USE OF GENERAL READERS COLLEGES, ACADEMIES AND OTHER SEMINARIES OF LEARNING. Price in French paper $1. Full bound $1.25. This splendid volume embraces the most complete, 1 amination, to be executed with VERY GREAT ABILITY, and comprehensive and perspicuous History of Europe, dur. I have not the least doubt will make an excellent book ing the storiny period from 1789 to 1815, which has ever for schools.". been given to the world. It is a perfect abridgement of Hon. Roger Minott Sherman, under date of Fairfield, Alison's great work, correcting the numerous errors CI., Oct., 2, says: with which it abounds, and is written in elegant lan. guage and clear style; and cannot fail to be far more "I have taken all but two of the 16 numbers of Aliacceptable to the public than the verbose and tedious ori. son's History, and have read half of it. It is so filled ginal. It has already received the warmest commenda. with tedious and useless details as greatly to impair its tion of the public press and gentlemen of learning value. The period it embraces is one of the most inte. This abridgement is admirably adapted for a class book resting in the annals of the human race, and all the imin our Colleges, Academies and Schools, and supplies portant facts are given with fidelity. But the vast cona desideratum in this respect We therefore invite the pilation of facts, which are neither interesting nor inattention of Public Teachers to its merits. structive, prevents its very general perusal. I was much gratified to find by the New World of September Among the many distinguished testimonials to the 23d, that Edward S. Gould, Esq.' bad abridged the excellence of Mr. E. S. Gould's abridgment of Alison's work, reducing it to one octavo volume. I will suspend voluminous work, we take pleasure in publishing the my future attention to the copy which I now have and following letter from the Rev J. M. Mathews, D. D., | await the arrival of the abridgement. late Chancellor of the New York University. R. M. SHUMWAY." "1 have examined Mr. Gould's Abridgement of Ali. George D. Prentice, Esq., the poet and editor of the Louson's History of Europe, and have no hesitation in say. isville Journal, says: ing that Mr. G. has performed his task with singular fidelity and ability. In abridgments of historical works, "We strongly commend this abridgement of Alison's the important incidents are often so detached from each | History by Mr. Gould, as an excellent and valuable ser. other, and from their attending circumstances, as to vice to the general reader. No man can derive much impair the connection and interest of the narrative: benefit from the complete work, unless he is prepared and the spirit and character of the original are sacri: to read it critically, for it will lead those, who are not, ficed for the sake of brevity. Mr. Gould cannot be charg. into many, many errors. If both were offered us at the ed with this fault. He has infused into his abridgment same price, we should take Gould's Abridgment, withmost of the excellencies which distinguish the history out hesitation, in preference to Harper's edition." as written by Alison himself; and has conferred a be. I Col. W. L. Stone, editor of the Commercial Advertiser nifit on our Seminaries of learning, by bringing within and Superintendent of Schools in the city of N. Y., says: their reach the substance of a work which is acknow. ledged to be one of the most valuable histories in our "Upon Mr. Gould's book we place a high estimate. language.” 1 Our knowledge of Mr. O's character forbids us to ques. tion its fidelity; and having read much of his volume, Ertract of a letter from Professor Chas. Anthon, D.D., we are free to avouch the clearness and spirit of bis par author of "The Classical Dictionary," dc.: rative, the vigor of his style, and the soundness of his " Mr. Gould's work appears to me, on a careful ex. I principles." Price from $1 to $1.25, according to style of binding. For sale by Geo. Jones, Albany; L. WILLARD, Troy; J. B. LOAK, Ulica; JONES & Co., Ro. chester ; T. L. Hawks and ROBERT RUSSELL, Buffalo, and by Booksellers and Periodical Agents throughout the United States. Also, wholesale and retail by the publisher. jy-3t J. WINCHESTER, 30 Ann-street, N. Y. tories in our Our its fidelity; WILLARD'S HISTORICAL WORKS, PUBLISHED BY A. S. BARNES & Co. The works of Mrs. Willard, late of the Troy Female minaries, and will be found to be a valuable Library Seminary, are receiving the stamp of approbation book, for every District School. The small work, bewherever they are made known. School Teachers, Ling an abridgement of the same is designed as a Text Trustees, Town and County Superintendents, are invi- Book for Common Schools. works, with reference to their The same publishers have in press, and will publisha adaptation to Common and Select Schools of tbe coun. I on the 15th of June, a new and splendid Edition of Wil. nes & Co., Philadelphia, I lard's Universal History, illustrated with numerous ani porr Barnes & Co., Philadelphia, | lard's Universal Hi maps and engravings, designed as a Text Book for Willard's History of the United States, a Republic of) Academies and Schools. Teachers forming new clasAmerica, illustrated with maps and engravings. Two i ses in Universal History are invited to examine this Editions. The Academical or Library Edition, 8 vols. I work before deciding upon the Text Book they will Abridged or School Edition, 13 mo. The large work is adopt. designed as a Text Book for Academies and Female Se SCHOOL JOURNAL Vol. V. ALBANY, AUGUST, 1844. No. 5. TERMS TO INHABITANTS AND OFFICERS OF FOR THE ENLARGED JOURNAL. SCHOOL DISTRICTS. Por one copy, in all cases, (per annum,).... 60 cts. THE Superintendent is compelled to reiterate i twelve copies, each, ......... ..... 374 " Ja notice frequently given heretofore, that much It one hundred copies, each, ............... 31 « embarrassment is constantly resulting, both to Payable in advance, in all cases. the Department and to individuals, from inqui. N. B.-Postmasters' will forward silver without ries made and opinions and decisions requested, charge. The legal postage on this sheet is one cent to on hypothetical, ex parte and unauthenticated any office within thle State. statements of facts. In ordinary cases, the (All subscriptions to commence with the volume.) opinion of the County Superintendent on ques. tions of law or of fact arising in the various districts, may and should be had ; and this too, OFFICIAL upon a full and complete statement of facts; and in all cases hereafter occurring, no opinion STATE OF NEW-YORK-SECRETARY'S OFFICB. will be given by the State Superintendent, either on hypothetical or ex parte statements, or on stateDEPARTMENT OF COMMON SCHOOLS ments of any kind not duly authenticated, or officially certified by some officer of the district, SCHOOL JOURNAL. of Town or County Superintendent, to be a fuli It will be borne in mind by Town Super. and true exposition of all the facts necessary to intendents to whom the Journal is sent gratui. a perfect understanding of the question or case tously, that it is to be received by them in their submitted. All appeals, except from the acts or official capacity; and that they will be expect. decisions of County Superintendents, must, in ed and required by the Department, to preserve the first instance, be made to and passed upon the numbers, and deliver them, at the expiration by the County Superintendent, in the mode pro. of their official term, to their successors. Those vided by law. Superintendents who are desirous of retaining the work, will be expected to forward the sub- TO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS. scription price-in which case they will receive duplicate numbers one for their own private Boxes have been forwarded to the respective use, and one in their official capacity. County Clerks, containing among other things, a copy of the Annual Reports of the State and APPLICATION OF PUBLIC MONEY. County Superintendents, for each County and WHERE the trustees of a school district, in Town Superintendent ; blank reports for County .accordance with the provisions of the act of 1843, and Town Superintendents, and blank reports certify that a specific amount of public money is for Trustees of Districts. The edition of the due to a legally qualified teacher employed by latter having become exhausted, but few of the them, and give an order on the Town Superin- counties have been supplied: the residue will be tendent for such amount, they are bound to ap- forwarded during the month of September in the ply the whole in diminution of the rate bill for same way. The County Superintendents will the term or terms taught by the teacher receiv. see to the necessary distribution, immediately, ing such certificate and order; and the balance of the documents intended for the Town Super. only of the teacher's wages can be, under any intendents, as their annual reports are required pretence, collected by rate bill. In some dis- to be made by the first of August. tricts, a portion of the amount so drawn and Each County Saperintendent is furnished with applied, has been regarded as an advance to the two blanks for the statistical information requirteacher, to be afterwards made good by collec.ed by the Department--one of which will be tions on rate bill, and applied as public money, filled up for the summer and the other for the to a subsequent term. This is wholly illegal winter terms of the schools visited by them. and improper. If, by vote of the district, or ar- Where there are two superintendents, the re. rangement of the trustees, the public money ap- ports will be made separately, and the aggreplicable to teachers' wages, is apportioned be gates consolidated under each head, and signed tween the summer and winter terms, the teacher by the superintendents jointly. Each coluinn of each can receive only the amount apportioned will be carefully and accurately footed, and the to the term ; and if the whole is paid to the whole duly certified to be correct. It is desira. teacher of either, no portion of it can be re-col- ble that every item of information required by lected on rate bill. The different headings should be full, precise and 1 a on definite. The footings of the Town Superin. | Albion, Orleans co. ; Charles A. Tanner, New. tendents shall be reviewed in all cases, and cor. Haven, Oswego co., Adeline N. Chapin, 08. rected where erroneous; and if any material wego, Oswego co. ; Aaron S. Greenhill, Paris, errors are discovered in any of the reports, they | Oneida co.; William C. Cogswell, Thompson. should be sent back for correction or explanation. Sullivan co.; and Abija M. Čalkins, Cochecton, Sullivan co. TO TOWN SUPERINTENDENTS, CERTIFICATES OF QUALIFICATION In the preparation of the annual report for WHERE a candidate has been examined by a the present year, the Department will expect the County Superintendent, and a certificate refus. most scrupulous attention to fulness and accu. 1 ed, no certificate granted by a Town Superin. racy. Wherever the reports of trustees are intendent of the same county or section of county, accurate or require amendment, explanation or within three months thereafter, will be recogniz. correction, they will be immediately referred ed as valid ; and whenever a candidate presents back for this purpose, in order that the statis. himself for examination to a Town Superintend. tics of the various districts should be as perfectent, the latter will inform such candidate of this as possible. regulation of the Department, and ascertain from The several Town Superintendents are here. him or her whether any such prior examination by required on or before the first day of Septem. / and rejection has been had. ber next, to make out and transmit to the County Where a candidate has, within three months, Superintendent, a table containing the titles of been examined and rejecied by a Town Superin. the several books in the various libraries of the tendent of the town in which he proposes to teach, several districts, the school- house of which is in the County Superintendent will apply the same their town, and the number of each work or se rule, in reference to a re-examination, as above ries in the several libraries of such town. The specified; and such re-examination will only be following will serve as a form : had in connection with the Town Superintendent, No. of Districts in and no certificate be granted but with his assent. which reported. Where a district is situated partly in two Harpers's School Library, 1st series,.. '10 or more towns, the Superintendent of the town .. .8 in which the school-house stands, only, is requir. ed to visit and inspect the school ; and where Appleton Library,............. the school-house of such district is situated on Francis Library, ....... the boundary line between two towns, the Coun. Massachusetts School Library, . ty Superintendent will designate the SuperinRollin's Ancient History, ........... dent who shall visit and inspect the schools, and Combe's Coastitution of Man, ...... 15 examine and license the teacher. and so on, with the vari us works included in Vacancies in any of the offices of joint dis tricts not supplied within one month by the disthe catalogue. The several County Superintendents will con tricts, must however be filled by the appointdense these reports, in such a manner as to pre ment at a joint meeting of the Superintendents of the several towns from parts of which such sent the aggregate number of each series or work in the respective towns of the county or joint district is composed. section of county under their supervision, and S. YOUNG, forward the same to this Department with their Supt. Com. Schools. first day of OS annual report, on or before the first day of October next THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM. In reporting the number of volumes in the Dis. trict Libraries, the Town Superintendents will nerintendents will! We give place to the following correspondence be careful to include the districts only, the school. in reference to the recent movement in a portion houses of which are situated in their towns, in l of Orange county, adverse to the existing syscrtler to prevent more than one enumeration of tem of common schools : the same library, in joint districts. Rutger's Place, June 12th, 1844. STATE CERTIFICATES of QUALIFICATION as MY DEAR Sir-Yours of the 6th inst., om Teachers of Common Schools, have been grant the subject of the common school reform moveed to the following persons, since the publica. ment in this county, came duly to hand, for tion of our April number : which you have my acknowledgments. If Dr. John Petts, Nichols, Tioga co. ; Charles you have over rated me in some particulars you R. Coburn, Owego, Tioga co. ; Israel Wilkin have not misjudged as to my willingness to anson, New Berlin, Chenango co. ; Diodama An. swer your various enquiries frankly, cheerfully, druss, Preston, Chenango co.; Harvey J. Wood, and to the best of my abilities. I will premise Geneseo, Livingston co.; Warner V. Cook, by stating, that I am not aware of any hostili. Caldwell, Warren co.; Fabius Miles, Water: ty to the State or Deputy State Superintendent town, Jefferson co. ; Mary Ann E. Hammond, of schools ; and if any of the “resolutions" Westport, Essex co. ; Mary J. Wylie, Willsbo. adopted at any of the public meetings will ad. rough, Essex co.; B. K. Seaman, Schroon, mit or warrant such construction, I think they Essex co. ; Amos Doxsee, Islip, Suffolk co.; | intend to aim at the system rather than those who Thomas W. Field, Syracuse, Onondaga co.; are entrusted with its administration. As you Sarah B. Hill, Ogden, Monroe co.; Samuel F. have referred to the connection of my name with Wright, Wheatland, Monroe co. ; D. D. F. some of the public proceedings, I will observe Brown, Wheatland, Monroe co. ; William Wil that I had no knowledge of the first movements lard, Catskill, Greeneco.; Elizabeth Ann Paine, I and meetings on the subject, although they originated in a neighboring town, and I attend garded as arbitrary in compeling trustees, or dised the county meeting in April, purely as the trict clerks, as the case is, to pay the postage friend of education, to be a hearer and observer and take a journal, (the District School Jourand not an actor, and was very unexpectedly nal,) from the post-office, contrary to their own designated as the presiding officer, the chairman will and better judgment. It is paid for, or rather of the meeting, in which capacity you must published at the expense of the school fund, have seen my name. The discussion at this meet- which very many think is wrong; and when they ing was very able and spirited, but as I conceive are hostile to the paper they are unwilling to quite foreign to the subject of common school take it from the post-office, and will not read it, reform, for which purpose the meeting I under- from exasperated feelings, if nothing else. The stood to have been convoked. The reformers act of the last legislature establishing a Nor. were branded with infidelity, and their move mal School at Albany, at the public ex. ments characterised as incendiary and dishonest, pense is very unpopular with the masses, be. although able divines of different denominations lieving as many do, that teachers, after being were arrayed on both sides. The subject of educated at the public expense, will not follow common schools as I have already intimated was the business of teaching without ample wages, soon apparently lost, swallowed up in theology which they the employers have not the means * and the admissibility of the Bible as a common to pay, especially when they receive only a few school book, against which there appears to becents of the public money. These are some of some well founded objections. The discussion the more prominent objections urged against the was only brought to a close by the approach of system, and which a powerful effort will be night, and another county meeting has been no- made to have corrected. In conclusion, for my ticed for the 22d inst., which from present ap. limits for writing admonish me I must draw pearance will be very large. The opposition to to a close, I consider the movement on the sub. the school system I believe is of long standing, ject in this section, the result of an honest con. is rapidly growing, and was fanned into a blaze viction that the system is radically defective, in the neighboring town of which I have spoken, and that the public moneys have been, according by the discussion at the education associations, to Mr. Hulburd's report, unwarrantably approgot up by the late active county superintendent. | priated. The objections to the common school system as As to my individual views on the common I understand them, are, that it is unequal, un school system, and the subject of education ge. just, unnecessarily expensive, unreasonably com- nerally, I have presented them in detail to a plicated, arbitrary and withal tending to secta. committee in another town, in reply to an invi. rianism. | tation to address a meeting on the snbject of the It is unequal and unjust, because it gives to school system, and which I understand is to be colleges and academies in proportion to their published, whieh, if done, I will forward you a pupils, dollars, where it gives to common schools, copy. I am dear siroivery respt. yours, for whose benefit the school fund was created, M. H. CASH. only cents. S. S. RANDALL, Esq.** It is unnecessarily expensive in many particu. lars. It is honestly believed that by far too many DEPARTMENT OF COMMON SCHOOLS, L. officers are engaged in administering the system. Albany, June 18, 1844. 3 It is a fact, I believe, that schooling costs just Hon. MERRITT H, Cash: as much now as it did before any fund was set DEAR SIR :I have the honor to acknowledge apart for educational purposes. The office of the receipt of yours of the 12th inst., containing, county superintendent is considered by nineteen. in answer to my inquiries, an exposition of the twentieths of the people, if not ninety-nine hun. principal grounds of objection on the part of a dredths as worse than useless, imposing a tax of large and respectable portion of the inhabitants from $500 to $1,000 on the county, without any of your county, to the existing common school adequate or corresponding advantage. It is system of this state. I am happy to learn that said, and I think with truth, that a county su: those objections are confined to the system, and pervisor is as necessary to manage the respec- do not extend to its general administration, and tive town supervisors, as a county superinten that the proper distinction is kept in view bedent is to rule, manage and govern the efficient tween the errors, the misapprehensions, and the town superintendents. It is alleged by many imperfections of the various officers' charged that inasmuch as colleges and academies are for with the local or general supervision of that sys. the most part accessible to the rich, those who tem, and the system itself. The former are, al. are able of their owa means to obtain an educa. most of necessity, incidental to every institution tion, the munificience of the state--the public of human origin; and all experience has shown money-should be applied entirely to common that however judicious and well devised may be schools; the public effort should be to elevate the theoretical details of any system of govern common schools, and assist the indigent to an ment or of social or civil polity of any grade, its education. The district library is considered by practical administration will partake of the er. the great majority of the people, so far as I rors, the frailties and the imperfections of those have heard an expression, as of trivial impor. to whose hands it is confided. The intelligent tance, a dead weight in a district. It is a con- inhabitants of Orange county will, I am sure, stant expression, ahat “not half a dozen books concede to the venerable and distinguished india have been taken from the library during the vidual pow in charge of the Department of Pub. year.” It seems to be a prevailing opinion, that lic Instruction, not only the ability but the dis. the amount expended for the purchase of disposition faithfully to discharge the high duties trict libraries could be much better applied by incumbent upon him in this most important field. the trustees. The common school law is re of labor : the wisdom to perceive and the hon. |