: PSYCHOLOGY, OR THE SCIENCE OF MIND. action. The immediate seat of the mind is the own earliest remembrances, and to which, we brain it is there and there only that all the ope- look back with sensations which contrast so rations of thought, reason, imagination and re- powerfully with those which make up our preflection are carried on: and it is there that all sent experience. Had we retained the innocen the various emotions of the mind, such as love cy of childhood, we should have secured for and fear, benevolence, veneration, conscience, ourselves its happiness. But each successive hope, anticipation, and all the passions and departure from the simplicity and harmony of propensities such as pride and vanity, selfish-nature-each heedless, ignorant, or intentional ness, envy, malevolence, covetousness, dupli-violation of the physical law of our beingcity have their source. Hence upon the sound- leads by almost imperceptible gradations to ness and healthy action of this important por- habitual and systematic disregard of the constition of our animal economy, is dependent, in an tution impressed upon our nature by the hand of essential degree, the strength, vigor and effici- the Almighty Architect; and we might as reaency of all our mental operations. In the brain sonably and justly look for the highest results of also, terminate all those nerves of motion, of the finished mechanism of a time-piece, when sensation, and of feeling which affect the con- its complicated and delicately adjusted parts have dition of the whole body-so that if any portion one after the other become deranged, broken and whatever, of that wonderful and complicated destroyed, as expect the continued enjoyment of organization which constitutes life, becomes in health and happiness from the disordered play any manner deranged and incompetent to the of the still more complicated organization of our performance of its requisite functions in the animal economy, when all its nice adaptations economy of our being, the brain partakes of to the external world have been overlooked or this derangement, and it is through that organ disregarded-its finest susceptibilities of pleaonly that information of such derangement is sure perverted and deadened-its energies patransmitted to the mind. The first requisite ralyzed or weakened-and its most important therefore to a sound education, is to become ac-functions thoughtlessly misapprehended or crimiquainted with the nature and constitution of our nally misapplied. physical organization to learn the conditions upon which alone health is to be preserved-and to obey the laws which the Creator has impressed upon the human constitution It is from ig. norance, neglect and violation of these laws that WHEN Germany groaned under a foreign yoke, most, if not all, the physical evils which have it was in the schools of Kant that was first preso long encompassed mankind, take their origin. pared her resistance. It was the word of her The fearful ravages of disease in all its forms-Ideologues" which first drew the sword of her from mere general debility and languor to the deliverance. From this sacred source, remote most aggravated shapes of pestilence which as it may appear from objects of sense, even have from time to time scourged the race-are physical discovery has drawn its origin. Bacon.. the legitimate and necessary consequences of the Descartes, Leibnitz, Newton-were all profound partial or more extensive violation of the laws metaphysicians. Lavoisier never could have of our being and we have the most abundant rescued chemistry from the chaos in which he reason for believing that by a general systematic found it, were it not that he had derived from and faithful adherence under all circumstances his metaphysical studies that elevation of viewto those laws, our world, instead of the scene that precision of idea-that fertility of invenof wretchedness and misery-protracted suffer- tion-which give such value to his magnificent ing and premature death, which it now exhibits labors. Even mathematics themselves depend would become the extended theatre of unmiti upon its aid. If its influence then, has, even in gated happiness and enjoyment-and that the the material world been so very visible, in its final dissolution of our being, when all its ob- own peculiar province, the spiritual, it must be jccts and uses were accomplished, instead of unbounded. In its application to morality, it is forming any exception to the benevolent dispen- the very basis of legislation and theology: withsations of creative wisdom and goodness, would out a preliminary knowledge of its leading prinbe universally regarded as its crowning blessing. ciples, high as either of these sciences may ap This view of the subject, and this alone, is pear to rank, they must be devoid of that spiritconsistent with all our ideas of the benevolent ual and inward power which gives them not only designs of the Creator, with reference to the their dignity and grandeur, but their true practipresent world. The most ample provision has cal grasp upon the souls and actions of men. been made for our happiness and welfare. Eve-Lower the tone of mental science in any counry faculty of the mind and every bodily organ try, and proportionally with it must moral science has been so constituted, as to be capable of con- descend. Where moral science falls into disreferring the greatest possible amount of pleasure pute, there religion wanes off into ceremony and consistent with our nature and the external outward ritual; and morality, left to its own guid universe of matter as well as of mind has been ance, insensibly degenerate into the vulgar, and beautifully and even magnificently adapted to takes the tinge of the material with which it is the promotion of our highest enjoyment. So perpetually combined. We require something long as we conform to the intentions of Provi- to win us back from such sordid interests-somedence and live in harmony with its ordinances thing to keep in fealty and obedience the physiwritten upon theery tablets of our mind, and cal man. Moral science has little direct relation open to the rest simple comprehension, so long with mere physical wants: She deals with a do we receiva abundant profusion the rich rc- loftier world; she uses thought, not as an inwards of obedience in that vivid enjoyment strument of enjoyment, but as a creator or puriof existen which the healthy, happy child ex-fier-as a deliverer-as the means to obtain that hibits and dels, which is incorporated with our independence from the debasing and gross of our host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth." To allow such a power to be abroad, and not to seek its tutorship and guidance-not to spend with a lav. ish earnestness all our means upon that object to which all others are as nothing-is indeed a folly which not even the most prosperous governments should be allowed to commit. Unless we seek to purify, to ennoble, to illuminate society— unless we give a discipline to its strength, and a wisdom to its daring-we intrust our institutions to builders who may pull down, but will never be able to build up any thing but a worse description of Babel in their places. This renovation is in our hands. It is so to-day-but who can assure us that it will be so to-morrow. Wyse on Education Reform. From the Boston Courier. TEACHERS' INSTITUTES. HAVING received an invitation to attend a Teachers' Institute in the western part of NewYork. and being desirous to see how the cause of education flourished in the Empire State, I started, in company with a distinguished teacher from this city, who had received an invitation from the superintendents of Allegany and Wyoming counties to visit them, and render such assistance as might be in his power. As some accounts of these Institutes may be both interesting and useful to the friends of education in this quarter, I freely furnish such details as occur to me, and I hope such as may lead to the adoption of similar measures in our own State. nature, without which the hope even of material perfection is in vain. She turns us in upon our selves and from this self-study-this solemn exploring of the inward man, we come back to the material world, with far juster measures even of these earthly relations than we could possibly have had before. Morality gains new and nobler motives-religion a higher and purer morality. Indifference to such inquiries is characteristic, and productive of a selfish civilization. If such an age throws out occasional blossoms of moral excellence, or that to these blossoms succeed fruit, it is attributable not so much to its own moral vigor, as to the sap of another generation working in it still. Such perhaps has been too much the case with our own country. The want of moral and mental science is conspicuous, even in our virtues. We require to handle every thing-to materialize every thing-we seem to know of no such thing as mere mind. This passion for the corporeal and active, this dislike to the mental and contemplative has got into the spiritual itself. We must not only have an end, but it must be at arm's length. We cennot canceive the beauty of an unseeing and untouching faith-a hope which stretches through generations, is to us folly. Our imagination-our religion-breathe of the positive. Our institutions are all "redolent" of this banking spirit. Our Midas touch turns every thing into ingots and finance; and wher our piety seeks for a paradise, it is in a Jerusalem paved with precious stones, that our moneyloving generation delights to luxuriate. But out of this mammon thraldom there is surely a redemption. There are means of imbuing society with a more perfect spirit-with a pride more About three years since, a Mr. Denman, su. ⚫ intrinsical, issuing more from the man himself, perintendent of one of the counties, feeling the less from the accessories around him. These necessity of more uniformity and thorough pracmeans are to be sought in mind and the study of tical knowledge in the art of teaching, among mind; and if ever they ought to be sought, it is the teachers of his county, proposed a convenin this day, "when the earth reels to and fro tion of all the teachers in the county, for the like a drunkard," when society is yet in stern purpose of spending two weeks in receiving and and universal strife; when law and rule and imparting instruction in the branches taught in judgment, however irrevocable, however un- the schools, and also in acquiring the art of comchangeable they may seem, are only transitions municating this knowledge more practically to links between the old and new; when all men their pupils. The experiment was successful, feel, however humble, old systems gradually and fully realized the highest anticipations of dissolving around them, and each is called, how the projector. Teachers, coming together from ever reluctant, to bear his part in the construc-all parts of the county, became acquainted with tion of the new. The interests of mankind have become large and lofty, and awful: they are not to be studied in the battle field, nor in the money mart-least of all in the ante-chambers of princes; other counsellors, other parties, of far more am ple influence are to be consulted. New and mightier masses, little dreamt of in former struggles or adjustments, not merely with their On our way to Wyoming, we stopped a day at physical energies, but with their minds, and the Auburn, where we found a Teachers' Institute weapons of mind, have crowded into the conin session, consisting of about one hundred and fliet. Physical energy was of old, the only lever thirty teachers. They were in the second week of the multitude; but they knew not how to use of their session, and the zeal and enthusiasm it; they either grasped it too long, or too short- they manifested, indicated an increased ardor in expended too much motion, or too much power: the cause in which they were engaged. After but mind is now amongst them, economising and giving them a lecture, and tuning their voices in systematising their forces to good, if well di-the art divine, we started for Wyoming and Alrected; but if to ill, enhancing the evil and perillegany, the scene of our principal labors. At a thousand fold. Truly it is a war of opinion but of opinion which is not satisfied with thoughts and words-its very whispers are more fearful than in other days the commands of conquerors. In an hour they "thunderstrike" the strongest from their seats-they "punish the each other, and freely communicated such knowledge as they possessed, becoming in turn both teachers and pupils, thus rendering the institute in fact, for the time being, a Normal school, and school of mutual instruction. The benefits arising from these institutes must be incalcula ble. Perry, in Wyoming county, we found about sixty teachers, who appeared devote i to their profession, and ready and anxious to in all the information they could in the short side they were to be in session. Judge Stevens, the superintenant in this county, presided, and rendered essential service. He appeared well qualified for his office, blending firmness with kindness and good nature, and appearing ardently devoted to the interests of the rising generation. Mr. Denman, the first projector of these institutes, was also present, having recently removed to this county, and opened a select school at Attica. This gentleman, and also Mr. Huntington, the teacher, of the academy where the institute was held I found had rendered great service in these conventions. impetus to stimulate the teachers and parents scattered throughout our territory, to new efforts. It seems as if we were living on our past glory, and content with the reputation we have already obtained, are letting our competitors outstrip us in the race. With all our boasted advancement in improved school-houses and systems of instruction, it seems as if we had too much regarded the frame-work of the great architect, and left the inhabitant within, to be. come an automaton, subject to the caprices and passions of the material frame that controls it. That teacher alone can be considered success. ful, who educates all the faculties of the child. physical, moral and intellectual; and harmoni. ously developes each in such proportions, as shall eventually produce a perfect whole. At Pike, in Allegany county, we found about one hundred and sixty teachers, who were pursuing the same course as at Wyoming. Mr. Spencer, the superintendent, spared no pains in rendering all the assistance in his power, to benefit the teachers, and seemed to feel no sacrifice We have too much regarded the intellectual, too great for the interests of the schools. Al- and left the physical and moral faculties to take though, during the week we were there, the care of themselves. Educate the physical weather was extremely inclement, and the tra- powers alone, and you develop the savage; velling most outrageous, there being no side. educate the intellectual alone, and you develop walks, and the mud being over shoes, yet the the infidel; educate the moral alone, and you Presbyterian church, where the Institute was develop a puny Christian. It is only in a proheld, was well filled during the day, and in the per development of all these powers, that man evening overflowing. I could not but remark can approximate to his divine original. I have the exalted opinion they had of New-England been led into this digression from the fact that, schools, though I feared that many of them, when I have urged teachers to give more attenshould they come to New-England, and visit tion to the physical and moral training of their some of our schools, would find us, contrary to pupils, I have always been met with the comthe rules of perspective, great only at a dis- mon objection, "I have no time." Just as if tance. The usual course of instruction given the training of the intellect alone, was their at these institutes is similar to that pursued in whole field of labor. I have no fear, under our our Normal schools. A thorough review is present systems of instruction, that our children made in all the branches usually taught in the will not acquire a sufficient knowledge of the common schools, together with the best me- sciences; and the present discussion between thods of imparting the instruction so obtained. some of our great minds, whether the letters or Considering the sacrifices these teachers made, words should be taught first, seems to me to be in giving their time and expenses for two weeks, only the difference betwixt "tweedle dum and in preparing themselves to become better teach- tweedle-dee." An intelligent teacher will teach ers, when many of the males did not receive a child to read by either method in a few weeks over ten dollars per month, and the females time; and what is this compared with the four dollars, for their services, I could almost whole time the child spends at school? It look upon them as martyrs in the cause of hu- seems to me there are questions of more impormanity. They manifested a devotedness to tance unsettled-questions which have a tretheir profession, which I have found equalled in mendous bearing on the interests of our counbut few instances, in our own State. I was pe- try-our own present and future destiny; and culiarly struck with their views on the subject where can these be discussed better, than in a of school discipline. In Wyoming county, convention of practical teachers, the representa. where the subject was brought up and dis.tives of almost every foot of soil, and of all the cussed, they almost universally disclaimed the intelligence in the Commonwealth. use of the rod. Train the moral nature, teach the child to govern itself, and you do away with the necessity of physical restraint, was their maxim. The teacher who could govern his pupils by no other motive than fear, was, by them, considered an inferior teacher. I could not but feel shame for my own city, while listening to some of the remarks on discipline, from these unpretending teachers, displaying, as they did, the exalted motives by which they were actua. ted. How different the happiness of children under the care of such teachers, where the gov erning power is love and truth, and that of those under the care of some of the teachers in our city, whose governing power is fear, and it would seem, fear only; where the children are punished at the rate of eighteen in two hours, as eye-witnesses can testify. In concluding this short sketch, let me urge on the friends of education in this State, the importance of similar institutes to those now in successful opera. tion in New York. We need some powerful COLUMBIA will be held at the Court-House in Hudson, on County Convention of Town Superintendents Saturday the 18th of January. Teachers, trustees, and the friends of education are respectfully invited to attend. In addition to the ordi"Ought corporal punishment to be entirely nary business of the 'convention, the question, abolished in our common schools," will be dis cussed. NOTICE TO PUBLISHERS. THE instruction in the Normal school will be principally by topics, the pupils not being confined exclusively to any series of text-books. Publishers who are desirous of seeing their books tested in the school, can forward them for that purpose. A large number of text books in sets of two dozen of each kind, have already been received, and are now in use. THE entire territory of the state, comprising, exclusively of the waters of the great lakes, an area of 45.658 square miles, has been subdivided into 10,990 school districts, averaging somewhat more than four square miles each,-seldom, especially in the rural districts, varying essentially from this average, and bringing the remotest inhabitants of the respective districts within a little more than one mile of the school-house. 1. The year shall be divided into terms as fol. Every male person of full age, residing in any lows: the first term commencing on the second school district, and entitled to hold lands in this Wednesday of April, in each year, and continu- state, (including aliens who have filed their cering twenty weeks. The second term commenc-tificate of intention to become citizens, in the ing on the third Wednesday of October, and con-mode prescribed by law,) who owns or hires real tinuing twenty-one weeks. 2. All pupils intending to enter the Normal School at the next term must join it during the first week of that term. school purposes, and every resident of such disproperty in such district, subject to taxation for trict authorized to vote at town meetings, who has paid a rate-bill for teacher's wages therein 3. After the close of the current term, an within one year, or a tax for district purposes equal number of state and volunteer pupils will within two years preceding, or who possesses be received from each county, and in case of the personal property liable to taxation for school failure of any county to send its quota of pu- purposes. exceeding fifty dollars in value, bepils, the committee will at their discretion re-yond such as is exempt from execution, is enticeive volunteers from other counties, until the number in the school of state and volunteer pupils shall be two hundred and fifty-six. NOTICE TO COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS. tled to vote at school district meetings, for the choice of officers of the district, and upon any question which may properly come before such meetings. Under the act of 1843, three trustees were chosen in that year, in each district, for one, two, and three years respectively; and in each If the supervisors of any county shall not succeeding year, one trustee is annually to be meet on or before the 10th day of March next, to chosen by the inhabitants and legal voters, who, make a selection of state pupils for said county, in conjunction with his colleagues previously in that case, the county superintendent shall no- chosen, holds his office for three years. Each tifiy the several town superintendents to assem-district also annually chooses a clerk, collector ble within ten days thereafter at such convenient placefas he shall designate, to form a Board; and the said county and town superintendents shall by joint ballot, make selections of state pupils to supply any vacancies of such pupils for said counties. The committee have agreed to allow the state pupils, during the current term, if females, $1.25 per week, and if males $1.00 per week, for their board, and they believe they will be able to allow the same sums for the summer term. 8. YOUNG. NOTE. The county superintendents should ascertain at once whether there are or will be any vacancies in their respective counties, that they may be filled with pupils fit and ready to enter the school on the first day of the next term. Volunteer pupils will have theirtuition free and be supplied with text-books. and librarian. The inhabitants have power, whenever lawfully assembled, to designate one or more sites for the district school-house; to lay such tax on the taxable inhabitants of the district, as may be deemed necessary to purchase or lease such sites, and to build, hire, or purchase a school-house, or houses, and to keep in repair and furnish the same with necessary fuel and appendages, and generally to transact such other business as the interests of the district organization may require. If, however, a greater sum than four hundred dollars is requisite to defray the expenses of building, hiring, or purchasing a school-house, the certificate of the town superintendent that such increased sum, specifying the amount, ought, in his judgment, to be raised, must be obtained; and when the school-house has been built or purchased, its site cannot be changed, nor the building be removed, while the district remains unaltered, except by the written consent of such town superintendent, 294 DISTRICT SCHOOL JOURNAL, apparatus, at the discretion of the inhabitants. The annual apportionment, therefore, for the benefit of common schools, from the funds of the setting forth that, in his opinion, such removal is necessary-nor then, unless two-thirds of all the legal voters present at a special meeting cal. led for that purpose, shall vote for such remo-state set apart for that purpose, is $275,000; val, and in favor of the contemplated new site such vote to be taken by ayes and noes. and the board of supervisors of each county is required by law annually to raise on the taxaThe general administration of the affairs of ble property of the several towns, an amount the districts, devolves principally upon the trus-equal to the share apportioned to such towns, tees, who have the custody of all the district pro- from the school fund, for the use of the common perty; contract with and employ the teacher; schools therein, and such additional amount as appropriate, in the absence of any direct action the inhabitants of any town may, by vote at of the district on that subject, the share of pub. their annual town meeting, direct to be raised lie money applicable to teachers' wages for the for this purpose, not exceeding a sum equal to respective terms; pay such share by a draft on that apportioned to such town by the state. In the town superintendent, and raise the residue addition to the funds thus provided and author. of the amount due the teacher under his contract,ized, many of the towns of the state are anauby rate-bill against those who send to the school, ally in the receipt of local funds, to a considerain proportion to the number of days and of chil-ble amount, arising from the proceeds of certain dren sent by each, exempting, either wholly or lots reserved by the Surveyor-General in the ori in part, indigent inhabitants, and levying the ginal allotment of townships in 1789, and from amount of such exemption on the taxable pro- other local sources; and in most of the cities of perty of the district generally; assess all district the state large additional amounts are raised for taxes, according to the valuations of the town this purpose, under special acts providing for the assessors, so far as they afford a guide, and organization and support of their schools. make out tax lists and warrants for their collec. tion; give notice of annual and special meetings of the inhabitants; purchase or lease the site for the district school house as previously designated by the inhabitants, and build, hire, or purchase, keep in repair and furnish such school. house with necessary fuel and appendages, out of the funds collected and paid to them for those purposes; and between the first and fifteenth of January in each year, make their report of the condition of the district in the form prescribed by law, to the town superintendent They are! also the trustees of the district library. The du. ties of the clerk, collector and librarian are chiefly ministerial. The aggregate amount of the funds thus ap- Sums raised in cities under special Local funds,. 18,000 00 200,000 00 18,000 00 $786,000 00 === The share of each county and town, respecBy a provision of the constitution of 1821, the tively, under the apportionment of the State Su proceeds of all lands belonging to the state, with perintendent, is paid over by the state to the the exception of such as may be reserved for pub- county treasurer, and by the latter to the town lic use or ceded to the United States, together superintendent of common schools, who also rewith the then existing school fund, were decla- ceives from the collector of his town the corresred to constitute a perpetual fund, the interest ponding and additional amount raised by taxaof which shall be inviolably appropriated and tion, and from the trustees or agent of the local applied to the support of common schools through-fund, the avails of that fund. Within ten days out the state." The state lands remaining un-atter his election at the annual town meeting, he sold consist of 358,000 acres, principally situated is required to execute a bond with sufficient surein the northern portion of the state, and are val. ued by the Surveyor-General at $179,000-constituting what is termed the unproductive portion of the capital of the school fund. The productive capital of the fund amounted on the 30th of September last, to $1,992,916.35, consisting of bonds for lands sold and for loans from the fund, bank and state stock growing out of investments of portions of the fund, and money in the treasury, yielding a revenue for the year ending on the 30th of September last of $39,019.46, and admitting for a series of years taken together, of an annual apportionment of $110 000 among the several counties, towns and wards of the state, according to the ratio of population in each, as ascertained by the last preceding census, for the benefit of common schools. An equal amount was appropriated by chapter 237 of the laws of 1838, from the annual revenue of the United States Deposit Fun 1, together with an additional amount of $55,000, to be expended in the purchase of district libraries, or, in the cases and with the restrictions imposed by the act of 1843, .for the purchase of maps, globes and other school ties, to the supervisors of histown, for the faithful application and legal disbursement of all the public money coming into his hands; and on or before the first Tuesday in April of each year, to apportion such money among the several districts, and parts of districts of his town, from which the necessary reports bearing date on the first of January preceding, have been received, in the ratio of the number of children between the ages of five and sixteen years residing in each. One-fifth of the amount thus apportioned is denominated "library money," and is paid over directly to, or on the order of the trustees, who are bound, on or before the first of October subsequent to its receipt, to expend the same, either in the purchase of suitable books for the district library, or if the number of volumes in such library exceed 125 in a district numbering 50 chil dren or more, between the ages of 5 and 16, or 100 in a district having a less number of such children, in the purchase of maps, globes, and other school apparatus, when specially directed by a vote of the district. The residue of the money in the hands of the town superintendent |