310

DISTRICT SCHOOL JOURNAL,

above written over-rated, I will allow you to that no-system became so glaring, that the whole charge it to my account.

Very truly yours,

PHILLIP.

From the Hartford Journal.

BRATTLEBORO SCHOOLS.

village rose, almost to a man, and determined to have a reform, The advantages of our present system are found to be important. It is democratic. All our children are brought together. The children of the poor and the rich stand side by side, and merit alone decides the rank of each. The expenses are paid by the property of the district, so that children of the poor have equal advantages of education with THE following account of the Brattleboro those of the wealthy. The influence, the talSchool, is embraced in a letter to HENRY BAR-ents, and the pecuniary resources of the village NARD, Esq., of this city, from H. E. Parker, are concentrated on the system of popular eduEsq., of Hanover. We take pleasure in laying cation; and this affords one subject of common it before our readers, confident that the informa-interest for all sects, all classes, and all parties, tion it contains will be received with interest.[Eds. Journal.]

and does not a little to smoothe down the asperities of feeling, and to harmonize diversities of conflicting interests.

"Brattleboro, east village, is comprised within one school district. It contains about 1500 in- "Employing our teachers for a longer period, habitants; not far from four hundred of whom they become attached to us; we take a greater are from four to eighteen years of age. The ave- personal interest in them; we begin to learn rage attendance at our schools, is about 300. their social importance in society; to regard We have five public schools, four taught by fe- their station as the first in the community; and males, the other by a male teacher. They contheir influence next to that of parents, as having tinue through the year, with exception of vaca. the greatest bearing on the character and destitions amounting to two months or more. Child-ny of the young. By having a course of studies ren are admitted into the primary schools, those taught by females at the age of four years, and remain there until eleven years of age, or until qualified to enter the central school, which is under the charge of a male teacher. The houses of the primary schools are located in different parts of the village. to accommodate the children in every section of the district. The building for the central school is near the centre of the village, so that the children at the extreme of the district are but little more than a mile from it. The children in the primary schools are required to go through a prescribed course of preparatory studies, previous to an examination for admission to the central school. This examination takes place when they are eleven years of age. If the examination is unsatisfactory in any indi. vidual case, the child continues in the primary school until he or she can pass a satisfactory examination. All, however, be the character of their examination what it may, at fourteen years of age are admitted to the central school. In this school, besides the common branches, the higher branches of an English education are taught. The prudential committee, assisted by a special committee chosen for the purpose, are authorized by the district to recommend the books to be used in the schools, to point out the course of studies to be pursued, and to classify the scholars.

pointed out for our children, so that they can advance regularly from branch to branch, they make much more rapid progress than formerly, obtain the same amount of knowledge in a much shorter period, and acquire a far better education in the same length of time. But perhaps the greatest benefit produced by our school system, is the moral influence it exerts. We already perceive a decided improvement in the manners and conduct of the pupils in all our schools, much of which we attribute to the introduction of singing as a part of the daily exercises. The instructor of the central school has taken great pains to interest his pupils in ennobling and elevating useful pursuits. He has turned their attention to the study of geology, mineralogy, and chemistry, to the cultivation and care of ornamental trees, &c., which occupies their though's out of school, and inspires them with purer and higher desires and aims. By the strict order and method introduced into the schools, by the punctuality and promptness required, and by the propriety of conduct enforced, much has already been done, by all our teachers, for the promotion of good manners and good morals. It is thought by good judges that the additional value which our present system of education has given to the property of the village, is more than enough to counterbalance the additional expenses required."

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

"Formerly we had four public schools, taught in summer by females, in winter by males, or partly by males and partly by females. We had also about the same number of private or select schools under the charge of male and female THE annual report of the commissioner of pa-· teachers, all of which are now discontinued. tents (the Hon. Henry L. Ellsworth,) was a few There was, under that system, or rather no sys- days since laid on the desks of the House of Reptem, a constant change of teachers, and of course resentatives. Mr. Ellsworth estimates the agria frequent change of books, of the course of stu-cultural products of our country as follows: dies, and of the modes of instruction and disci. Wheat, bu. 100,310,856 Hay, tons, 15,419,807 pline. The interest of the parents was distrac. Corn, ted, each naturally earing more for the school Oats, where his children were instructed; invidious Rye, distinctions were created, money was wasted, no Barley, good moral influences were exerted, and little Bu'kw't," was done even for the intellect. The evils of Potatos,

"494,618,306 Toba'co,lbs 185,731,554 "145,929,969 Cotton, 757,660,090

24,280,271 Rice,

89,879,145

3,220,721 Silk,

86

315,965

7,959,410 Sugar,

66,400.310

105,756,133 Wine, gal'ns, 139,240

OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

Extract from the Eighth Annual Report of Hon. HORACE MANN, Secretary of the Board of Education of the State of Massachusetts. "In addition to the Normal Schools,-some evidence of the success of whose pupils will be laid before the board by Mr. May, late principle of the Normal School at Lexington,-I wish to suggest another expedient,-one which has been adopted in the state of New-York, for two or three years past, and which has proved eminently successful;-I refer to

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

These are constituted and sustained in the following manner :

years.

811

That state has the most manificent fund devoted to the cause of popular education that exists in the world. It has a far more comprehensive and efficient code of laws for regulating public instruction than any other of the twenty-six states; and its system, with but few exceptions, is most wisely arranged, and is now worked with a vigor and spirit unequalled in any other part of our republic.

Why cannot this plan of teachers' institutes, originating in New-York, be adopted in Massachusetts? We have borrowed her system of District School Libraries, and it has found almost universal favor amongst our citizens. She has borrowed our system of Normal Schools,-having appropriated at the last session of her Legislature, by a unanimous vote of both houIn the spring and autumn of the year, those ses, the sum of $50,000 for that purpose; and persons, male and female, who propose to keep her Normal School is to be opened at Albany, on the 18th of the present month. Let us now school, the ensuing season, assemble at some convenient and central place; and not only adopt the system of Teachers' Institutes, which form classes for mutual improvement, but they she has projected; and thus maintain that noble employ some distinguished teacher or teachers, rivalry of benefactions which is born of a phito preside over their meetings and give them in. lanthropy that cares more for the good that is struction. Here they are indoctrinated, not done, than it does who are the devisors, the merely in the general principles of school gov.agents, or the recipients of it." ernment, the means and modes of order, discipline, classification, motive-powers, &c., but they go through the actual drill of classes and routine of the school-room. These teachers elect form themselves into classes, in all the branches they expect to teach; they study les sons and perform recitations, just as is done in a school. The exercises are interspersed with discussions, and the evening is generally occupied by lectures on some topic connected with the great cause of education. The institutes hold regular sessions from day to day, usually for a fortnight, though for a longer or shorter period, according to the ability and zeal of the parties.

During the autumn which has just closed, a large number of such institutes were held in the interior and western part of the state of New-York. Several of them, having made pressing application to a distinguished teacher belonging to the city of Boston, to attend and preside at their meetings, he complied with their request, and spent about a month, in dif ferent places amongst them. He reports that their members were animated by a most ear. nest and praiseworthy spirit; ardent for improvement and grateful for any aid that could increase their fitness for the responsible duties they were about to assume--that male teach ers, who are to receive but ten dollars a month, for their services during the winter, travelled fifty or more miles on foot, to spend a fortnight of their time in attending these meetings, and that they contented themselves with any fare however meagre, and with any accommodations however rude, finding their compensation in the mental and literary advantages to be there obtained. This is a noble spirit. It is a spirit which predestines the glory of the state and the welfare of its individual citizens. It is a spirit which, at present, pervades the state of New York more generally, and is acting more effi. ciently, than in any other state in the union. I think our own people are not generally aware what and how much have been done for the cause of common schools, by the legislature and people of New York, within the last few

CONNECTICUT.

EDUCATION.

IT will be remembered that the last General Assembly instituted a commission to act upon this subject, and to report to the next General Assembly. The committee for this purpose appointed by his excellency the Governor, are John T. Norton, Esq., and I. W. Stuart, Esq., of Hartford county, Wm. T. Russell, Esq. of New Haven, Rev. Samuel Nichols, of Greenfield, Hon. Charles W. Rock well, of Norwich, Hon. Seth P. Beers, of Litchfield, Hon. Ed. ward Eldridge, of Pomfret, Prof. John Johnson, of Middletown and Lorin P. Waldo, Esq. of Tolland.

Here follows an extract from the report of the joint standing committee on education, and the resolutions thereupon of the last General Assembly.

"It is true the committee might express generally an opinion upon the state of the common schools, and if called on now to do this, they would have no hesitation in saying that they be." lieve many defects and irregularities now existthat there is not that attention given to the subject which it demands-that there is a disposition to relax effort-and to regulate the amount of education too much by the capacity of the school fund to pay for it-that the proper facili ties are not yet offered to those persons who wish to become teachers, to prepare themselves by an appropriate course of study, particularly by the establishment of Normal Schools-that there is still notwithstanding the praiseworthy and liberal efforts of the late indefatigable secretary of the board of commissioners for common schools, great want of information respecting the schools, school systems and progress of popular education generally, in other states and countries-that there is a great want in com. mon schools of the apparatus deemed indispensable in the best conducted private schools-that there is still a want of sufficient uniformity in

312

DISTRICT SCHOOL JOURNAL,

such plans and suggestions for their improve-
ment, as to them may seem calculated substan-
tially to promote the usefulness of schools and
the interests of education.
RESOLUTIONS ACCOMPANYING THE REPORT OF

THE JOINT STANDING COM. ON EDUCATION.

Resolved, That the person first named on this committee shall be chairman thereof,-and that this committee, when constituted, shall take into consideration the state of common schools in Connecticut, and of the public mind respecting them, together with such plans and suggestions for their improvement as to them may seem calculated substantially to promote the useful. ness of schools and the interests of education generally in the state, and shall report their doings herein to the next General Assembly.

the studies, books and course of instruction and discipline generally adopted in all the schools of the same class-that the proper attention is not yet given to the establishment of school and social libraries, and evening schools or classes for such children as are necessarily employed 'during the day-that sufficient encouragement is Resolved, That his excellency the governor of not given to the establishment of lectures, espe- this state be, and he hereby is authorized and cially in winter season, and on some department empowered to nominate a committe of nine perof science connected with the pursuits of the peo-sons in this state, to be and to constitute a com. ple, and calculated to supply interesting and promittee to report on the subject of education to fitable topics of conversation "to stimulate en- the next general assembly. quiry, direct the reading of the young, bring all classes together, and thus cultivate happier social relations." It is required that a more vigorous pic sentiment should exist upon the subjeet of education than now exists-a more active interest be created, and increased provisions be made, if the state of Connecticut would do justice to itself, and fulfil the sacred injunction of that law which two centuries ago, at the birth of Connecticut, provided “that not a single child should be found unable to read the holy Word of God, and the good laws of the Colony." In accordance with these remarks, with the view of procuring the intelligent agitation of this subject, and furnishing the basis of prudent and beneficial action hereafter, your committee recommend the appointment of a committee to consist of nine persons, to be appointed by the governor of the state, whose duty it shall be to receive the returns from the several school dis-observations as their experience and reflection tricts, proposed in an accompanying resolution, to digest the same, and report to the next legislature, the state of the common schools, ani of the public mind respecting them, together with

Resolved, That the school visitors in the sev. eral school societies shall lodge with the clerks of their respective societies such returns of the condition of each common school within their limits, in such particulars and at such times as the committee mentioned in the foregoing reso lutions shall specify and direct, together with a written report of their own doings, with such

may suggest and said clerks shall, at the expense of the several school societies, transmit the same when required, to the chairman of the comImittee sbove named.

WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY.
2 VOLS. ROYAL OCTAVO.

"The etymological department throws new and striking light on the history of language; the vocabulary is enlarged by the addition of many thousand words, comprising the technical words of science and the arts; words not found in any other dictionaries, and many of them the words for the precise meaning of which the general reader is most frequently at a loss;-the orthe Dic-graphy of several classes of words, instead of following

AN AMERICAN DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE; first edition in Octavo, containing the whole vocabulary of the quarto edition, with corrections, improvements, and several thousand additional words. By NOAH WESTER, L. L. D. To which is added a Supplement of several thousand words, prepared by the anthor, and first published since his decease, con tained in none of the Abridgements of Webster's tionary. Price reduced to $10.50.

BRITISH NOTICES.

The following is an extract from the Liverpool cury of May 29th:"By far the best English Dictionary-indeed the only one to which appeal can now be made as an authority, is Webster's. JAMES MARTINEAU."

cumbrous and obsolete modes of spelling, is conforme to the present usage of the best writers; and the de Mer-nitions have a character of discrimination, copiousnes perspicuity and accuracy, not found, we believe, in a other dictionary of the English language." Signed by rich and Olmsted, of Yale College-by President Bates, President Day, and Professors Silliman, Kingsley, Good and Professors Hough, Fowler and Turner, of Middle"This Dictionary is decidedly one of the most valuabury College-by Professors Woods, Stuart and Emer ble and important works at present in the course of pub-son, of Andover Theological Seminary. lication. No library can be considered complete with out it."-Bristol Journal.

"We make Dr. Webster's Dictionary our general "We repeat our opinion, that it is the most copious mend its adoption in schools and seminaries of learnstandard of orthography, and would cordially recom accurate, and scientific Dictionary of our language,ing." which has hitherto been compiled."- Aberdeen Jour Professor JAMEISON of Edinburgh, has remarked, that "the American Dictionary of Dr. Webster is as great an improvement on Johnson's Dictionary, as the latter was on those of his predecessors."

Wm. L. Stone, F. Hall and Rob't C. Sands, Editors of the NY. Spectator and Com. Advertiser; E. Morse, Editor of N. Y. Observer; F. G. Halleck, Editor of the Journal of Commerce; J. Lang, Editor of the N. Y. Gazette; M. Burnham, Editor of the Evening Post; A. Peters, Editor of the Home Missionary and Amer. Pastor's Journal; E. Thompson, Editor of the Evening Journal.

Published by G. & E. Merriam, Springfield Mass., and for sale by E. H. Pease, Albany; W. & H. Merriam, Troy, M. H. Newman, New-York; Carey & Hart, Phila.; Little and Brown, Boston, and Booksellers generally.

OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK.

ALBANY, MARCH, 1845.

For one copy, in all cases, (per annum,).... 50 cts. draft upon the treasury, that it has been deemed "one hundred copies, each,

but one daily session; viz. from 9 A. M. to 2 P. M.; with such extra sessions in the afternoon for general exercises, as the principal, subject to to the approbation of the executive committee, shall judge necessary.

V. Since the branches required by law to be taught in all the common schools, viz. reading, orthography, writing, arithmetic, geography and English grammar-are of primary importance, they shall receive in all cases primary attention in the normal school; nor shall the pupils be allowed to pass to the higher branches, till in the judgment of the teachers, they are thoroughly prepared to do so. The instruction in these branches as far as the nature of the subjects will admit, shall for the present be given by topics, allowing to the pupils the use of any text-books, to which they have been accustomed or may have access.

VI. Exercises in drawing, vocal music and English composition shall be attended to, by all the pupils throughout the whole course of study. VII. Among the branches to be pursued, in addition to the above, are Physiology, History of the United States, Natural Philosophy, Algebra, Geometry, Surveying, Application of Science to the Arts, Use of Globes. Intellectual and Moral Philosophy, with such other branch. es as the executive committee may from time to time direct.

VIII. The state pupils shall be admitted at the commencement of any term, on presenting a certificate of their having been selected to attend the school, by the proper authorities of their respective counties. All volunteer pupils shall, before they can be admitted, present satisfactory testimonials of their moral character from a county or town superintendent, and be able to sustain, to the satisfaction of the principal, an examination in reading, spelling. writing, arithmetic, geography, and English grammar.

IX. The pupil's title to a recommendation or certificate as a well qualified teacher on leaving the school, shall depend on his moral character and literary attainments, and not on the length of time spent in the school; though no pupil shall be entitled to such recommendation or certificate who shall not remain in the school one entire term, and no certificate except one of full qualifications shall be given.

X. The internal regulations of the school shall be left to take their form and character from the circumstances as they arise; and such regulations as the teachers may hereafter suggest for the government of the school, shall be submitted to the executive committee for their approval, before they go into effect.

REMARKS.

For the further information of any whom it may concern, it may be mentioned: that voLUN. TEER PUPILS before they can be admitted, are expected to express their intention to prepare themselves to become teachers. They will receive instruction in all the branches taught, and will be furnished with the use of text-books, gratis. They will not receive anything towards paying for their board. If they complete the course of study in the school, they will graduate on the same terms as the state pupils.

As the volunteer pupils from any county can.

not exceed the number of state pupils, such volunteer pupils who may desire to attend the school, should first apply to the superintendents of their respective counties for information, and if there should be any vacancies at the time of such application, the said superintendent will grant a certificate to that effect, which will entitle such volunteer pupil to admission into the school, on complying with the requisites required by the eighth regulation.

The STATE PUPILS, i. e. those who are selected by the county authorities to attend the school, will receive during the next term towards pay. ing for their board-if males, $, if females, $ . The price of board in respectable families, varies from $1.50 to $2.00 per week, exclusive of was ing.

It is hoped that all pupils for the next term will feel the importance of being presenton the first day of the term.

At the opening of the school-(Dec. 18,) an address was delivered by Hon. Samuel Young, the state superintendent, and chairman of the executive committee. There were then present twenty-nine pupils. The number during the term increased to ninety-eight-the number of males and females being nearly equal.

There are now accommodations for two hun dred and fifty-six pupils, and the board of instruction will be extended to meet the wants of these who may attend.

EXPERIMENTAL SCHOOL.

tablishment in the same building of an EXPERI Preparations have also been made for the esMENTAL SCHOOL. This school will consist of

about forty pupils of various ages, from six
years to sixteen, who will be instructed by the
der the supervision of the principal. It is hoped
more advanced pupils in the normal school, un-
application of the principles of government and
here to afford an opportunity for the practical
instruction inculcated in the normal school, and
that each normal pupil will be thus enabled to
become, to a considerable extent, acquainted
with the detail of the business of teaching. The
pupils of the experimental school will be in-
structed free of charge. Applications for admis
sion to this school should be made to the secre-
tary of the executive committee.

Board of Instruction.
DAVID P. PAGE, Principal.

GEO. R. PERKINS, A. M., Prof. Mathematics.
Prof. Nat. Sciences.
F. J. ILSLEY, Teacher of Vocal Music.
J. B. HOWARD, Teacher of Drawing.
Executive Committee.
HON. N. S. BENTON, Sup. C. S.,
HON. GIDEON HAWLEY, L L. D.
REV. ALONZO POTTER, D. D.
REV. WILLIAM H. CAMPBELL, D. D.
FRANCIS DWIGHT, Secretary.

Chairman.

N. S. BENTON, State Sup. Com. Schools.