The building stands upon an area of 24 acres. neatly graded and enclosed, and to be suitably filled with shade and ornamental trees and shrubbery as soon as the proper season for that purpose shall arrive. Within this area, is an excellent well of water, together with ample play-grounds, and all necessary out-buildings, lattices, &. In the cupola of the building is a fine toned bell, which cost about $215, obtained through the praiseworty exertious of the ladies of the village from the avails of a "Fair," planned and conducted by them last winter. The house and lot, with apparatus, improvement of grounds, &c., cost the citizens of Palmyra between ten and eleven thousand dollars. The School commenced its first term on the 8th of May, and it now numbers 400 scholars, under the supervision and instruction of J. W. French, A. M, as Principal, and seven male and female assistant Teachers. Thus far the School has exceeded the most sanguine expectations of its friends, and has silenced by its success and popularity, every tongue which has heretofore opposed its commencement and progress. The building erected for the purposes of this School, (represented by the above cut,) is 70 feet long by 60 feet broad, fronting west on Canandaigua Street. It is three stories high, of 12 feet each in the clear, This institution had its origin in a series of public above a basement 8 feet in the clear. There are 11 meetings of citizens, held for the purpose of discusrooms in the building, besides those of the basement sion and comparison of views upon the subject. The On the first floor, is the room devoted to public Ex-final decision in favor of consolidating the three ercises and Lectures, 57 by 42 feet, capable of School districts of the village into one district, deseating 500 persons-entered by 3 doors from the nominated "Union School District No. 1, of Palmyra," front. In the rear, or on the east side, are two rooms was arrived at in the winter of 1816-the necessary 234 by 20 feet, divided by a hall and stairway lead-tax was voted soon afterwards-and the building, ing to an outside door; one, connected with the As- which was commenced early in the following spring, sembly Room by folding doors, and used as a Recita- was completed May 1.-1848. tion Room; the other occupied by the Juvenile department. The upper structures are supported by 6 neatly fluted cast iron columns within the large lecture room first mentioned. The two front rooms on the 2d floor, 23 by 19 feet each, are occupied, one as a recitation room, and the other for the Library, apparatus, &c. The latter is also used by the Trustees as their place of meeting for the transaction of business, and for the reception of visitors to the School. The rear two rooms on this floor, each 50 by 23 feet, are used for School rooms-each containg 52 desks, and each desk fitted to accommodate two scholars. Above these, on the 3d floor, are also two rooms of precisely the same dimensions, and fitted and occupied in the same manIn front of these, on the same floor, and over the Library and Recitation Rooms previously described, are two rooms of the same size of those below one used for a Recitation Room, the other occupied by the Teacher of Penmanship. ner. The ascent from the first to the second floor, is by two flight of stairs, the one from the North and he other from the South front door. There are halls on the 2d and 3d floors running through the whole length of the building, from west to east. These halls are 10 feet wide and 12 feet high. The ascent from the 2d to the 3d story is also by two flights of stairs. The public exercises of the School are weekly attended, on Satur 'ays, by large numbers of the parents and guardians of the pupils, and by other ladies and gentlemen of the village and neighboring towns; and it is believed no one has gone away dissatisfied. The friends and enemies of Union Schools, and all who are interested in the cause of popular education, are invited to witness the operation of the system as it is here exhibited, and challenge, if they can, to propose a better one. DISTRICT SCHOOL JOURNAL. must be maintained in each of them for at least three months SYRACUSE, AUGUST 1, 1848. in every year, in order to share in the avails of the school fund. Of the extent of this fund, some judgment may be formed when it is known that, besides the interest of the primary school fund which amounts to thirty-four thousand This number has been delayed a few days, in conse- dollars, the qualified voters of every township may raise by quence of the editor having been sick. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OF MICHIGAN. When we compare the present condition of our Public Schools in this State, with their condition thirty or forty years ago we can hardly think of the change as a reality.— We seem like one who has been dreaming. In most of our villages and populous districts, we meet with handsome, well built, and well furnished edifices, fit for the use of a college, and filled with, "well ordered files" of from forty to four hundred children, under the care of teachers, educated, for the most part, expressly for the work of training the rising generation to assume the intellectual and moral re sponsibilities of citizenship. And we every where find the people taking a lively interest in every thing which belongs to this great work, or promises to promote it. tax fifty cents for every child in the township between the Now the number of school districts in Michigan is prob ably not over 3000, while in the State of New-York it is about 11,000. The children of a suitable age in Michigan for the schools is nearly 110,000; while in this State they are school fund less than 140,000 dollars, Michigan provides over 700,000. And yet, while New-York pays from her $199,000, which, in proportion to her population is six times as much as New-York provides. So much has Michigan come nearer to the practical carrying out of the doctrinethat the property of the State should educate the children of the State. It has not always been so. We have a very distinct recollection of a state of things under which the school and the school house were a sort of Botany Bay, to which we were banished in order to be got rid of at home, and where we sat six hours on a bench, and said A, B, C, once in each three hours. Those days of penance, when the mere change of attitude was deemed a luxury, are undoubtedly fresh in the memory of thousands who now are engaged in adminis-is tering our School System. The limited range of studies and meagre appliances for illustratign which were deemed ample in our school-boy days, will never be forgotten. But our pleasures come of contrast, and we appreciate the good by our knowledge of the evil. It is doubtful therefore, whether some of our western neighbors are likely to know what good schools are, having had no experience of bad ones. In the Peninsular State of Michigan, for example, which twenty years ago was the habitation of wolves, Indians, and a few Canadian French, their school system has sprung into being, like Jupiter from the head of Minerva, in full strength and panoply. We have before us the Reports for 1845,-6,-'7, of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of that State, and from these, as well as from other sources of information, we think that Michigan will come behind no State in the Union, in providing for the thorough dams of wit chitaren. wn a morality alia acaí, which would do honor to older States, she has laid the toundation of her school system broad and deep. With a wise foresight, she has seized the morning of her opportunity, and planted her system amidst the prairies and oak openings, so that wherever the immigrant settles he finds the school already established, or the means of establishing it ready to his hand. She has carried out the intent of the me norable Ordinance of July 13th, 1787. In that Ordinance for the Government of the Territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio, it was declared that "religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good goverment and the happiness of mankind, SCHOOLS, AND THE MEANS OF EDUCATION, SHALL FOREVER BE ENCOURAGED." When the State constitution was adopted in 1835, and ratified by Congress in 1836, the present school system went into operation, and an experience of twelve years has brought Michigan into enviable comparison with the older States of New England. The School System of Michigan is to all intents and purposes a system of Free Schools. For although, the public moneys do not quite pay the whole expense of teachers' wages, and a deficit remains to be made up by district ratebills, yet provision is made not only for the free tuition, but for the school books necessary for the use of every child, whose parents are not able to provide them, and the expense met by an assessment on the property of the district. The system of District School Libraries, which was adopted at first, has been changed to a system of Township Libraries. Some advantages doubtless result from this change. The new system is more simple and economical; but the books of course, not quite so accessable. The number of volumes in these Libraries last year, was 44,000, which, for the population, was more than the 1,300,000 volumes in the District Libraries of this State. But the crowning glory of the School System of Michigan is its University. Its object is "to provide the inhabitants of the State with the means of acquiring a thorough knowledge of the various branches of literature, science and the arts." It consists of three departments-1. Of literature, science and the arts; 2. of law; of medicine. It con-templates a principal College which is established at Ann Arbor, and branches to be established in other parts of the state as need snau require. The funds for its support are drawn from public lands which have been set apart expressly for this object. Two college buildings have been. already erected at Ann Arbor, capable of accommodating 150 students; and houses are built for four Professors.There are, at present, four Professors and seventy students. The students pay nothing for tuition, if they are citizens of the State. The only charge is the trifling one of ten dollars per annum for contingent expenses. The University, which is yet in its infancy, is under the management of a Board of Regents, but it is rapidly rising in favor, in reputation, and in its means of usefulness. The location at Aun Arbor is one of the most beautiful that can be imagined; and Michigan may well be proud of it for what it already is, and for what it is yet to be. BACK NUMBERS. We frequently receive orders for back numbers of the District School Journal from those who have neglected to Michigan is divided into school districts, and a school preserve them according to law, or in consequence of mis carriage. To s calls we have responded until the excess of several hundred has been e tirely exhausted, and there fore we are unable to supply any further demands of this character. have no evening together over books or music. The master is at the frequented bar-room. The boys are at some public room or place of amusement. The girls are abroad in full dress. The mother sits at home in spectacles. And the several parties straggle weary and sometimes surly, at such hours as suit heir whim, and then only as nature demands sleep. is well even if this, at length, is not sought from home." OFFICIAL We have taken special pins to have the Journal mailed correctly. but still find embarrassments growing out of the inaccuracy of the mail books. The request of the Depart-It ment, found in another column, for the post office address of each Town Superintendent whose term of office commences in November next and the direction to be given to the Journal for the several districts of his town will secure such corrections as may be necessary. It is to be sent gratuitously to each school district and Town Superintendent in the State. and hence the importance of an early and full response to ALBANY, July 29, 1848. the request of the State Superintendent. Care should also The Town Superintendents elected to take their be taken to give the joint districts correctly by the Superin-offices on the first day of November, 1848, are re tendent in whose town the school house is located. STATE OF NEW YORK. SECRETARY'S OFFICE, } quested to report to this Department immediately, stating their names, and their post office address. SCHOOL TEACHING PROFANITY. They are also requested to direct how the District The Town Superintendent of Schools in Kingston, School Journal for the district shall be directed, in this State, recently addressed to the State Super-whether to the Town Superintendent, or to the disintendent a letter as to the propriety of making ha-tricts; and if to the districts, then to what post offices. CHRISTOPHER MORGAN, bitual profanity a disqualification for a public school teacher. To this the following very proper letter was returned: SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, } SIR,-You desire to know whether habitual pro SUPT. COM. SCHOOLS. EDITOR'S TABLE. 1 "Variety is the spice of life," says the proverb, and the fanity should be regarded a disqualification in per-table a very good place for it adds the epicure. Such be sons presenting themselves as candidates for school ng the case with those who eat and drink at table, it may teachers. not be improper to serve the guests at the Editor's table Among the qualifications required for a school much in the same manner. We do not, therefore, deem it teacher, a good moral character is not the least impor-fair to spread it entirely with Book Reviews. They are tant. He may be a proficient scholar, and may possess well enough, and quite important when properly made; but undoubted ability to impart instruction with success, something else by way of condiment seems desirable. but if his instruction is immoral in its tendency, it is We propose to be a little more social with our readers worse than ignorance. Profanity is not less a violation of morality than while "at table," than would be justifiable in the body of Our Journal. In these our "friendly chats," we shall aim to falsehood, drunkenness, or theft. It begets a recklessness of thought and action- a moral vacuum present such topics as may incidentally claim our attenwhere every vice may find a sure receptacle; and intion, or may be current as news in educational circles. In tender youth--a person entrusted with their charac-accordance with these professions, we invite attention to ter, their prospects and their usefulness-it should the following official notice of the not and cannot be allowed. NEW-YORK STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION. Your refusal to grant certificates to teachers who are addicted to habitual profanity, is therefore, in strict opened at Auburn, on the first Wednesday of August next accordance with the rules of this Department, and meets its approbation. Yours respectfully, Mr. C. D. KEATON, Town Supt. at 10 o'clock, A. M. Reports on the following Union Schools, FAMILY AND SOCIAL READING. -The benefits of social reading are manifold. Pleasures shared with others are increased by the partnership. A book is tenfold a book when read in the company of beloved friends, by the ruddy fire, on the wintry evenings; Study of English Language, and when our intellectual pleasures are bathed in do-School Libraries, System of Instruction. mestic affection. An elegant writer, commending the practice of reading aloud, says: Incorporation of the Associa subjects will be presented: A lecture on College Educa Mr.Howe, of Ontario. Prof. Mandeville, Hamilton Mr. Smeaton, New York. Mr. Wm. P. Lyon, West Mr. Bulkley, Albany, and L Prof. J. Proudfit, New "Among a thousand means of making home attractive-a main point in ethics-this stands high.What is more pleasing? What more attractive?— What more rational? He would be a benefactor indeed, who should devise a plan for redeeming our evenings, and rally the young men who scatter to clubs and taverns and brawling assemblies. Such a burg, Steuben Co., and from Prof. Low, of Geneva Col reformer and inventor would deserve a garland of lege. Reports may also be expected from Mr. Cole, of Pratts heart's ease, from the hands of slighted women.- Other important subjects will be presented for discussion Families which are in a state of mutual repulsion and action. Our common interests, and the great cause in which we are co-laborers, will it is confidently expected, secure a large attendance of the Teachers of the State. An invitation is most cordially extended to Teachers in other States, and to the friends of education generally, to unite with us in our efforts to elevate the character of the profession, and extend the influence and blessings of education, by improving the methods of instruction, and placing the employment in that position of honor and dignity, to which its importance entitles it S. B. WOOLWORTH, Pres. of the Association. We need hardly urge the Teachers and friends of education generally, to unite in promoting the great objects for which this Association was formed. The importance of associated effort is too well understood and too generally acknowledged to require any arguments from us. In no way can the interests of education be more rapidly advanced than by improving the qualifications of Teachers, who are to be entrusted with the instruction and government of the rising generation. In addition to a thorough knowledge of the branches of study taught in our schools, they need the benefits of each other's experience, the esprit de corms created by such meetings, and the waking up of public attention to the subject of education that must necessarily be one of the consequences of associated effort. It is hardly supposable that so large a body of practical Teachers, among whom may be found some of the ripest scholars and best disciplined minds of the age, can meet without imparting to each other much valuable information. The subjects of discussion are all of great practical importance to Teachers and parents. They are to be presented in the form of elaborated reports or essays, after which they are to be discussed by the members of the Association for the purpose of eliciting the views they enter tain. The topics embraced in the above programme of exercises, and the appointments for presenting them, are an ample guaranty that the approaching anniversary will be interesting and profitable, and we hope will secure a large attendance. UNITED STATES SCHOOL AGENCY. About one year ago, a School Agency was established in the city of New-York, with a view to aid Teachers in finding employment, and to serve Institutions of Learning by facilitating their efforts to procure suitable instructors, books, apparatus, &c. The following extract from a communication from the Proprietor, will enable our readers to form some idea of the objects of the agency and the progress it has made in promoting them : "The register exhibits the names of hundreds in the profession, who have high testimonials from respectable Institutions, where they have officiated in various capacities as * Principals, Professors, or Teachers, both in this country and in Europe. Perhaps no undertaking was ever commenced under more favorable auspices, and with better prospects of eminent usefulness. It is now known from Maine to Florida, and has induced an extensive correspondence af fording pleasing evidence that it is fast gaining the confidence and patronage of the Literary Institutions of this country. The satisfaction expressed by our numerous respectable patrons, affords high encouragement, for in their opinions it must succeed and take an important place among the best enterprises of the age." 1 to promote the interests of employers and employed in an equitable manner. Institutions in want of an Instructor are placed on record, with a description of the services desired, for sums varying acccording to the responsibilities involved. The places are filled from such applicants as, judging from testimonals, are best qualified for the situation. With a strict impartiality and fidelity to the trusts reposed in the agency, and with patronage enough to support it, the contemplated objects may be attained. The references and testimonials in favor of this establishment are highly creditable, and give promise of making it useful and permanent. Address E. H. Wilcox, (post paid,) No. 124 Nassaustreet, New-York OHIO STATE NORMAL CLASS. The Ohio State Teachers Association have organized a State Normal Class, or a State Teachers Institute, which has been under a course of study accompanied with leefor the last six weeks at Norwalk. The Reflector in speaking of the Class, says : "If it may be viewed in the light of an experiment, the fruits of the enterprise thus far, in the estimation of all who have observed them, establish firmly its success. Teachers and citizens who have shared in the course of instruction here, unite in attesting its excellence, and the benefits they have already derived from it.” The several branches of study are taught by some of the most distinguished Professors and Teachers of the age, among whom we recognized several from this State. The lectures are highly spoken of by the press in the vicinity. The pupils have added to the interest of the exercises by their Disquisitions on School Government, and reviews of the various methods of teaching submitted for consideration. The Reflector closes an article in commendation of this expedient as follows: "Our citizens have viewed with solicitude the progress of this class, and have witnessed its success with ardent gratification. The excellent deportment of the pupils, the talent and gentlemanly character of the instructors, and the admirable order of arrangements which has been pursued under the able supervision of Mr. COWDERY, have much enhanced the estimation, cordial as it was, with which they regarded the commencement of this enterprise." We hope this effort will lead to the establishmentof a Normal School, to be permanently and liberally endowed by the State. Such an Institution, together with the organiza tion of Teachers' Institutes, would give to Ohio the full realization of une nope inspired by this experiment. T THE JOURNAL OF EDUCATION FOR UPPER CANADA, iu reply to our remarks upon the inhibitory provisions of the Provincial School Law, asks "whether we, or this government, would encourage or allow, the use of Foreign books in the Common Schools of the State of New-York, which reflected upon the Institutions and character of the American people? Would they patronize school books which contained paragraphs, lessons, and orations, denouncing the government of the United States as a tyrany, its people as tyrants or slaves, its Institutions as incompatible with human freedom? We are sure they would not. We are satisfied that the most enlightened educationists in the United States will say, that their Institutions do not require the support of this peculiarity in their school books, and the removal of it The Proprietor solicits catalogues and circulars of all will be honorable to themselves, and terminate the objection Literary Institutions for gratuitous distribution. There can be no doubt of the public utility of such an agency, if established on such principles as are calculated to the use of their books in the schools of other countries." We admit their is force in this objection to what is cer tainly an unnecessary feature in our text books. The ormer relations of the two countries have given rise to reasonings which are built upon them are but new combina sentiments and feelings, which succeeding generations, it is tions of known and familiar things. hoped, will never learn by experience. The school books That system of instruction which fixes permanently in partook of the spirit which existed at the time of separa- the mind distinct ideas, and explains the laws by which tion, and probably exerted no small influence in securing they may be combined to form new trains of thought, canattachment to our Institutions. The reflections upon the not fail to make accurate and thorough scholars. The rich laws of the mother country were but the natural language fruits of this system were found in all the departments of of a child whose maturity was disputed and successfully de- ¡nstruction. The pupils were able to sustain an examinananded. The parent and the child have since acquiesced tion equally, whether questioned by the Teacher or by the in the events of that period, and there is now no necessity Committee. There was a general intelligence-a self posfor fostering a spirit so naturally engendered by the separa-session-a free and easy working of the mind-in all the tion, yet so repugnant to a generous and honorable amity. classes, which can only come from good instruction and In this respect the character of our school books is labor combined. changing rapidly. Every new accession brings a more liberal spirit, and will soon relieve our neighbors from these embarrassments. We are pleased to learn that their is a prospect of engrafting District School Librarios upon the school system of Upper Canada, and that no objections will be urged against many of the admirable works which constitute the common School Libraries of this State and Massachusetts. The Committee performed their full share of the labors of the examination. Whole classes were examined by them, on entire subjects, without the slightest knowledge of the attainments of particular pupils, or without any use of the text hook which had been used and even that the severest test of an examination only proved how thoroughly and fully the system had been carried out, and how much may be accomplished by judicious and thorough training. As to the employment of Teachers from the UnitedThe committee have noticed with great satisfaction the States, the Superintendent says in his report, "that less judicious division of the school into classes, and the assign evil arises from the employment of American Teachers ment to each class of subjects, with reference to age and than from the use of American school books." We do not capacity. This is one of the features which contributes see how a reciprocity of feeling and effort can exist until largely to the general success. Minds of nearly equal pow. this inhibition is removed. We hope our respected cotem-ers and similar tastes are thus brought together, and all the porary has been misinformed of "Canadian applicants hav-advantages of honorable competition are gained without proing been rejected upon the ground of their being British ||ducing discouragement or a sense of inferiority. A general subjects." We are confident this is not a general rule in New-York, where the highest aim of school officers, it is hoped, is to secure the best Teachers. The fact is, the proximity of this State to the Canadian Provinces should prevent all national jealousy, and encourage a generous emulation for improvement; and it affords us pleasure to observe that the good spirit of the Journal of Education, and the enlightened devotion of the Chief Superintendent of Common Schools to the interests of Education, evince no lack of determination to cultivate the most friendly intercourse with the Teachers of this State, by whom their courtesies will be cordially reciprocated. The Committee were aware, before entering on their du"ties, that the Troy Female Seminary was founded by one of the most distinguished educators of our country, and that the system so wisely adopted by its founder, had been improved and perfected by its present distinguished Principal. The Committee were therefore prepared to find good methods of teaching, well established in an Institution which has enjoyed the highest reputation for a quarter of a centu ry, and after a full and very thorough examination of every department, they are unanimous in the opinion that the highest grade of excellence has been attained. The method of teaching is the same, in its general features, in all the branches. Its chief characteristic is thoroughness. The pupil is required to understand fully,—to remember accurately and to explain with clearness and precision, whatever is taught in the whole range of studies. In the Mathematics, for example, the definitions and axioms are taught so carefully at first that they become, as it were, a part of the very feature of the mind, so that the system of instruction and government exerted over so large ple duty of ascertaining how many facts had been learned by The Committee did not limit the examination to the sim The view presented to the Committee had a wider range. They felt at liberty to look at the Institution as a whole-to see if the parts were well adjusted to each other-if the exact and mixed sciences-the subjects of history and geogra phy as well as those which are especially calculated to cultivate taste and refinement had each its appropriate place and proper importance. They feel great confidence in exprossing the opinion that a haantiful summetry.nrevades the entire system, which is so modified and administered that the highest capacity and the most discriminating taste may find full scope for exercise and development, while the desire of knowledge may at the same time be fully gratified though not accompanied by the highest powers of mind without any feelings of discouragement or loss of self respect. The results of a system so admirable in itself and so well administered are visible in all the departments of instruction. They are seen in the orderly and graceful demeanor of the pupils in their simple and quiet manners-in their easy and proper positions in the examination hall-in their manner of demonstration at the black-board and in the significant emphasis of their language-but above all in high mental development shaded and softened by the graces of cultivated taste. That the pupils of the Institution, who improve the many advantages which are here presented, will grow in all excellence and take their places among the useful and honored members of society is the firm belief and ardent prayer of the Committee. CHARLES DAVIES, JOHN B. GALE, |