Resolved, That the common practice of build. ing school-houses in the corners, and at the sides of streets, without play-grounds, shade or shrubbery, is prejudicial to health, improvement of the mind, and the attainment of a correct taste and calls loudly for reform.

Resolved, That we regard the District School Journal as an invaluable medium of information on the subject of popular education, richly mer. iting the patronage of superintendents, teachers, and friends of education; and we pledge our selves to do all in our power to extend its circulation, especially among teachers:

Resolved, That teachers' institutes are well calculated to improve our common school system, and that we should exert ourselves to secure a general attendance of teachers.

R. H. SPENCER, Ch'n.

M. H. WYGANT, Sec'y.

CHAUTAUQUE.

Mr. DWIGHT-Dear Sir: Before commencing the visitation of the summer schools of Chautauque, I take an opportunity of giving you a hint of what we have been doing in this county, the past winter, in the great and good cause of education. In endeavoring to perform the many and arduous duties, connected with my large field of labor, I have not found leisure to write as much as I have desired for your excellent Journal; but I ask pardon for what may seem a neglect, and promise that you shall hear from me more frequently in the future.

The celebrations as a whole, have been such as to furnish the clearest proof that Chautauque county is moving onward, right onward in the education of the youth. Many good teachers and excellent schools, from various causes, were not able to attend them. It is confidently hoped that doubts are now so far removed, as to the utility of town celebrations, that no teacher nor parent will withhold his influence from this great' means of speeding the cause of Universal education. The town superintendents have done good and faithful services in, and in preparations for these celebrations. The celebrations themselves have testified strongly to their credit. The teachers and other active and excellent friends to education, in the several towns, have contributed largely to the extensive preparations made for the "Celebration Day." In behalf of the schools of this county, the writer tenders grateful thanks to the clergymen, parents and gentlemen in attendance upon the interesting occasions.

Nearly all of the towns at the celebrations passed a resolution, (the schools, teachers and parents voting,) that that town should be the best in the county for good common schools.

The scholars at each celebration, by way of challenge, resolved to try to beat some other town, in "learning fast and remembering well; in good deportment, in and out of school; in reading the most library books, and in remembering what they read the best." These challenges were returned by that other town, and also sent to another, in a friendly spirit of good humored firmness.

At the opening of the winter visitation, I gave notice that I should not attempt to reach any more schools than I could visit thoroughly, and The writer has endeavored in these celebrathat I would devote my time, night and day, tions to impress upon the parent, and the public to the advancement of the cause of education mind, the absolute necessity of a moral, intellecin the county. My plan was, that after the daily tual and physical education of the youth. He visitation of the schools, to address parents, has endeavored to give the faithful and successteachers and scholars in the evening. Accor- ful teacher that standing in society which has too dingly, I gave notice daily that I would spend long been denied him, and to make the scholar the evening at the school-house, and talk to the wiser and happier, by pointing him up the "Hill public upon the subject of common schools. of Science" to the "Temple of Fame." ParticDetermined as I was, to use my whole time, and ular encouragement and approbation have been embrace every opportunity in endeavoring to do given to the small and hitherto backward school, good in the great work, I advertised in dis- that appeared at the celebration, and struggled tricts where little interest was felt, that if to compete with the school of greater opportumy audience consisted of one child only, Inities. In short, the writer has tried to do his would try to make that child wiser and better; and if not one person attended as a hearer, I would lecture to myself for my own improvement. But I am happy to say that the teachers and scholars attended always, and the parents generally; the districts manifesting an interest, during the winter visitation, in the cause of intellectual improvement, cordial and heartcheering to every true friend of education.

The month of February was devoted by the writer to holding town celebrations throughout the county. Although very many doubted their utility, and strongly opposed the idea, yet it was believed that the celebration needed only to be tested to be approved; and accordingly they were appointed in the twenty-four towns, and held in nearly all. The impulse they have given to the cause of common school education in Chautauque, the parent, the teacher and scholar can bear witness. A detailed account of them, as held in the several towns, and published in the Fredonia Censor, I have already forwarded you.

duty as county superintendent, nor will he fail to try, while the youth of Chautauque county are his charge, education his cause, and human improvement the end to be attained. Will not the county adopt for its motto—“Chautauque will educate all her youth!"

WORTHY PUTNAM,

Sinclearville, March, 1845.

NOTICE.

Co. Supt.

The county of Cattaraugus is hereby challenged to compete with Chautauque, particularly in neatly made writing books and in penmanship, in good reading, composition and declamation, and in a good knowledge of the sciences gene rally. Teachers and scholars of Chautauque, do you hear that? Your motto is, "We'll Try." W. PUTNAM, Co. Supt.

DUTCHESS.

Mr. DWIGHT:-Believing that the friends of education should make each other acquainted,

COMMON SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS ON
THE FOURTH OF JULY.

through the Journal, with the progress of the cause in the various sections of the state, I send you a brief sketch for publication. You are aware that in Dutchess county we have been somewhat tardy in getting up meetings of the THESE celebrations have been held in every schools, or "school celebrations." Last winter part of the state and have attracted great attenit was determined to make the attempt, in a few tion. A journal might be filled with the descripof the towns. So far as my information extends, the results have been most happy. The "ice" is now broken; and if we only exhibit a little perseverance and firmness, the common school cause will receive a powerful impulse from the continuance of such meetings.

tions of the brilliant scenes and eloquent addresses which fill the columns of the county papers. From Baldwinsville, Onondaga county; New Fane, Niagara ; and Westchester, we have received interesting notices of the day, which we hope to find room for in a future number. ESSEX.

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.

It is my province to speak more particularly of the celebration in this town; leaving to others the pleasing task of publishing, if they are so disposed, notices of those meetings in which they were more immediately interested. Our meeting was held on the 5th of March. But The late anniversary of our national independence four schools, numbering in all about eighty pu- was celebrated in Westport village by the friends of edpils, joined in the celebration. The early part ral districts in the Baptist church, for the purpose of an ucation, in assembling the common schools of the seve of the day was rainy, which made it late before examination, to listen to an address and other exerthe exercises commenced. Half an hour was al- cises appropriate for the day and occasion. lotted to the examination of each school, by its At half-past 10, the different schools, preceded by their own teacher. Teachers and scholars acquitted entered the church and occupied the body slips, while teachers, and with appropriate and ingenious banners, themselves well. Declamation and singing, by the remainder were filled by their parents and friends. the children, formed part of the exercises. The After the singing of a patriotic ode by the children, county superintendent, H. H. Ingraham, deliv. and prayer, together with the reading of the Declaration ered a good address. The audience were grati- livered by President WHEELER, of the University of Verof Independence by Judge AIKENS, an address was defied with the performances; and the hope was mont. The speaker, though evidently unprepared for expressed that, although this meeting was the the occasion, and wholly ignorant of the character of first, it might not be the last of the kind held in the assemblage he was to address, entered fully into the feelings the occasion was calculated to inspire, and rivthis place. We think of making another at-eted the attention of his audience for the period of an tempt next fall; and it is hoped that a larger num. ber of schools will be in attendance.

Teachers in this town have often been urged to close their terms with public examinations, held in the school-house. The practice is gaining ground. I have attended two such examinations this spring, and both of them passed off well. The first was that of Morgan Washburn, teacher in district No. 10. Besides examination in the usual branches, the children gave us a specimen of their attainments in vocal music. Several pieces of prose, poetry and dialogue were spoken in good style. Parents and the inhabitants of the district generally were present, and were delighted with the performances of the children. Indeed the room was a little crowded. But that difficulty would be obviated if the good people would tear down the old house and build a new one, a little larger. They will do it before long; though, to tell the truth, the house is as good as thousands of others in different parts of the state.

The other examination was that of Levi Hub. bell, teacher in No. 8. The rain fell freely in the afternoon and evening; but the undaunted scholars were at their posts. The evening was devoted to public speaking, by the pupils; and a considerable audience, particularly ladies, came to hear the young orators. So large an assemblage, on such a night, was proof that the common school cause has some spirited friends in that vicinity. I regretted that it was not conve nient for the trustees to attend.

A. R. M'CORD, Town Superintendent. La Grange, Dutchess Co., April 22d, 1845.

hour and a half by a chaste and eloquent appeal in behalf of rational liberty and the general diffusion of knowledge, as the best human means for securing and perpetuating it-as the only means for sustaining those civil and political institutions which are at once the ground of our individual happiness and national glory. After an exordium, fraught with strikingly forcible remarks on the importance of, and the difficulties in the way of informing the common mind, particularly of a want of intelligent co-operation on the part of parents and others in withholding fostering influences from the seminaries of learning in the land, he announced his subject to be education, as the rest and basis of our free institutions, and both as the common offspring of Protestant christianity. His theme was a noble one, and well worthy the attention of an enlightened and free people, on a day which, while it comes and goes, as an index of the intellectual power of the fathers of our country, should also be viewed by them as the periodical return of the genius of liberty, with the expectation that each of its successive visits should find this great people one step farther forward in the great scheme of moral culture and political progress. By a variety of facts shown from our national history, the learning and piety of the puritan fathers, and from the lives of the prominent characters of the great religious reformation, such as Martin Luther, Wickliff, Reuchlin, Huss, Erasmus and others, who, three centuries ago, origina ted and achieved one of the greatest revolutions ever effected in human affairs-by commenting upon the extraordinary intellectual attainments of these distinguished actors, and those of many others, whose influ ence has been most felt in giving a higher tone of morals and manners to the age in which they lived-the or intelligence, but of that exalted culture which has renator sought to enforce not only the necessity of general dered the distinguished reformers, both in religion and politics, sufficient for the great work allotted themthat of combating and overthrowing the false philosophy of the times, and of re-organizing society by means of a more perfect arrangement, under higher institutions. While on this part of the subject, a fact was stated, which is certainly worthy of notice, especially by those who unwisely oppose the interests of the higher institutions of learning in our country. It was this: That with hardly an individual exception, those distinguished leaders of the Protestant reformation, whose names I have given, together with others who acted a no less conspicuous part, were men who had availed themselves

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usefulness, and have exerted an extended influence for good and not for evil.

In view of this, there are those in this community, as well as in all others, to whom it might be proper to repeat the advice once given by a clergyman of our day: "Look to it that thou doest thy duty to those thou seekest to direct; for remember-the manners, minds and hearts of deathless beings are invaluable materials.”

LEWIS.

of the advantages afforded in the highest universities of Europe; as the result of which, and their own untiring efforts, many of them arose to be the brightest stars in the galaxy of European scholars and divines. Reuchlin, for instance, was hardly twenty when he taught Philosophy and Greek and Latin at Bale, at a time too (says D'Aubigne, in his inimitable history of the reformation) when it was accounted almost a miracle that a German should speak Greek. Erasmus too, who, (as the same historian informs us) although he "never was, nor never could be a reformer, still prepared the way for others, and that too by a life of the severest study, occupying successively the position of teacher in the university at Oxford and at Bale, preferring always a livelihood obtained by literary and scientific ef fort, to a life of luxury and favor in the splendid courts of Charles V., of Henry VIII. and Francis I., or even to encircling his head with the cardinal's hat, which was offered him." The great maxim of Erasmus was, "Give light, and the darkness will disperse of itself." Upon this principle he acted, and in view of this he lived and labored. We might speak also of the scholastic attainments of Wickliffe and Huss, and of that greatest of all reformers, Martin Luther; but our limits will not admit. Suffice it to say, that a sufficient number of such examples were referred to in the address, to establish fully the position, that all the great schemes of social and political advancement must rely mainly for their consummation upon the efforts of those, who, by a long and rigid course of mental training, are prepared to see the future in the present and past, and by thus "look-determining, with any accuracy, the progress ing through the vicissitudes of coming years, be the wise men of their times."

GENTLEMEN.-I have just finished an inspection tour through the county: and though I was unable, even with the co-operation of the town superintendents to assemble more than twothirds of the number of teachers to be licensed for the ensuing term-yet the effect of bringing sixty together, and of considering, in connection with the examination on different branches, the improved methods of instruction, the evils to be remedied, the obstacles to be overcome, and the true objects of pursuit by the district school teacher, will, I trust, be clearly perceptible in the increased assiduity, and in the systematic and well directed efforts of the summer teachers.

This is the first opportunity afforded me for

of our teaahers: It is the first time they have appeared before me for a second examination, President Wheeler investigated with clearness also and I am happy to say that the evidences which the various conditions which governments must observe, to the end that peace, prosperity and order may many gave of marked improvement, increased result, and abide with those over whom they are insti- confidence and determination, and strengthened tuted. The secret springs of society were disclosed, hope were highly credi'able to them, and encourand the audience were made to see and appreciate more fully the causes and processes by which and aging to the friends of education. Many have through which nations arise to the possession of sub-expended their earnings in attending the acade stantial wisdom, and consequently to true, rational my or select school, while others have applied freedom, or sink by becoming the slaves of tyrants and themselves with singular devotion and great suc the victims of superstition. The bearings and relations of the several professions cess to self-instruction; and the increased dewere detailed with a master hand, and their existence mand for good teachers, the numerous applicashown to be indispensable to the well being of society. tions made to those of reputed excellence, and The higher branches of education were introduced, as the general advance of wages, seem to presage exercising a progressive and conservative influence on the mass, and to this and not to the misdirected efforts the speedy advent of a time, when the worth of an accomplished and devoted teacher, shall be of an ignorant populace (it was shown) are we indebted for all that we possess of national importance and ra- appreciated and acknowledged, and his services requited by an adequate reward.

tional freedom.

Throughout the whole the importance of vital religion was urged, and its existence proved to be the condition of all substantial, moral or mental progress in the race.

This position was illustrated and enforced by the high position which New-England sustains in her rapid growth in all the arts of civilized life, in industry, science and letters-all of which results were justly referred to the perpetual possession of the spirit of that sublime piety, and to the continued observance of the simple rites of that holy religion which the pilgrim fathers brought from a foreign shore-which they held as their richest treasure in life, and the choicest legacy they had to leave to their children that were to come after them.

In conclusion, the speaker directed our attention to the feelings we ought to exercise towards God, in view of the exalted position we occupy, and for the peculiar privileges we enjoy in this age and country; and urged upon all the necessity of continuing faithfully to instruct the rising generation, as the only hope of our country and the world.

An enlarged and liberal view was this; and how widely different from that contracted and false philosophy, which would tell the man of years that schemes-any schemes for the training up of the children about him in knowledge and virtue-detract from that dignity which he should maintain! For the "child" is truly and emphatically "the father of the man" The acorn that withered and died in the crevice of a barren rock, had it only found an early lodgment in a deep and fruitful soil might have struck its roots into the earth and sent forth a shoot, whose branches the tempests of heaven for ages afterward would assail, only to wave them into beauty, or rock them into strength. So the child, who, for want of proper training, is growing up to dishonor his Maker and contaminate society, under other influences might have arisen to occupy posts of eminent

There is a class of teachers, however, that seems to shun, most studiously, the appointed days of inspection. Last spring the drills were held earlier in the season, and many teachers urged as an excuse for non-attendance, that they had not taken schools. This spring reveals a great revolution of sentiment in this respect, the same teachers seeming deeply impressed with the necessity of having certificates before engaging schools, and have prevailed on the superinten dents in some instances to anticipate the concerted examinations. Whether it is aversion to the county superintendent or consciousness of incompetency, or fear of being required to depart from some of the usages of their grandfathers, in teaching, which they seem pertinaciously to follow, I will not presume to say; but I think they incur suspicion of indifference to the welfare of our schools, in thus refusing to aid in a plan where economy and usefulness are so manifestly combined. In some of the towns, the su. perintendents refused to grant licences before the appointed day, and made most commendable ex. ertions to secure at that time a general attendance.

This was the case in Martinsburgh, West-Turin, Watson, Croghan, and Denmark. With a little perseverance and harmonious efforts among the superintendents, I believe the teachers of a town may be assembled, on a given day, for inspection; and it will be much more beneficial,

Our institute was ably conducted by M. G. McKoon, A. M., as principal, being assisted by Wm. R. Childs and Albert D. Wright. During the institute we were favored with very able and instructive lectures from Charles Davies, L. L. D., John M. Banks, Esq. and J. H. Mather, Esq. The good influence which that teachers' drill has exerted, and will continue to exert, upon our common schools, is already to be seen by those who at first were opposers.

The number of pupils in attendance was one hundred and twenty-five. I will only add in conclusion, that in addition to my other labors, I have held town examinations or celebrations in all but one of the towns of the county during the summer terms of school. They were all well attended and were creditable to the teachers and pupils of the several towns, and I think that town celebrations and examinations in some of the largest schools in the several towns, have done as much, or perhaps more, than any other one thing, to call the attention of the community to common schools in this county.

Our institute closed our efforts for the year 1844. Something has been done, while much more remains to be done.

Yours, very respectfully,

E. POWELL.
Sup't. Tioga Co.