Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

to preserve an unpolluted state of body and mind; and least of all should be avail himself of his bodily prowess to invade and set at defiance his moral duties. Virtue and valor should form the character, and force, treedom, and festivity compose the wealth of the Gymnast; the universal laws of morality constitute his highest ambition. Whatever disgraces others is in him also disgraceful. To become a standard of excellence should be his constant endeavor, lor realising which, the principal precepts are, an unremitting endeavor to attain the highest degree of perfection of which the powers of his body and mind may be suscepti ble; to be industrious--to study his profession or his art earnestly--to partici pate in nothing unmeaning or effeminate, not to allow himself to be seduced by pleasures, pastimes, and enjoyments, which degrade and impoverish his youth.

Regulations for the exercise ground.

I. No Gymnast must perform the exercise before he has taken off his coat, hat, and neckcloth.

II. No Gymnast to quit his class, and no class to perform any other than the prescribed exercises.

III. No Gynnast is to smoke, eat, or drink, during the exercises.

IV. No Gymnast to use any part of the apparatus for any exercises but those for which it is ad. pted, and in its proper place.

V. During the running no one must talk.

VI. No Gymnast to rest on the ground when warm.

VII. No Gymnast to use any but his own leaping-pole and lance, on which his name will be placed.

VIII. No Gymnast to ascend the ladder otherwise than by climbing with the

hands.

IX. No Gymnast, by any act of annoyance, to prevent another from doing the prescribed exercises, which it is hoped all will unite in performing in peace and friendship, joy and jointy-the ancient boast and characteristic of Englishmen.

PROSPECTUS OF MR. EMERSON'S FEMALE SEMINARY, AT

FIELD, CONNECTICUT.

WETHERS

[The Reverend Mr. Emerson conducted, with great success, a female school at Saugus in this state, and left a strong impression of his excellent qualifications for the office of an instructer. His seminary at Wethersfield is, we understand, in a very flourishing condition; and the enlarged views of education which are exhibited in his prospectus, show him to be well entitled to the extensive patronage which he receives. We would take this opportunity of inviting the attention of instructers to the unpretending pamphlet which its author has denominated a prospectus; but which we have no hesitation in mentioning as one of the best manuals hitherto published on the subject of practical education. In a future number we shall endeavor to do greater justice to the extent and the value of Mr. Emerson's ideas on the culture of the female mind.]

Branches taught.

The principal branches to be pursued in the Seminary, are Reading, Chirography, Arithmetic, Geography, Grammar, Rhetoric, Composition, History, Na tural Philosophy, Chemistry, Intellectual Philosophy, Logic, Education, and The

ology.

Most of the Young Ladies will also devote some attention to Pronunciation, Spelling, Defining, Pon-making, Geometry, Drawing, Punctuation, Astronomy,

Chronology, and Exegesis.

The members of the Seminary will receive their instructions principally in

three Classes, denominated the Senior, the Middle and the Junior.

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

Junior Class.

The principal branches to be pursued by this class are Reading, Chirography, Arithmetic, Geography, Graminar, Composition, and History. The following books will be used by this class. the Bible, the Union Catechism, an English Dictionary, (Walker's is preferred,) Colburn's First Lessons in Arithmetic, Murray's Grammar and Exercises, Worcester's Geography and Atlases, and Morse and Parish's History of New-England.

For ad mission into this class, Young Ladies will be expected to be able to read common prose with a good degree of readiness and correctness; to have made considerable progress in Spelling; to have a general acquaintance with Grammar, and some knowledge of scripture History. Requisite age, 13.

Middle Class.

The principal attention of this class will be directed to Reading, Chirography, Arithmetic, Geography, Grammar, Rhetoric, Composition, and History.

For admission into this Class, Young Ladies will be expected to be able to read prose and poetry with readiness and correctness; to have made considerable progress in spelling; to be skilled in parsing prose; to have considerable acquaintance with ancient and modern Geography, a good knowledge of the fundamental rules of Aritmetic, and nine sections of Colburn's First Lessons, and such an acquaintance with Scripture History, as may be gained from the Minor Historical Catechism. Requisite age 14.

The following books will be used by this class, the Bible, the Union Catechism, an English Dictionary, Colburn's First Lessons, Colburn's Sequel to his First Lessons, Murray's Grammar and Exercises, Abridgement of Blair's Lectures, Woodbridge's, large] Geography, with Woodbridge's or Worcester's maps, Whelpley's Compend of History, Goodrich's History of the United States, and the Night Thoughts.

Senior Class.

It is expected, that candidates for admission into this Class, will be well acquainted with the studies, pursued by the other classes; though it will not be necessary for them to have studied the same books. It is particularly required, that they be well acquainted with the whole of Colburn's First Lessons, with Vulgar and Decimal Fractions, Proportion, Interest, and the Square Root.

This Class will pursue their studies in the use of the Bible, Union Catechism, a Dictionary, Watts on the Improvement of the Mind, Conversations on Natural Philosophy, Conversations on Chemistry, Outline of a Course of Lectures on Astronomy, Goldsmith's Abridgement of the History of England, Goodrich's History of the United States, the Night Thoughts, and if there be time, some cheap compend of Ecclesiastical History. This Class will also receive special instruction in Composition. Requisite age, 15.

In some special cases, individuals may possibly be received into the Classes, a little under the ages above mentioned. It is also to be understood, that any of the above requisitions may be dispensed with, when the good of individuals and of the Seminary manifestly require it.

The Classes will be formed, as soon as practicable, after the opening of the Seminary. For this, however, a few days must necessarily elapse. It is intended, that each Young Lady of sufficient age, shall be placed in the Class, in which she may make the greatest proficiency.

As there will be two recitations in a day, the same individual may belong partly to one Class, and partly to another; if such an arrangement should be thought most beneficial to her. There may, therefore, be five or six gradations, though but three Classes. Any Young Lady may, at any time, be placed in a different Class, if it should appear more conducive to her improvement.

If any Young Lady should find her lessons too easy, she may devote her spare moments either to reading, and consulting such works as may conduce to give

her a more thorough and extended view of the branches, to which she attends; or she may be advanced to a higher Class, or have extra lessons assigned, and at the Monthly Examination receive due credit for her extra performances.

The Young Ladies are requested to bring with them, any books, in their possession, that may be useful for occasional reading or consultation.

As every branch will be taught as regularly and systematically as possible, and as it is highly desirable that each student should understand the reasons of every operation and arrangement, it is earnestly requested, that those who may join the Seminary, especially such as have not been members already, may if possible, enter at the commencement of the season. It is hoped, that some things may be suggested in the introductory lecture, which may conduce to facilitate the progress of the Young Ladies through the whole course of instruction.

The Seminary will be open the ensuing season, during two terms of 14 weeks each, separated by a vacation of a fortnight; the first will commence on the se cond Wednesday in April, and the second, on the last Wednesday in July. Price of tuition, $7 a term, to be paid in advance.

Preparatory School.

A Preparatory School has already commenced. Its principal object is to prepare Young Ladies for the Seminary. In this school, Young Ladies may be prepared for either of the three Classes. Young masters also are here instructed in the same branches. This school is taught principally by Mrs. and Miss Emerson. It will continue, till within a fortnight of the opening of the Seminary. Price of instruction and fuel in this School, 42 cents a week.

Collateral School.

This School will commence at the same time with the Seminary. It is designed for Young Ladies and Misses, who may not be sufficiently advanced, to join the Seminary.

Price of instruction in this School, 30 cents a week.

The Seminary and two Schools are designed as parts of a systematic course of instruction, in which the teachers will exert their daily efforts to render the progress of their pupils as pleasant, thorough, rapid, and useful, as possible.

Price of board $1 50 cents a week, washing, fuel and lights not included. Students can here be accommodated at the usual prices, with such books, and articles of stationary, as they may have occasion to purchase.

It is hoped, that no person concerned will feel an objection to incurring the expense of such books and apparatus, as are indispensable in this brief literary course. These are the tools of the scholar. And what prudent workman ever grudges the expense of his tools? Good books are surely among the most valuable articles of property we can possess. It is to be considered among the greatest blessings of modern days, that they can be furnished at so cheap a rate. The time has been, when the labor of years must be performed to purchase a single copy of the Bible. The price of many an excellent book may now be considered as a mere trifle, compared with its real value to him who uses it faithfully. How many are there whose literary progress ceases with their pupilage, merely for want of books. How many are now babes in knowledge and pigmies in intellect, that might have been men-that might have been giants, had they only possessed suitable books, and industriously improved them. Let the present generation learn wisdom from the imperfections of those that are past.

MR. G. F. THAYER'S SCHOOL, BOSTON.

[With the merits of Mr. Thayer's efforts in teaching, the editor has had peculiar opportunities of becoming acquainted: the school seems to be conducted with uncommon success. An observer cannot but be struck with the perfect order and the practical and minutely exact instruction by which it is characterised. There are, in particular, two very valuable departments of the course of instruction,-healthful and pleasant exercise, authorised and superintended by the teach

er, and a regular succession of moral lessons, calculated to be highly useful in the business and intercourse of life. In our next number, we shall enter more fully into the interesting details of the following account with which Mr. Thayer has favored us.]

My school is at present kept in Harvard place, in a very convenient room 40 feet long and 26 broad, lighted on four sides by fourteen windows. Though very central in its location, it is retired from noise and observation. Hence, we gain the four grand requisites for a school, air, light, space, and retiredness. I commenced teaching my present school, in a chamber in the vicinity, in 1820, with two pupils, from which my number gradually increased till 1823, when Í removed with about 60 pupils, to the room I now occupy, sometimes called HarYard Hall; where we have at present sixty pupils in the all day' school, and fifty -principally from the High and Latin Schools,- at the intermediate;-who, with one or two exceptions, are between the ages of 7 and 14. The interior is very conveniently arranged, having fourteen rows containing room for five pupils each, with seats entirely separate, and sufficient space between and behind them, to admit of the approach of the teacher, or the egress of the pupil, without molesting any individual. Each scholar has a drawer for his books, and the standards under the forms furnish a place to hang his slate, which, kept among his books, would subject them to injury. There are also spacious closets suitable for a library, a stage for declamation, and situations near the four corners of the room for the teachers' desks. Connected with the school room, are a large entry fitted to hang the hats, &e of all the boys, and a small study or recitation room.

The instructers are four in all, but their departments are not very definite. The course of study is at present confined to spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, composition, geography, with the use of the terrestrial globe, history, and declamation. To which we add exercises in moral discipline, and eleinents of gymnastics.

Books used are-Picket's Spelling book, Walker's Dictionary (New-York stereotype edition,) Popular Lessons, Alden's Reader, Scott's Lessons, Pierpont's First Class Book, Robinson's Elements of Arithmetic, Colburn's First Lessons and Sequel, Greenleaf's Grammar, Murray's Grammar (Alger's edition,) MurLay's Exercises, Woodbridge's Geography and Atlas, Worcester's ditto (stereotype edition,) with atlas, and Tytler's History.

The method of instruction, &c. is as follows. Boys assemble at 8 A. M. in the warm season. We have a monitor of order and assistant, appointed from the first and second classes in rotation each day, whose business it is to report all deviations from rule or duty, and keep a memorandum of them on a slate. The assistant performs the office of monitor in his absence or when he is engaged. He is seated so as to face the whole school, and command a view of all. During the first ten minutes, all boys marked the day previous, are called by a teacher, who states to each his fault, that he may not plead, as is sometimes done, that he does not know what his deviation was; and any defence or justification he may make, is deliberately considered, and the mark consequently either sustained or remitted. If no plea be offered, the offence is reported.-At ten minutes past 8, boys are considered tardy, and either so reported, or, if the fault be one of common occur rence, sent home for an apology. An abstract of all the performances of every boy each day, is kept on the class slates, and at this hour, two of the teachers transfer them to each boy's particular account or report, while a third is engaged in preparing writing books, and mending pens for the small boys. Meantime the the principal of the school gives an appropriate order for boys to take their slates and lay them before them, while he reads to them some interesting story, and off. ers such explanations, comments, and motives for cherishing the moral truth of the tale, as will be apt to present the whole in the most engaging form to their' Kinds, that it may not only be understood and felt, but remembered and made the rule of their after conduct. He suffers no incident that transpires either in school, or abroad, within the circle of his knowledge, from which any good lesson in truth, honesty, fidelity, benevolence, magnanimity, fraternal or filial af

fection, obedience, purity of language, &c. may be derived, to go unnoticed, endea voring to inspire his pupils with an ardent love of these and the kindred virtues; while, at the same time, he holds up to detestation the opposite vices. And he has great satisfaction in stating, that these exercises are attended to with an interest and a pleasure, that nothing else in school excites. Sometimes he invites boys to bring with them some anecdotes illustrative of a given virtue, and, if written, reads them to the school, or if remembered by the boys, permits them to relate them in their own language; and to induce them to give some little labor to this out of school, adds some trifling reward. To these recitals boys listen with profound interest. All who can write, and very few cannot-at least well enough to read for themselves are required to note on their slates every word they do not understand; and the teacher pauses a moment when any word occurs that he thinks needs explanation. The reading finished, a bell is struck, and every boy steps into the aisle, all who have written words in one row, and those who have not, in another. The first boy reads a word by the letters; if spelt right, all who can define it, hold up the hand. The teacher names one, who gives the part of speech and definition; if not correct, another is called on, and another, till the appro priate meaning is given. A second word is read, and so on, through the whole school; and as one boy finishes, he falls in with those who had no words written. It generally happens, that several boys have the same words. When, therefore, a word is read, boys examine their slates, and if their own spelling is correct, add the definition, and often having none to read themselves, join the other line. The teacher, having first called for attention to false grammar, sometimes changes the construction of a sentence while reading, and, at the conclusion, requires boys to point it out. The same course is adopted with regard to pronunciation. The results of these expedients would surprise any one not familiar with the details of teaching. The ear of a child detects an error in these things, with the greatest readiness, and the discrimination exhibited is as exact as it is pleasing. This exercise occupies about thirty minutes.

THE TEACHER'S GUIDE AND PARENT'S ASSISTANT.

A semi-monthly publication under the above title is proposed by Mr. John L. Parkhurst, a gentleman of experience in the business of instruction. The work is to appear as soon as the state of the subscription list shall authorise the editor to proceed with his undertaking.

Terms. The work will be published semi-monthly in an 8vo form, and on su perior paper. The price to subscribers who pay in advance $ 1.

[The prospectus of the above paper contains many judicious observations, which we shall embrace the first opportunity of laying before our readers.]

NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW.

The last published number of this work contains some very interesting and useful articles on the subject of education. That on popular education,' parti cularly, we hope will have an extensive and a permanent influence on plans of instruction in seminaries of every description, throughout the United States. It is a circumstance which must be truly gratifying to the friends of improvement in education that a work of the reputation and influence which the Review branch of the public interests.

INFANT SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK.

of

A public meeting has been held in the city of New-York, for the purpose establishing schools for infant children. We hope we shall soon be able to lay before our readers an account of the progress which is made in this important

and interesting measure for promoting the moral and physical, tual, improvement of the rising population of that city.

as well as intellec

« ForrigeFortsett »