as Astronomy, Chemistry and Natural Philosophy can be presented in an attractive form. While probably not a score of those present had ever studied Mathematical Astronomy, yet all were able to understand the whole lecture. Prof. Whitford's method of presenting the topic was most excellent, and our teachers would do well to imitate him as regards methods of presenting topics to their classes. The Institute, held at Milton, Rock Co., |ing it was such that all present were infrom March 30 to April 3, is acknowl-terested and pleased. Every teacher who edged by all to be the best ever held in listened to this address ought to have the county. As advertised, the teachers been convinced that the physical sciences, met in the public school building, but it soon became evident that this was not equal to the demand for room, and on Wednesday morning they assembled in the College Chapel. The exercises, as conducted by Prof. Graham, were both interesting and instructive. The earnest, energetic teacher went away at the close of the Institute with his "notebook" well filled with valuable suggestions, which, as occasion may demand, will be wisely incorporated in the work of coming terms. To such an one the week's work has been profitable. The important lesson of the week, and one that was learned by all in attendance, was the want of thorough preparation, on the part of the teacher, for the work in hand. Having learned this lesson the faithful teacher was encouraged to make due preparation and become in reality a teacher. The lectures on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, were well attended and merited the attention and careful consideration that were accorded them. The admirable address of State Superintendent Searing will be long remembered by the people of Milton and the teachers of Rock county. Breaking loose from the custom of speakers on such occasions, that of eulogizing our school system, Supt. Searing drew the picture of our ed ucational interests as they are. He handled, "without gloves," the various defects and abuses of our system. His methods of improvement met with a hearty response from those present. The address of Prof. W. D. Parker, of Janesville, was eminently practical and to the point. He pointed out the means by which the teacher was to prepare himself for his work, and gave an impressive outline of the character and duty of the true teacher and of the work he was called upon to perform. Prof. Albert Whitford, of Milton Col. lege, lectured Thursday evening upon the "Transit of Venus." His subject was ably handled, and his method of present If every Institute is as ably conducted and successful as this one has been, they cannot but prove of the greatest utility to the teachers and schools of the State. One hundred and four teachers reported themselves as working members. The interest of the exercises continually called in many visitors while at times the room was crowded. The untiring industry of Supt. J. B. Tracy contributed greatly to the success of the Institute and to the comfort of all present. 74." JEFFERSON Co.-We are favored with the following account of the Institute: A large and successful Institute was held at Fort Atkinson, April 6-10, conducted by Prof. A. Salisbury. One hundred and thirty-six teachers were present during the whole or a part of the time. Among the most interesting exercises were those in Orthoepy and Biography which were conducted by Prof. Salisbury. Prof. Rockwood, of the Whitewater Normal School, gave a very pleasant reading. "How Justice was Administered in Chicago," was given in an inimitable manner. Mr. Newcomb conducted several exercises in Arithmetic in a satisfactory way. Prof. Marsh gave his method of teaching Civil Government. He thought the teacher should seize upon passing events to awaken inquiry in the mind of the pupil. Mr. Sloan gave the history of Penmanship and his mode of teaching the Spencerian system. Model classes were taught by Prof. J. Q. Emery, Mr. Kinney, Mr. Miller and Mr. Porter. The teachers received some valuable hints and | feeling invigorated for a stronger and suggestions from their methods of teach- more persistent effort toward higher ing. Prof. Salisbury gave a sub-lecture upon Grammar, and Prof. Rockwood gave his method of teaching it. Both gentlemen thought it should be taught by writing short descriptions of familiar objects; mistakes should be placed upon the board for class citicism. Prof. Salisbury thought Grammar should be taught as an art before as a science, and question ed the utility of so much parsing and analyzing. A class in spelling, consisting of the members of the Institute, had twenty-five words given them by Prof. Salisbury, as a closing exercise. There were some amusing attempts to rival Artemus War! and Josh Billings. The ladies seemed to be better spellers than the gentlemen. Probably Burns was right when he wrote "Her 'prentice hand she tried on man, And then she made the lasses O!" Prof. Salisbury answered the numerous queries placed in the Question Box with great tact and ability. In doing so, he gave the teachers advice upon school government, corporal punishment, &c., &c. On Tuesday evening, Prof. Emery gave an address, and an interesting essay was read by Miss Eolah Henry. On Wednesday, State Supt. Searing gave a lecture which was spoken of in the highest terms by the people of Fort Atkinson, as well as the teachers. The deplorable yet quite amusing picture of some of our schools,had,evidently, been photographed "from life," and the negative is "preserved" in far too many of our schools. Prof. Marsh lectured on Thursday; he ably advocated the necessity for practical education. Miss Emma Jenkins read an essay which gave evidence of a depth of thought, a realization of the teacher's work and an earnestness, rarely found. THE AGASSIZ MEMORIAL. To the Teachers and Pupils of Wisconsin: Before another number of the JOURNAL is issued, the birthday of Agassiz, the ance with what now seems to be almost a This movement has, as it deserves to I call attention to the subjoined ex- EDWARD SEARING, Supt. Public Instruction. The Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge is an independent establishment, governed by a faculty of its own. It was founded fifteen years ago by Agassiz, and has grown to its present proportions under his hand. In connection with it is the newly-established School of Before the close of the Institute, resolu- Experimental Zoology on the Island of tions thanking Prof. Salisbury for the Penikese, endowed by Mr. Anderson of New York. The system of instruction efficient manner in which he had con- has the widest character, and includes ducted the Institute, and our energetic elementary teaching, as well as the highCounty Supt., Mr. S. A Craig, for his un- est investigations. The exhibition-rooms tiring efforts in prosecuting the Institute are free to the public. Large sums have already been expended in bringing this to so successful an issue, were unani-national museum to its present condition. mously adopted. The teachers separated Its collections, in several branches, are 1 THIS NUMBER.-If "variety is the spice of a periodical, this number of the JOURNAL is spicy. Senator Howe makes Prest. Eliot's position quite an uncom fortable one to hold.-" Keeping a School Room Clean" is suggestive in other di superior to those of the British Museum or the Garden of Plants. To make such an establishment useful, it must have a large building, and a considerable annual income for the payment of professors and assistants. To perfect the grand plan conceived by Agassiz will require at least three hundred thousand dollars, of which about one-third would be used in enlarg-rections also.-The next three articles are ing the building, and two-thirds would be funded. all good for the school-room.-The review of Herbert Spencer is completed, and the reviewer is deserving his name, Quick; discriminating as he does between Spencer's sound and unsound positions."Respect the Body" and "Standing in the School Room" are both practical and It is to be hoped that the people of America, for whom Agassiz unselfishly labored, and among whom he spent the best portion of his life, will not hesitate to carry on the work he began. His example and his teachings have benefited every section of the country. The Museum he planned and founded will, if suit- the latter, a timely warning.-The next ably endowed, become an ever-increasing three articles, are also to the purpose, and source of scientific and practical useful- Education in New Hampshire is interness to the nation and the world. We cannot doubt, therefore, that this appeal will be answered by the public in the same generous spirit in which Agassiz devoted his genius to the furtherance of science and to the advancement of education among us. To Teachers: esting. "The Length of School Sessions" touches a very important subject-one that needs full discussion, and action withal.-"The Word Method" shows an ingenious and skillful teacher.“ Spelling" and "Tire Spelling Class" go well You are earnestly requested to co-opetogether." Women as School Officers" shows that the world moves.-A sentence rate in the work of establishing this Fund, by reading the inclosed circular to your of the whole argument as to the disciplin in "Book Science" contains the very gist pupils, and by taking any other means that may occur to you of drawing their ary value of scientific studies, as comattention, and the attention of their pais worth anything, as a mental discipline, monly taught: "No teaching of science rents to it. May we also ask you to superintend the taking up of the contribution, in which we hope all the teachers and pupils of your school will take part. Any sum, however small, will be cordially and gratefully received, and, most of all, we desire that the offering shall be in every respect spontaneous and willing. The amount collected may be forwarded in bank checks on Boston or New York, or in Post-office money orders, payable to the order of James M. Barnard, Treasurer. You will oblige us by giving the exact address of your school, and the number of pupils and teachers contributing, in order that a proper acknowledg ment may be made, and a perfect record of the transaction may be placed in the archives of the Museum. For the Committee, JAMES M. BARNARD, Treasurer. BOSTON, March 10, 1874. which is not based upon direct percep tion of the facts and practical exercise of the observing and logical faculties upon them." This, from an acknowledged master, is an oracle to be heeded. As a discipline, this book-science is about like reading a Latin author with a translation, and grammatical notes explaining every new word and usage.-It will help to increase interest in the "Agassiz Memorial Fund" if the biography of the "Boy Agassiz" is brought to the attention of pupils, and it furnishes a text withal for encouraging the careful use of the ob serving faculties. Two chapters more are to come. FOURTH NORMAL SCHOOL.-The contract for building the Normal School at River Falls, has been let to Augustus E. Henry and A. P. Henry, of Sheboygan Falls, for $51,307. The building is to be of brick, and completed by the 1st of August, 1875. sides the discussion of principles, room will be found for the examination of text-books." PRESIDENT BASCOM arrived at the open- | department of real service to those who ing of the term and boards at present are engaged in educational work. Bewith Prof. Sterling and will not bring his family west till next summer. We think we express the sentiments of every student of the University when we say that he fulfills our highest anticipations. His plain, unostentatious manner, his thorough scholarship, his energy and decis ion of character and his marked ability in the class-room, show him unmistakably to be the right man for the place and one who will command the respect and esteem of both students and faculty.-Univ. Press. BOOK NOTICES, ETC. In the May issue of the Atlantic Monthly we find a new department, besides the usual ones of Literature, Art, and Music, devoted to Education. This addition to the already admirable characteristics of the Atlantic will be warmly received by a large proportion of its readers, and will tend to still further increase the number of its friends. The subjects discussed in the May number are "Fellowships in English and American Colleges," "The Upper Schools in their Relation to the Colleges," and "The Prussian CommonSchool System compared with the American." The latter interesting and valuable article we shall reprint in the June number of the JOURNAL. The publishers of the Atlantic justly say that the subject of Education "occupies the attention of a large class of the most thoughtful minds in America, and it seems every way fit that a magazine which aims at presenting the best thought in the country should devote a portion of its space regularly to the various questions that are under discussion." They add, "The work in this department will not be so much in the record of events as in the examination of problems which are exercising the minds of teachers of various ranks. It is intended that matters concerning all grades of schools, from the common school to the university, shall pass under review, and it is hoped that the discussion will be free from local prejudice or partisan bias. Every effort will be made to render the MANUAL OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE This seems to us the most interesting book on the Constitution yet published. The author has carefully investigated the history of our government, and the results are given in a form partly narrative and partly expository, which renders the work a valuable addition to the text-books we already have on the Constitution, and a very suitable one to be used in connection with the study of U. S. History. MODEL DIALOGUES; compiled by Wm. A. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW for May.The contents are: "First Impressions of Rome," by Edward A. Freeman, M. A., LL. D., author of History of the Norman Conquest and Lectures on Comparative History, of London, England; "Indian Citizenship," by General F. A. Walker, U. S. Indian Commissioner; "Art at our National Capitol," by the Editor, we presume; "The Society of Jesus," by E. de Pressense, D.D., Member National Assem- describes certain odd customs of fashionbly, Versailles, France; "Monopolies," able English and American visitors by the Hon. C. C. Nott, Judge of Court of abroad. "Deshler & Deshler; or, My Claims, Washington; and "John Stuart Life as a Book-Agent," part first, by SaMill," by Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D., Pres- rah Winter Kellogg, puts some very fresh ident of Yale College, with the usual no- life into a much-abused subject. "Burntices of books. The articles are all very ing and Burial," by Fannie R. Feudge, interesting. discusses a subject that is commanding a good deal of attention. "A Modern Cressida" is continued. Next comes "The British Civil Service," by Reginald Wynford, and a Visit to Pasta, the greatest of lyric actresses, is described by R. Davey. Then comes a lively paper on Flirts, and a Poem, by John Boyle O'Reilly; the usual variety of Monthly Gossip and Literary Criticism completing the number, and making it very attractive for cultivated readers. SCRIBNER'S for May continues Jules 'Verne's new story, "The Mysterious Island." With this number a new volume is begun. Edward King has another "Great South" chapter, profusely illus. trated, this month dealing with the mountains of Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. "Adina," an interesting story by Henry James, Jr., is begun; Mrs. Spofford has a touching story, entitled, "At Last;" and there is a graphic sketch by R. H. D. of "The Doctor's Wife." Mr. | "SCHOOL AND HOME," is the title of a Richardson's illustrated paper on "The Reading Paper, for children in Second New Homes of New York," tells about the "flat" system of living. Mr. Stedman discussess "Tennyson" with his usual skill. Mr. Ruffner, Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Virginia, gives his opinion on "The CoEducation of the White and Colored Races;" and Mr. Schumacher describes the lately discovered "Silver Desert" of South America. Mr. Taylor's "District School," | the opening poem, is charmingly illus. trated by Sol. Eytinge. Dr. Holland, in Topics of the Time, writes about "Star Lecturing," "The Great Temperance Movement" and "Political Morality." The Etchings this month are enlarged four pages. and Third Readers, of which two numbers were issued last Fall. It is now under the management of Miss D. A. Lathrop, Principal of the Cincinnati Normal Schol. Many schools are using these, or similar Reading Papers, with great advantage, and the name of Miss Lathrop is a sufficient guarantee that the articles will be of the highest order, and fully adapted to meet just the wants of the pupils. The publishers will send copies for examination to any teacher who will apply for them and send two stamps for postage. The first five numbers are already issued, and others will follow in season to be used as Examination Papers" for reading classes before the close of the year. The terms are, one hundred copies, ordered at one time, $1.50; one thousand copies, $12.50. Address Geo. E. Stevens & Co., publishers, 39 West Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. LIPPINCOTT'S MAGAZINE.-The May number maintains its usual freshness. "The New Hyperion," by Edward Strahan, illustrated, keeps on its way, cach chapter seeming to possess a special interest of its own. "In a Caravan with Gerome the Painter,” illustrated, recalls pleasant incidents of this artist. The "Bluebirds of Spring" is a charming good satisfaction. poem, breathing the air of May. George MacDonald's serial story, Malcolm," SCHOOL FURNITURE.-We call attention to the advertisement of Prof. Roberts. His School Desks, we understand, give A. S. BARNES & Co. announce a Novdeepens in interest, and really captivates elty in the way of Slated Books, See the reader. "A Meet' in the Campagna," advertisement. |
