Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

chanics and manufacturers; Dr. Darrach on the mechanism of the human frame; and, at the close of the season, Dr. Hare gave at his own room, lectures on elec tricity.

The audience at the lectures, was always numerous and attentive, and it is believed that this important and prominent department of the lastitute, has not failed to prove eminently useful.

Still, it must be universally acknowledged, that to receive the full advantage of a course of lectures, requires a degree of preparatory instruction, and a maturity of age, which many of our auditors do not possess. The great and fundamental object for which we were established, namely, to improve the condition and elevate the character of the operative class of society, by affording them the only effectual means for this purpose, education, cannot be accomplished by lectures alone. To attain this object effectually, we must commence at an early age, and it should be our aim to give to the children of our mechanics and manufacturers, who are generally in but moderate circumstances, the advantages of education which have hitherto been confined to the children of the rich, and which have ever constituted the choisest boon that wealth could purchase for them.

Impressed with these views, the Board established, nearly two years ago, a school for mathematics, and one for drawing. But the schools are insulated, and do not constitute, as they ought, parts of a complete system of elementary education; and they have failed, from this cause, and, it is believed, from this cause alone, to fulfil the expectations which were formed at their commencement.

At present the necessity of adopting a more enlarged and perfect plan of education, in the Institute, seems to be universally felt; and accordingly at the meeting of the Board on the 6th of April, it was unanimously resolved, that it was expedient to extend the system of education according to the general outline of a plan reported by the Committee of Instruction; one of the leading features of which, is the establishment of a HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, in which the system of mutual instruction shall be introduced, and in which the elements of mathematics, drawing, geography, history, the Latin and Greek languages, and, when practicable, the French and Spanish, shall be taught.

[The preceding account is from the Franklin Journal, a valuable monthly periodical issued by the above Institute.]

MR. OWEN'S SCHOOL AT NEW-HARMONY, (INDIANA.)

[A letter lately received from the above place contains the following very in. teresting information concerning that department of Mr. Owen's arrangements which regards the subject of education.]

There are four hundred children belonging to the society, besides those of strangers from various parts of the Union. The number, when all are organised, will be sufficient to occupy three large buildings. Of these one will be that known among the Harmonians by the name of the steeple house. Its dimensions are sixty feet by forty, height two stories. The upper part will serve for upwards of a hundred boys to sleep, the lower part is divided into workshops; shoemakers, tailors, carpenters, tinmen, stocking weavers, &c., at which the boys all learn to work part of their time as a recreation from more studious pursuits, besides being occasionally employed in the fields and gardens, all of which are cultivated on the most improved principles of agriculture adopted in any part of the world. All these exercises are substituted for the gymnastic of the old schools, and are equally strengthening for the body, and may be made the means of training them to activity and energy so useful in the common occupations of life. The boys already can make their own shoes, clothes, &c., and in a short time may be able to furnish these articles to the whole community. At the same time they learn intellectual arithmetic, geography, mathematics, &c., for trades are used instead of play, and as an amusement when the boys are tired of mental labor. One hundred and fifty girls of all ages, under the

[blocks in formation]

direction of Madame F., are taught the same as the boys, that is drawing, music, arithmetic, mathematics, natural philosophy, and a little chemistry, &c. The older girls are divided into classes. One class takes by turns the cooking, another the washing, and a third keeping the house in order, a fourth the manufacturing of cotton wool; for there are no servants in the society: all work, never working long at the same time, no class occupied above half of a day at the same work; which makes it easy, and not fatiguing. Children have hitherto been unjustly treated; their time made a burthen to them, for want of occupation agreeable to their inclination and faculties; for when properly managed, instead of being a burthen, they might be made a help to all connected with them. Experimental farming schools is one of the plans long had in view, where children would not only be well educated, but turn the help-part of their education into the means of feeding and clothing them.

From the talents of the instructers, and the superiority of the machinery, this place will probably be the first in the union for a useful education.

Extracts from a letter dated New-Harmony, March 31st, 1826.

Among the public buildings are a large hall about 100 feet square; the lower part for lecture and reading rooms, dancing, and music; the upper part for a library, a museum of natural history, cabinets of mineralogy, &c.

Upwards of a hundred packages of books, &c., have just arrived via New Orleans. The works are the most useful and the most splendid that could be procured on natural history, antiquities, architecture, agriculture, &c. There is besides an extensive collection of paintings and prints.

Our teachers are Messrs. Neef, Phiquepal, T. Say, and several other eminent foreigners. We do not hesitate to say that this place offers advantages for education which are not surpassed, if equalled, in any part of this country. The expenses attending the education, board, &c., of one pupil are not over one houdred dollars per annum; and, when we get every thing properly organised, will not exceed half that sum.

[The munificent provisions for education at New-Harmony, are derived, ve have been told, from the liberality of an individual who is extensively known for his generous patronage of education in various parts of the United States, and to whom the monitorial school of this city is indebted for a valuable cabinet of minerals.]

NOYES SCHOOL.

[The following account is from Mr. B. M. Tyler, Principal of the above named institution.]

Noyes School is situated in the town of Andover, county of Merrimack, on the main road leading from Concord to Haverhill, N. H nineteen miles from the former place. It was founded by Joseph Noyes, trader, late of this town, who gave twelve thousand dollars for its support. It went into operation September, 1823. A wooden building has been erected for the use of the school, forty by thirty feet, one story high. The interior is divided into three apartments; two school rooms, and a library room. The largest school room will contain fifty four scholars, the smallest twenty-five. The desks for the scholars are all upon one side facing the desk of the instructer.

One instructer is employed. During the first year the number of scholars averaged twenty-five, during the second, thirty, and for the remaining six months forty. There is one house for the accommodation of scholars, within one mile of the school house; the place for the school house being fixed by the will of the donor; but this house is large, and well arranged for boarding, which, with the farm upon which it stands, belongs to the school. The school is under the control of six Directors, who fill their own vacancies. The course of study in this school, is confined exclusively to English branches of education.

The branches of education taught in this school, are Reading, Spelling, Writing, English Grammar, Composition, Elocution, Geography, Arithmetic, Algebra,

Geometry, Trigonometry, Conic Sections, Surveying, (theoretically and prac tically,) Natural and moral Philosophy, Logic, History, Chemistry, (theoretically) Topography, the use of the Barometer, &c.

The books used in this school, are Scott's Lessons, Murray's Grammar and Exercises, Blair's Rhetoric, Young's Night Thoughts, Walker's Dictionary, Adam's and Walch's Arithmetics, Hutton's Mathematics, Gibson's Surveying, Blair and Enfield's Natural Philosophy, Paley's Moral Philosophy, Morse's Geography, Hedge's Logic, Butlers' History, Cotting's Chemistry.

As far as circumstances would permit, that system of instruction has been adopted, which tends to create a desire for knowledge, and give the pupil the clearest conceptions of the principles contained in the branch to which he attends. It is our design to make thorough rather than ornamental scholars.

When a scholar commences any particular branch, we aim to give him a knowledge of some of the leading principles of that branch. These serve as a guide to his farther progress and also to excite his attention.

But our first object with young scholars, is to excite in them a thirst for knowledge. This is not only one of the most important, but one of the most difficult objects to be attained.

Much time is spent in familiar observations and illustrations.

Those recitations which depend most upon the judgement, are heard in the morning; and the different recitations of the same scholar are kept as far apart as time will allow.

Reason is considered the best system of government. When this is inadequate, extra duties are imposed; and when neither will reclaim the offender, he is suspended for several days. No coporeal punishment is inflicted. We prevent idleness more by a requisition of thorough lessons, than by watching. If a scholar has neglected to get his lesson, he is detained untill he is able to recite it well. Gymnastics have been introduced as far as the situation of the school would admit. Tuition seventy five cents a quarter; and board seven shillings and six pence per week.

READING BOOK FOR INFANTS

It is with uncommon pleasure that we inform our readers of the above publication. It is now in preparation by Mr. Samuel Worcester of Gloucester, Mass. a gentleman eminently qualified for the undertaking.

This proposed book is to contain a series of reading and spelling lessons combined. It will embrace all or most of the valuable improvements suggested by the recent English publications on the instruction of infants. It is copiously illustrated by neat cuts, and is in every way rendered amusing as well as instructive.

From what we have seen of the manuscript, and the designs, we have no hesitation in recommending it as the most ingenious and practical volume which has yet appeared, for the purposes of domestic education or of primary schools.

INCREASING ATTENTION TO THE SUBJECT OF EDUCATION.

We are happy to observe that, among the many newspapers which are published daily or weekly, in various parts of the country, the subject of education is frequently brought forward, and that useful suggestions are often made for improvement in schools, and in domestic instruction. This is a circumstance which must greatly aid the progress of the public mind on this important subject so intimately connected with the welfare of the community.

Of newspapers not published in this city, we would mention the Family Visitor, of Richmond, Virginia; the Christian Monitor, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and the Ontario Repository, Canandaigua, N. Y. as having assigued a portion of their columns to the department of education.

MR. NOAH WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY,

S. Converse, of New Haven, has issued proposals for publishing the above

work by subscription. This dictionary is to be entitled 'An American Dictionary of the English Language.' It is to present the following improvements.

Additional words amounting to 20,000; upwards of 5000 of which are modern scientific terms: precise and technical definitions: additional significations omitted in most other works, and amounting to between thirty and fifty thousand: new etymological deductions, &c.

The work is to appear in two quarto vols., and is to be executed in a very superior style: Subscription price, twenty dollars.

BOSTON HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.

"The examination of candidates for admission into this school, was commenced on Wednesday, Feb. 22, by the sub-committee and master, and continued through the three following days.

The whole number of candidates examined was 286: of these there were 37 between eleven and twelve years of age, 69 between twelve and thirteen, 72 be. tween thirteen and fourteen, 94 between fourteen and fifteen, and 14 who have attained the age of fifteen, since the second Monday of last December, and who were entitled to an examination as candidates, by a vote of the school committee. The candidates were examined in reading, English grammar, geography, arithmetic and writing; and in all these branches the examination was critical and thorough. Every individual was questioned in each of these studies, until the place in a scale previously fixed upon, to which her attainments entitled her, was ascertained with as much precision as the nature of the case admitted. In the opinion of the committee, only 135 of the whole number examined, were qualified for admission; and it was thought that the remainder might pass at least another year, profitably in the grammar schools. All these were, therefore, received; although 122 was the greatest number that had been contemplated, and for which arrangements had been made.'

'In many respects, this institution is an experiment; and it cannot be fairly tested, without patient and laborious exertions. A free school for the instruction of females, founded on principles so liberal, is in itself a novelty; but such a novelty argues well for the spirit and improvement of the age, and of the community wherein it is fostered. Although the correct literary education of females is no longer regarded as a subject of comparatively little, or even of secondary importance; this is, perhaps, the first school, established by the public care and supported at the public expense, in which they may receive a systematical course of instruction in the higher departments of literature and science. Much depends, therefore, on the success of this experiment; and it is confidently hoped that the public may not be disappointed in their expectations.'—Pamphlet on the above School.

After having visited the school, and received the highest gratification from the general arrangements, and the exercises of particular classes, the editor of this work would improve the opportunity of inviting the attention of the public to this interesting seminary. It does honor equally to the city and the instructer. The numerous details of arrangement-all of which manifest experience and ingenuity on the part of the teacher, and punctuality, order, and intelligence, on the part of the pupils, as well as the perfect success of monitorial instruction, present too many topics for the limits of an article of intelligence.

We shall, we hope, soon receive a full account of the whole method of instruction adopted in this school. We shall then have an opportunity of bestow-` ing on it more of the attention to which it is so justly entitled.

In the meantime, we cannot refrain from expressing our hope that parents, and all who are interested in the improvement of education, will embrace the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the state of instruction in this school. The necessary means will, we hope, be speedily taken for rendering permanent the high advantages which this seminary offers to the young females

of our city. At present, as the number of scholars is limited, and the seats are actually filled, no additional class can be admitted this year; unless arrangements are made expressly for that purpose. The benefits of this excellent institution must, in that case, be restricted to the pupils of the present year. It is to be hoped that vigorous and effective measures will be adopted for constantly widening the sphere of usefulness on which this school has so successfully entered.

EDUCATION IN INDIA.

Charles Lushington, Esq. a gentleman in the civil service of the British East India company, has published, in Calcutta, a highly interesting work under the following title, The History, Design, and present state of the Religious, Benevolent and Charitable Institutions, founded by the British in Calcutta and its vicinity.' The volume is neatly executed, and is embellished with lithographic sketches of the buildings erected for colleges, schools, &c.: it is highly creditable to the state of the press in Calcutta.

Much of the work is devoted to accounts of institutions founded for the promotion of education among the native as well as the European population. Considered in this point of view, we have never read any publication which reflects more lustre on British benevolence, or which presents more cheering prospects to the contemplation of minds which are disposed to regard human happiness as dependent to a great extent on education.

If circumstances permit, we will return, at another opportunity, to this important subject, and enter further into datail.

At present we can do no more than give a list of those institutions which are most immediately connected with the objects of this Journal. These are as follows:

The Government Sanscrit College, founded for the encouragement of Sanscrit literature, in connection with the improvements of modern science.

"

Government Mahomedan College. The object of the founder of this institution, was to produce from it well qualified officers for the courts of justice. The course of study embraces the Arabic language, general literature, law, philosophy, &c.

Calcutta School Book Society, whose object chiefly is the preparing and publishing for cheap or gratuitous distribution, works useful in schools and seminaries of learning, Asiatic as well as English. This society consists of natives as well as of Europeans;-some of the former are princes and chiefs of high rank.

Calcutta School Society, formed for the purpose of assisting and improving existing schools, and of establishing and supporting additional ones, as well as preparing select pupils of distinguished talents by superior instruction for becoming teachers and translators. This society, though independent of the former, maintains a harmonious cooperation with its efforts.

Ladies' Society for native female education, a highly promising institution, but yet in its infancy.

Benevolent institution for the instruction of indigent children. The schools of this society are on the Lancasterian plan:-aggregate number of children for 1822, five hundred. Upwards of 1000 youth, rescued from vice and ignorance by this institution, are advancing in usefulness to society, and rising to opulence and respectability.

School for native Doctors-embracing the objects of general education, as well as of professional study. The enterprising superintendent has already accomplished a translation of several standard works on anatomy and medicine, and has produced several skilful surgeons.

These are but a part of the institutions which are more or less devoted to the religious and moral improvement of India, by means of education. We have selected some of the most interesting, and have gone as far as our limits will allow, but we cannot close this article of intelligence without acknowledging our obligations to the Assistant Secretary at the Missionary Rooms, through whose kindness we have been enabled to present to our readers this sketch of the ef forts of philanthropy, and the progress of education, in a region so interesting in its moral and intellectual condition.

« ForrigeFortsett »