Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

able to the teachers; while the facility with which they learn, and the readiness of their replies to questions put to them on scripture history, afford a satisfactory refutation of the charge of intellectual incapacity, which some have unguardedly thrown out against the Hottentots in general. Mission. Herald.

EDUCATION IN MEXICO.

Extract of a letter from a distinguished member of the Franklin Institute, now in Mexico.

In the city of Puebla de los Angeles, on the route from Vera Cruz to this place, there is a society formed, for the dissemination of education to all classes of the community. The short stay I made in that city, did not permit me to obtain a full knowledge of the principles upon which it is formed, but I was told that it supported an elementary school, (de primeras letras) in which, about 500 boys are gratuitously taught reading, writing, &c. and connected with this, is a drawing school, in like manner gratuitous; in which, about one hundred pupils are instructed. From the drawings which I saw, I was satisfied that some of them had made great progress. I was informed, that the scholars remain as long as they please in the school. No false pride prevents the rich (who are members of the society) from sending their sons to this school, to be instructed with the poor. It is gratifying to add, that notwithstanding all the abuse lavished upon the catholic clergy, as inimical to the diffusion of education, this society has been in a great measure supported by the liberal zeal of the Bishop, and of another respectable prelate, who is at present in his 80th year, and whose whole life has been devoted to the extension of learning, and to the diffusion of the principles of equal rights in all men. The society appears to include many objects, which, with us, would be divided between many. To promote the public good, by educating the poor: to encourage the fine arts; and to extend support to the useful arts, are, however, its principal objects.

VIEW OF COLLEGES IN THE UNITED STATES.

We present below a summary view of the number of graduates at sixteen of our Colleges, in different years. Although our list embraces less than half of the Colleges in our land, the number of graduates which they annually send forth is probably about two thirds of the whole. On this supposition, the young men who complete a course of public education in the United States, may be stated at about 750 annually. And as the number of graduates is to the whole number of students as one to five nearly, the latter may be estimated at not far from 3750.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

CENTRAL SCHOOL, CITY OF NEW-YORK.

At a meeting of the Board of Public Schools, held yesterday in the College Hall, a resolution was adopted appointing a committee on the subject of erecting a Central School for the education of Tutors and Monitors, and as a place of promotion, from the general public schools of such of the pupils as should be found peculiarly deserving of distinction. No arrangement would seem to be better calculated to infuse into the present monitorial system of instruction in this city, that increased ardour and emulation, which are so essential to its success.

GENEVA COLLEGE, ONTARIO COUNTY, NEW-YORK.

This recent institution went into operation as a College in September, 1825, having been raised to the rank of a College from The Geneva Academy,' by charter conditionally granted by the Regents of University in April, 1822, and confirmed in February, 1825, when the required conditions were complied with by the trustees of the Academy. It is situated in the flourishing village of Geneva, county of Ontario, New-York, 192 miles west of Albany; and is built upon the high bank of Seneca Lake, overlooking for many miles the counties of Seneca and Tompkins towards the east. The present edifice is built of graywacke stone, plain, but very substantial. It contains 26 rooms for students, besides a large room for a chapel, and a small one for a library. All the rooms are without fireplaces, but furnished with stoves, which are not only a greater safeguard against fire, but greatly diminish the expense for fuel.

The charges per annum made by the College against each student for tuition, rent, servants' hire, &c. amount to 45 dollars.

The present officers of the college,

Rev. Jasper Adams, A. M. President, and Professor of Belles Lettres, Rhetoric and Logic.

Rev D. McDonald, D. D. Professor of Languages,

Mr. Horace Webster, A. M. Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, Rev. John S. Stone, A. B. Tutor.

The Annual Commencement is on the 1st Wednesday in August, succeeded by a vacation of five weeks. Two weeks vacation will be given at Christmas and New-Year, and three weeks in April; making ten weeks in the year.

A conspicuous feature in Geneva College is the introduction of an English course of study, in which the student may pursue all that is studied at colleges in general, without the dead languages. The classical department is not infringed upon by the introduction of this English department; but both are made to exist in the college at the same time. The common honors of a college are reserved for such young gentlemen, as pass their examinations in the classical departinent, whilst an English diploma will be granted to such as shall be able to pass an examination in all the other studies of college, omitting the Latin and Greek languages. The student who wishes to receive only an English education, enters either the last term of the Freshman Class that he may study fractions and the roots; or the first term of the Sophomore year that he may commence with that class under the Professor of Mathematics. Three years will be necessary to carry him through the English course, if he also studies French, which is intended to be comprehended under this head. The following subjects are embraced under the head of English studies, a term adopted in contradistinction to that of the classical course.

English Grammar, the Roots and Fractions of Arithmetic, large Geography, Rhetoric, Moral Philosophy, Evidences of Christianity, Geometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Navigation, Surveying, Plane and Spherical Trigonometry, Conic Sections, Descriptive Geometry (in French or English,) Differential and Integral Calculus (in French or English,) Geometrie Analytique, Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, Logic, Metaphysics, Chemistry, with its applications to the Mechanic Arts and to Agriculture, Botany, Mineralogy, Political Economy, and General Law.

In the Classical Department, the usual authors, read in other institutions of a similar nature, are required to be studied in this college. It is not intended by the trustees and faculty of this college to make any innovation upon the long established course of classical studies pursued in colleges and universities of our country; nor to entertain a suspicion that they are not indispensably necessary to a student ambitious of the name of a man of letters. But they think that the present calls of the community, the good of our country in a practical sense, and the strong wishes of thousands of individuals demand, that the sons of persons, unable or unwilling to afford the time or expense of a full course, should not be deprived of an education approximating to the one ordinarily gained at our colleges. They see no reason why a young man designed for the farm or a trade should not have an opportunity of being well instructed in what will usually meet the eye or the practice of a man in this busy agricultural, commercial, and we hope soon to say, manufacturing country. Facilities for acquiring this education in its best mode are rarely found in our academies. Their means are ordinarily too limited to afford a competent number of instructers; and their pupils often too numerous, especially in the lower classes, to allow the Principal time to devote his attention to those higher branches, which in a college are the duties of a Professor.

With these views in mind, the Trustees of Geneva College, at their first meeting, now nearly a year since, ordered that there should be perpetually in their college, a course of study to be denominated the English course, in which students might be taught every thing usually taught in colleges, with the exception of the Latin and Greek languages. The experiment is now making, and the result bids fair to answer the expectations of the community.

EDUCATION IN BUENOS AYRES.

A short time since, an American gentleman, who has been for several years residing in Buenos Ayres, put into our hands a manuscript, embracing his notes and observations on the state of education, morals, religion, &c. in that metropolis.As most of the facts mentioned are of a very recent date, and illustrate the great advance of improvement, which has been made in that part of South America within a few years, we presume that the following abstract will not be uninteresting to our readers. Those who would duly estimate this advance, must remem

ber that previous to 1810, when Buenos Ayres was subject to Spain, all access to the colony by foreigners was prohibited by the mother country, and even the inhabitants of different provinces were not allowed to hold intercourse with each other, except under the strictest regulations; that all books were prohibited except such as had been inspected by the inquisition; that every possible impediment was thrown in the way of education; that many of the schools established by the inhabitants were suppressed by order of the government, and that in those which were tolerated, all instruction in the liberal sciences was prohibited; and that parents were not allowed to send their children abroad for their education.

Since this people threw off the Spanish yoke, a considerable sum, which has been regularly increased from year to year, has been annually set apart for the general purposes of education. In 1824, the amount appropriated was between 90 and 100,000; and in 1825, more than 125,000. The whole number of primary schools in the province of Buenos Ayres, according to the latest official statement, is 105. These contain about 5000 children, two thirds of whom are boys. At least 30 of these are free schools, taught on the plan of Lancaster, and the expense is defrayed by the government. The others are private schools, and are conducted, some on the plan of Lancaster, and the rest in the ordinary way. No less than seven of the schools are taught by foreigners.

The attention paid by the government to female education is particularly worthy of notice, and of commendation. A society of females of the first respectability, denominated 'The Society of Reneficence,' was lately established by public authority, and to it is committed the superintendence and direction of all the public schools for females, the house of orphans, and other public institutions intended for the benefit of young children and of the female sex. According to the latest statements, this Society had under its care six public schools, containing between five and six hundred female children. One of the most interesting scenes,' says our informant, that I ever witnessed, was the annual distribution of premiums, awarded by this society to those of the girls who had excelled. The ceremony took place in a large church, on one of the days celebrated in memory of the revolution. The children from the different female schools were assembled and seated in rows in the middle of the church. The ladies of the society sat in front, and seats were also reserved for the officers of government, among whom was the Secretary of State, who was present in the name of the governor, and distributed the rewards, accompanying them with suitable remarks. The spectacle, enlivened at intervals by music, was viewed by the crowded audience around, with deep interest and high gratification.'

·

According to the latest printed statement, which is that of 1824, the University of Buenos Ayres contained 419 students. The studies pursued here, and for which there are corresponding professorships, are drawing, French, Latin, ideology, political economy, mathematics and natural philosophy, medicine and law. I was lately present,' says our informant, when the rewards were distributed to the students of the collegiate department of the University. They were assembled to the number of about one hundred, with their respective professors, in a large hall of the institution. By previous invitation, a number of the most respectable inhabitants of the city, members of the National Congress, and of the Provincial Legislature, officers of the army, judges, &c. attended. At an hour previously agreed on, the Secretary of State entered, and was conducted to a seat provided for him, as President on this occasion. Soon after, the several students who had excelled, on being called, came forward, distinguished by particular badges. The Secretary then, in the name of the Governor, presented them the various premiums, consisting chiefly of books procured for the occasion, after which he delivered an address to the professors and students, and to the very respectable and highly gratified audience assembled on the occasion.'

In noticing the seminaries of learning, we must not omit the academy founded by the Rev. Mr. Parvin, who was sent several years since to Buenos Ayres, on an exploring tour by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. At the opening of his institution, Mr. Parvin had five scholars, and the number has

since been increased to 60. They are the children of the most respectable families in the city; and it is worthy of special notice, that although their parents are Catholics, they are allowed, with scarcely an exception, to read the Bible under the instruction of Mr. P. N.Y. Observer.

COLUMBIAN COLLEGE.

Plan of the Law Department of the Columbian College in the District of Columbia. This College was founded by an act of Congress, of the 9th of February, 1821. Soon after which, its Classical Department went into operation, and a very liberal course of instruction was commenced. Theological, Medical, and Law Departments, have been successively established and organised. The two former, as well as the Classical Department have been in operation for some time, with a degree of success which has encouraged the Trustees to bring into operation, also, the Department of Law. Indeed, no place seems more fit for the establishment of a Law College, than the seat of the national government; where students from every section of the union may often meet many of their friends; where the brightest ornaments of the bar will be assembled: where the best examples of forensic and juridical eloquence will be displayed; where the most important questious arising under the laws and constitutions of the several states, and of the United States, and the law of nations, will be debated and decided; and where, by observing the manners and practice of the highest and most honorable portion of the profession, the student will rise above every thing that is low and sordid, and fix his aim on all that is noble, and manly, and honorable. But the advantages which the city of Washington presents, as a place in which to establish a school for instruction in the law, are so important and obvious, that it cannot be necessary to enumerate them.

The lectures are intended to be continued daily, until the course (which will consist of nearly 400 lectures,) shall be finished; with the exception, however, of one day perhaps in each week, and of the terms of the Circuit Court of the United States, for the County of Washington, D. C. Each lecture will occupy from one to two hours; and the whole course will probably require eighteen months or two years.

In addition to the course upon the usual heads of municipal law, strictly so called, (which will be treated as fully and minutely as may be necessary to qualify the student for actual practice,) it is intended to lecture upon the constitution and laws of the United States, the admiralty jurisdiction and practice of the Courts of the United States, and upon the law of nations.

An examination of the students will take place on every Saturday, upon the subjects which shall have been lectured upon during the preceding week.

A Moot Court will be holden once a week, for arguing questions of law previously propounded for discussion, and for trying fictitious causes. In these Courts it is intended that the proceedings shall be regular and formal, as well in making up the record, as in the process and pleadings--so that the student may at the same time acquire a knowledge of the practice, as well as of the theory of the law. The students, until a law library for the school shall be otherwise provided, will have the use of the libraries of the professors.

The following is an extract from the laws adopted by the Board of Trustees, for the regulation of the Law Department.

'Be it ordained, by the Columbian College, in the District of Columbia:

1st. That there shall be a full course of law lectures delivered in the city of Washington, by the professors of law, once in every period of twelve months, or such other period as the said professors shall determine upon, not exceeding two years. Which course shall embrace so much of the common and statute law of England, as may be considered applicable to this country, the constitution and laws of the United States, the laws in force in the District of Columbia, and the constitutions and laws of such of the several states, as the professors may find it

« ForrigeFortsett »