272 Ohio Educational Monthly. PHYSICAL AND INTERMEDIATE GEOGRAPHY. By JAMES MONTEITH. These two works constitute respectively the fourth and fifth books of the National Geographical Series, published by A. S. Barnes & Co., New York. The first book is entirely new. Part First presents the leading facts and principles of physical geography in short and concise paragraphs, with numerous maps and illustrations. Part Second is devoted to local geography, and presents a series of well-arranged map exercises consisting of questions, and topical exercises for review. The maps are excellent. The second book is a thorough revision of McNally's Geography No. 3, old series. The electrotype plates and many of the illustrations are new, and the maps present the later changes in political boundaries. They are justly praised for their accuracy and beauty. The coloring is subdued, yet very distinct, and the shading admirable. The entire work is a beautiful specimen of typographical skill. THE YOUNG SINGER'S MANUAL. A new collection of School Music. By the Teachers of Music in the Cincinnati Public Schools. Cincinnati: Sargent, Wilson & Hinkle. 1867. teachers of music An examination The fact that this work is prepared by practical and experienced in public schools, is an assurance that it is adapted to school use. of its contents shows that it is emphatically a music-book for schools. It presents the rudiments of music, with appropriate exercises for practice, and a fine collection of songs from the Old Masters. It also contains many national and popular songs. See advertisement. THE CULTURE DEMANDED BY MODERN LIFE. A Series of Addresses and Arguments on the Claims of Scientific Education. With an Introduction on Mental Discipline in Education by Prof. E. L. YOUMANS. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1867. This work on the great educational question of the day, has just reached our table. It contains, besides the introduction, eleven addresses by eminent scientific men, with an appendix containing several briefer papers. Most of the lectures and papers have not before been published in this country. The book will provoke much discussion. HISTORY OF A MOUTHFUL OF BREAD. By Jean Mace'. New York: American News Company. ELEMENTS OF PRONUNCIATION. By Caleb Bates Josselyn. Boston: Walker, Fuller & Co. MANUAL OF ELEMENTARY LOGIC. By Lyman H. Atwater. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1867. CAMBRIDGE PHYSICS. By W. J. Rolfe and J. A. Gillet. CESAR DE BELLO GALLICO. By George Stuart, A.M. Boston: Crosby & Ains Philadelphia: Eldridge & RIPLEY'S SYSTEM OF MAP-DRAWING. New York: A. S. Barnes & Co. PRIMARY ARITHMETIC. By P. A. Towne. Louisville: John P. Morton & Co. THE FOREST CHOIR. By Geo. F. Root. Chicago: Root & Cady. THE METRIC SYSTEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. New York: Ivison, Phinney, Blakeman & Co. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NINETEENTH ANNUAL SESSION, HELD AT SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, JULY 1, 2, AND 3, 1867. Monday, July 1-Evening Session. The Association met in the First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, Ohio, at 8 o'clock in the evening of the first of July, 1867, and was called to order by the President, Capt. Wm. Mitchell, of Columbus. The exercises were opened with prayer by Pres. J. H. Herron, of Springfield M. E. Female College. On motion of Mr. W. D. Henkle, of Salem, Mr. Geo. W. Harper, of Cincinnati, was appointed Recording Secretary, and Mr. Wm. M. Bryant, of New Lisbon, and Mr. O. S. Cook, of Dayton, Assistants. An address of welcome on the part of the teachers of Springfield, was pronounced by Mr. Mower, of the city, and responded to by Mr. Rickoff, of Cincinnati. Vice-President Henkle was called to the chair, and the President, Capt. Wm. Mitchell, delivered the Inaugural Address. At the close of the address, and on motion of Mr. M. F. Cowdery, of Sandusky, it was ordered that a committee of five from different parts of the State, be appointed to consider the question whether the schools in the rural districts of Ohio have made any real advancement in the last ten years. The President appointed on the committee, Mr. M. F. Cowdery, of Sandusky, Hon. E. E. White, of Columbus, Mr. A. J. Rickoff, of Cincinnati, Pres. I. W. Andrews, of Marietta College, and Mr. R. W. Stevenson, of Norwalk. The committee was instructed to report on the following morning. The Association adjourned to meet at 9 o'clock, Tuesday morning. Tuesday-Morning Session. The Association was called to order by the President. Prayer was offered by President I. W. Andrews, of Marietta College. Mr. Wm. H. Morgan, of Cincinnati, was appointed Assistant Treasurer of the Association. Governor Cox being present was called for, and introduced to the Association by the President, who stated that this is the first time the Association has ever been complimented by the presence of the Executive. The Governor arose and acknowledged the acclamations with which the announcement of his name was greeted; but having been assigned a place in the exercises, declined consuming the business time of the Association by any extended remarks at that hour. The Committee on Progress of Schools being called on to report, the chairman, Mr. Cowdery, submitted the following: The committee charged with the duty of considering that portion of the President's Inaugural Address relating to the present condition of school instruction in the rural districts and of the present educational needs of the State, respectfully offer the following report: Your committee deem it of the highest importance that the statement that the schools of the country districts are not, and for many years past have not been of a progressive character, demands a prompt, candid, and complete investigation by the friends of schools in Ohio." Of course the exceptional cases, where quiet, thoughtful, modest men watch the common school interests of their neighborhood with parental care, and where faithful teachers are patiently working out the grandest results, are to be omitted in the discussion. Still, further, to clear the question of embarrassment, let it be understood that all agencies and instrumentalities affecting society for good in a general way, if not included in the appointed means of school instruction, shall also be excluded from the discussion. We inquire first, then, in what respects the schools of the rural districts are improving? Do the teachers of the year 1867 possess better qualifications for their work than those of former years? If so, when and how were these qualifications obtained? Are the best teachers, or any grade of teachers, more permanently employed than formerly? If so, what has effected this change? Is there, generally, in the rural districts, a more distinct and emphatic demand for the best teachers than there was ten or twenty years since? Is there reliable, entirely reliable data to show that the percentage of attendance of pupils is improving from year to year in the rural districts? If so, what agency is producing the change? Are the schools of the country districts any better classified than in former years? And does any thoughtful teacher or considerate parent look for any marked progress without some successful classification? And still more, is not even the simplest grading of country schools regarded as an impracticability? Are the schools of the rural districts aiming any higher either in quantity or quality of the instruction they give? And do the public sympathize with these ideas of progress? Do school directors visit the schools more than in former years, or do the parents? Do the schools of the rural districts create a stronger appetite for knowledge than formerly? Do they send a larger percentage of pupils to the higher institutions of learning than ever before? Does anybody, or do people generally, look to the common schools of the rural districts independently of other means of culture, to awaken a sense of character in any degree adequate to the emergencies and necessities of life? Are the rural districts generally, or any where, laying or aiming to lay the solid foundations of sound education where they only can possibly be successfully laid-namely, in a careful, skillful, faithful primary instruction? Are not the precious early years of the child estimated at about the same value as the time of the insect that sports away its existence in the beams of the sun? Can any of you, fellow-teachers, report that in your quarter of the State, and from your personal knowledge, reading is better taught in school, arithmetic is better taught, or any other subject better taught, regularly and certainly better taught, and because the people demand this better teaching, than ten, fifteen, or twenty years since? Lastly, do the teachers of the rural districts or the people of the rural dis tricts generally, believe now, or have they believed in past years, in the capacity or possibility of the common schools for any considerable degree of progress? Affirmative or negative answers to the foregoing interrogatories will aid us to settle these, to us, gravest of educational questions-whether the school instruction of the rural districts is now, or has been for several years past, of a progressive character. Of course the queries may not often, if in any case, be answered with mathematical precision; but every observing parent or teacher may give such an approximate answer as will indicate his or her line of duty in the premises. After some comparison of views and observations on a portion of the points suggested, and from some knowledge of the past and present condition of the State, your committee, or a majority of them, reach the conclusion that the school instruction of the rural districts is not now progressing, and has not, for a few years past, progressed relatively with the other great interests of society and of the State. For all practical purposes of duty and action on the part of this Association, the statement of the President may be accepted as substantially true that the school training of the rural districts, under the present agencies employed, is not of a progressive character. The very brief period allowed for the preparation of this report, does not admit of the discussion of appropriate remedies. The Association has already the very valuable suggestions of the President on this point, and your committee propose to leave the question of other means and agencies with the intelligent members of this Association. We deem it our duty in conclusion to state that notwithstanding the want of confidence expressed in this report of the present perfection of our common school system, we feel a true joy in the assurance that it is as good as it isthat it is doing as much for our State and the world as it is. We simply wish and hope that it may be better, speedily better. We firmly believe in its capacity for indefinite progress-and the reflection is a sad and sorrowful one that any generation of children must pass away, without receiving every fraction of benefit which our free schools are capable of giving. On motion of Mr. Rickoff, of Cincinnati, the report was accepted, and laid on the table, so that the Association might hear the report of Mr. Henkle, chairman of committee appointed at the last annual session of the Association to memorialize the Legislature on the subject of County School Superintendence. Mr. Henkle submitted a verbal report, stating that the subject had at various times been brought to the notice of the public, and that the Legislature had been memorialized upon it. A meeting of school superintendents regarding the matter had been held in Columbus. Gov. Cox had alluded to the subject in his message. Mr. Henkle read the principal points of the bill which had been presented to the Legislature, and stated that it failed by only four or five votes, and would have been passed had all the members been present. He thought its passage would be certain at the next session of the Legislature. On motion of Mr. Rickoff, of Cincinnati, the report was accepted, and the action of the committee approved. The report of committee on the condition of the rural schools was then taken from the table, and discussed at length by Mr. Cowdery, of Sandusky, Mr. Henkle, of Salem, Mr. Crosby, of Cincinnati, President Hartshorn, of Mt. Union College, President Andrews, of Marietta College, Hon. E. E. White, of Columbus, Prof. Tappan and President Howard, of the Ohio University, Capt. Mitchell, of Columbus, and Mr. A. C. Deuel, of Urbana. The discussion was closed by the adoption of the following resolution, presented by President Andrews, of Marietta College, as a substitute for Mr. Cowdery's report: Resolved, That while we rejoice in whatever progress has been made in popular education in the State, we are convinced of the imperative need of far greater progress; and we urge, as a measure eminently adapted to render our schools more efficient, and elevate the general educational sentiment of the people, the passage of a law establishing the office of County School Superintendent. The Association then adjourned till 2 o'clock P. M. |