"In Geography, the scholars may sketch, in turn the outlines of a country, and work the courses of the rivers, the situations of the mountains and cities, and the forms and places of bays, lakes, &c.Each may be permitted to point out the errors in the other's draw. ings, and correc: them if he can; but the teacher should review and correct the whole. A TEACHER." SCHOOL MEETINGS IN MIDDLESEX AND TOLLAND COUNTIES. In the course of the last month we have been present at twentyfive public meetings held in reference to our common schools, in different parts of the State-but principally in Middlesex and Tolland counties. In company with Dr. Field, of Haddam, the President of the "County Association for the improvement of Common Schools," we visited nearly every town in Middlesex county, and were highly gratified at the evidences of awakening interest which the attendances, always respectable, and in some instances quite nu. merous, manifested. We must mention it to the credit of the mothers of Middlesex county, that they always constituted a fair, or as some of our editorial brethren would say, the fairest portion of the meeting. School Committees, too, were generally in attendance, and explanations was freely asked and given respecting the School Law. In not a single instance did we hear of any captious objection to the action of the Legislatures of 1837,-8-9, in regard to schools, characterized as that action was by an unexampled unanimity on the part of members of every shade of political senti ment. stance of drum and epaulette in the course of the last month, and we have no doubt, if their education is properly attended to, they cheap de. will prove quite as formidable to tyrants, and quite as fenders" against foreign invasisn or domestic insurrection. At the church there were appropriate exercises,-prayer, addresses, and the finest music-not continued so long as to fatigue any. From the church the procession marched up and round the academy, which the liberality of General Brainard and his brother is now build. ing, and in which many of those children will receive a higher order of instruction than they can get in the Common schools. In passing we will say, that we know not in the State a building dedicated to educational purposes, more appropriately located for beauty of prospect, for quiet, and health, more substantially built, or bethigh. The two upper stories are to be devoted to older children, in more advanced studies-and the lower story, consisting of two rooms, sufficiently large to accommodate all the children of the school district in which the building is located. These rooms have been offered by the benevolent men, who are thus consecrating a portion of the earnings of their honest industry to education, to the district for a trifling consideration, compared with the actual value of the accommodations thus provided. It has been justly said that the man who makes two blades of grass grow where one grew before, is a benefactor of his race. In a how much higher sense can this be said, of those who open up fountains of living water in the moral and intellectual wilderness-who scatter the seeds of a higher intelligence and virtue broadcast over society, and help to rear up for two worlds, generation after generation of children, endowed with the power of living forever, and with capacities of infinite progression! We do not know the full extent of the benevolent intention of these two brothers, whose liberality is erecting this edifice, and whose name is inscribed on its front-but they have done enough to entitle them to the gratitude of all good men, and their na.nes will be repeated with pleasure by generations of children, who will thus be enabled to gratify that thirst delicious, yet divine, to know, long after they have passed from among the living. ter provided with convenient seats and desks. It is three stories In the meetings there were many school children present, and remarks were always made to interest and instruct them. In this particular Dr. Field was very happy, and if Connecticut could find but ten men out of all her educated, and faithful clergy of every denomination, who would devote but a tithe of his zeal, intelligence and experience to this work, a "a rousing shake," to use one of his own quotations from Dr. Dwight, would be given to the public mind. We thank him most heartily for his laborious and useful cooperation. His practical acquaintance with schools, as a teacher and officer, for nearly forty years, enabled him to make suggestions which were the result of experience, and have, we doubt not, sunk After marching around the Academy the children returned to the deep into the hearts of those who heard him. In his own school socourt-house, where some refreshment was provided. Then, after ciety we had an opportunity of witnessing the respect and filial at. many happy hours thus spent, the assembly dispersed with aptachment with which he is regarded by the teachers and children, propriate remarks. Group after group went tripping away to their now in the schools, and by his parishioners generally. At his re. homes, if their homes were near by-and if not, with their parents quest from the pulpit, and aided by the prompt co-operation of some and teachers in carriages, waggons and carts, And we must make of the friends of the schools, more than four hundred children, with particular mention of one of the latter description. We doubt if it their teachers and parents, assembled at the place and time appoint. ever carried so precious a load before. In it, with seats provided, ed, on Thursday, the 19th of September. It was a lovely day, and and boughs of evergreen so interwoven as to form a protection from old Haddam, we believe, never saw so many of her children and the sun, were comfortably packed away 39 children with their youth together, so neatly clad, with such bright, happy faces and teacher. To be sure, it was pretty close packing, but not more so tempers, and making every thing bright and happy about them. than we have seen children stowed away in our district schoolFathers were there, looking on with undisguised interest on this houses. Besides, the former had better air to breathe, and felt all gathering of their children, in whose veins their own blood will run the while that this arrangement was to make them happier and bet. warm when they are cold in the grave. Mothers were there with ter. This precious load, worth all the hay and wheat and potatoes full hearts and tearful eyes, as their little ones marched off in the ever carried to the barns and the granaries and cellars by that cart long procession to the notes of inspiring music, or gathered in a and all the carts in christendom, was drawn by five yoke of noble quiet manner in the church. Old men, whose temples were white oxen, and over it floated a banner with this inscription—“the imwith the frosts of eighty winters and who had borne the heat and bur-provement of Common Schools." The last we saw of that noble den of the day in the trying times of the Revolution, were there, and the sight and the associations seemed to kindle fresh enthusi. asm in the withered affections of age. Farmers from the fields, and workmen from the quarries were there, to see their boys and girls together, and to hear what might be said in referenee to the im. provement of the Common Schools, in which, if any where, those boys and girls were to be trained up to usefulness and respectability. The children with their teachers assembled in the court-house and on the green-sward before it, and there formed in procession, and headed by a band of music from Middletown, marched to the church. It was quite as numerous and orderly as some of the many regiments which have been mustered with all the pomp and circum. team, they were trotting away in a fine style, cheered on by the happy shout of the boys and girls inside of the green boughs, and behind were two or three waggons with drivers whipping up their horses, to get a-head. With such a banner flying, we cannot but think that the farmers won the race. We are very sure they will in the "long stretch." But we have lingered on this description longer than we intended. We purposed to speak more particularly of some of the meetings which we had the pleasure of attending in Tolland County, in company with Lorin P. Waldo, Esq., the School Commissioner for that county. With him, and assisted by him, we attended and addressed some seven or eight different meetings in the various towns of that We might with the same propriety propose to the lawyer, the county. The mothers did not turn out as numerously in that regioner. And we fear that as much will not be done in the way of improv ing physician, the merchant and the mechanic, to take part of their pay school-houses, as in Middlssex county. THE LAWS OF HEALTH. in board at our houses. In all these instances, such an offer would be considered an insult, and those who offered it would be disgraced by the proposition. Why is all this contemptible treatment reserved only for the teacher? I have noticed only the fact of its being ill treatment. I wish In the French public schools it is considered an object of much importance to have the children taught something of the parents to be sensible that their schools are injured by the practice. I have observed attentively the operation of this system for several principles on which life and health depend. Monsieur Orfila, years, and find in the circle of my acquaintance, that the best quali Dean of the Faculty of medicine, has recently published a fied teachers are either leaving the state for schools where no such list of instructions on this subject, which the Minister of In- penuriousness exists, or leaving the business in disgust. Conse. struction approves, and which the "Journal de l'Instruction" quently our schools are filled generally with young and inexperienced copies with explanations. The editor remarks, that the teachers, and other states having a more liberal policy, and appre. whole of the little work embraces only thirty-five paragraphs, ciating more highly the services of qualified teachers, are reaping and yet there is reason to apprehend that the teachers will benefit from our littleness. It is a disgrace to citizens of a state so need some assistance in elucidating them. The subject is divided as follows: 1st, the Fluids which surround us; viz. the air, light and heat. 2d. Things applied to our bodies; as clothes, water, &c. 3d. Food und drinks. 4th. Perspiration, &c. 5th. Sleep and waking, exercise in walking, riding, &c. 6th. Moral impressions. In general plan, this work resembles several small works recently published in the United States, on Human Physiology; being brief, simple, and accompanied with questions, &c. It appears, however, to be rather too dry to interest the young. The interspersing of prints and anecdotes would probably render it more acceptable and useful. Men of science, conversant chiefly with their associates in their profession, or at least with candidates, far superior in age as well as in educa tion, to the common pupils of a primary school, cannot bring themselves down to the level of the latter without much exertion, and we accordingly find that they too seldom do it. The following communication is from an experienced "Teacher,” and deserves the serious consideration of parents. The writer uses strong language, but we have not thought it worth while to alter the phraseology, We prefer that those aggrieved should give utterance to their own feelings in their own way. We are satisfied that the subject matter of this communication deserves attention. We shall make some extracts from the "Confessions of a School-masster" on this topic in our next. This last work is well calculated for the me. ridian of Connecticut. It is evidently written by one who has been a teacher in our Common Schools, and is a faithful record of the difficulties which beset the path of the Common School teacher in this State. "BOARDING ROUND." There is a defect in our common school system, which appears to attract little attention from those engaged in reform. In most districts in the country, the teacher is compelled by his contract to board with each patron of the school in the district, which is one of the most contemptible practices in the whole policy; and parents, to the great injury of their schools, have convinced themselves that it is for their interest. Could each parent be compelled to see, hear, and suffer what their teacher does, the practice would soon be abandoned. At one time the teacher is required for days, and some. times weeks, to board in families where few persons in the district | could be induced to eat a single meal; he then exchanges this liberally provided with public funds, to pursue so narrow a policy. It is a policy, which, while it saves them a little, is robbing them of will never submit to the practice, and they will leave the state as their best instructors. Such teachers as are wanted in our schools, soon as they are well prepared for the business. This is the reason so few men advanced in life, and young men with families, are not gusted. And so it will continue to be. I hope this subject may refound engaged in teaching. After a short practice they retire disceive attention, and finally be excluded from our policy, that our State may be enabled to retain their teachers within their own limits. EDUCATION IN AUSTRIA. A TEACHER. M. Girardin, a member of the Royal Council, has lately published an article on the state of public instruction in that empire, in which he has enlarged particularly on common schools. Primary instruction, he remarks, should be general, and all should share in it. The work should begin in Infant schools. (salles d'asyle.) A number of these exist in Austria, but they from 1831. The popular schools come next, and take the are all of recent foundation, and that of Vienna dates only children at five years of age. There they remain till their twelfth year. There, as in Prussia, parents are compelled to send their children to school. Any person receiving an apprentice, or bound servant under 13 years of age, is required. Even a shepherd or cowherd cannot be hired, until he has exto send him or her to school, especially to a Sunday school. hibited a certificate of the curate of his parish, proving that he has attended school, been taught the principles of religion, and acquitted himself in a satisfactory manner. rer. Children cannot be employed in manufactories under eight or on Sundays and festivals, at the expense of the manufactuyears of age, and then must be sent to school in the evening, The curate of each manufacturing village makes an annual report to the district inspector, who forwards it to the magistrate of the circle, and he, after exhibiting it to the physician, sends it, with their joint remarks, to the governor of the province. INFANT SCHOOLS IN FRANCE. abode of filth for the house of the drunkard, where oaths, obscene The number is about 350, with 30,000 pupils. A multitude conversation, and tyrannical family government, disturb his peace. more are thought to be desirable. It will ever be borne in His next stopping place may be in the family where no virtuous mind, that these "salles d'asyle" are almost exclusively devoparent would permit their children to visit, fearing moral infection, ted to the physical and moral care of very young children, and and where, should the teacher visit under any other circumstances, partake far less of the nature of schools than in this country would be to the injury of his character. Many agreeable families and England. Similar institutions are found in Belgium, Itaare in all it yet the teacher is generally compelled to pass ly, Prussia, Austria and Denmark. The report of the permauga what I have described. In addition to this, most of the nent Inspectress of the Infant Schools of France, (Déléquée families are at some distance from the school house, and the teacher Genérale,) Madame Lemercier, is very detailed and interwith his dinner in hand or pocket, marches with no very pompous esting. strides to his field of labor. During the whole winter season, he has no opportunity for study. His numerous leisure hours are not at his own command. He is forced to listen to such conversation as is offered, which is too often offensive or unprofitable. Now this is not good treatment. No other class of citizens are used in this way but day laborers, and in their case there is no necessity for it. When a minister is employed by a congregation, there is the same propriety in contracting with him to leave his family and study at 4 o'clock each day, proceed to his boarding place from one family to another, get his tea, lodging and breakfast, and then pocket his dinner and proceed to his study, as to require this of a school teach We will translate a few extracts from one of the Infant School lessons used in France, with an additional phrase here and there. "A child who tells falsehoods is very wicked. He tells stories when he comes late to school, and has played by the way, and denies it; or when he has torn his clothes in quarrelling with little vagabonds, and says he did not begin it, or that it is not his fault, he did not scratch or throw stones. He ought to remember that his father and mother have a great deal of trouble in buying clothes for him. He tells a story, toc, when he pushes down a little child, and says it was not he. | number of orphans in the hospitals, vagabond children and God hates a child who tells lies, and will not make him those in the hands of justice, who receive elementary instruchappy." tion. Also those in schools of cadets, attendants on courses of navigation, commerce, trades, gardening, &c. and the fine arts, (where apprentices of mechanics are taught drawing, &c.) General results. 1. The population is 14,000,000; 16 out of an hundred receive instruction: that is, one sixth of the population. 2. Out of 100 children six years old, 80 are taught in public schools. "A child may be charitable if he has no money to give away. If he sees another child who has only a very small piece of bread he can give him his own; and if his mother gives him apples, cherries, plums or berries, he can give some to any of his little school-fellows who have only dry bread. If he sees another fall down he can help him up, and try to comfort him. If he sees an old man who has dropped his staff he can pick it up and give it to him. He can tell a blind person the way, and help children who have heavy bundles to carry. So you see that a child who has no money to give, can be charitable, and God loves those who loves to do good." "A little child can help grown people work. He can wash himself and put on his clothes, and so take that care from his mother. Little girls should begin to spread up their little beds, and then their brother's and sister's. Little children may be able to wash out kettles or cups, go for water or wood, (but should not try to bring too much at a time,) go on errands, sweep the floors, &c. Thus they can save time for their mothers, who have to work, and help their fathers to earn money to support their families. At school they can help the teachers wash the little ones' faces and hands, brush and sweep, or keep the yard clean. "A child can work himself. He can pick up chips, pull up weeds, feed the fowls, pick up small stones in the fields, scare away the birds from the corn, &c. At first children are usually paid for their work only with their food. When they can do more, they receive something to pay for their clothes, and afterwards get money besides, which they ought to put into the Savings Bank." SCHOOLS IN PARIS. Since 1836, the expenses of the Paris schools have risen from 367,858 franes to 838,151. Among the items we find 21,810 francs are to be paid this year, for the instruction of classes of adults on the mutual plan, and 25,107 francs for those taught on the simultaneous plan. LATE REPORT FROM PRUSSIA. We learn from the "Manuel General de l'Instruction Primaire," the following particulars, taken from the Report of the Prussian Minister of Instruction. Without including the special institutions, and the schools of higher studies, [viz. the Polytechnic school at Berlin, the universities of Berlin, Konigsburg and Halle, in the provinces of the Rhine, &c.] the Report proceeds to notice those other institutions which are provided for the 14,100,000 inhabitants of the kingdom. They are as follows: 113 Gymnasiums, in which the course of studies extends to rhetoric; 34 Colleges, or pro-gymnasiums, taught by brevetted principals, where the course extends to the second grade of humanities; 46 Seminaries of theology; 307 secondary schools for girls, and 327 for boys, under the inspection of the municipalities; 22,910 elementary schools. This gives a total, for all these classes of institutions, of 22,826. There are, besides, 1,402 gymnasiums, and many pro-gymnasiums. These increase the number to 30,255. Number of pupils. According to the Report of January 1st, 1838, 23,482 had been taught in the gymnasiums; and in that year 1,076 left them to enter the universities, and 4,993 for other purposes. The preparatory schools have taught, The female, The male elementary The female, (6 These with the pupils of the gymnasiums, pro 11,807 38,277 39,927 1,109,363 1,062,392 2,289,727 gymnasiums and seminaries, make, The number of children between 6 and 14 years of age in Prussia, in January 1st, 1838, was 2,830,328. This shows an excess of 546,601, who do not attend the instruction above named. The following deductions are to be made, of children not included in them; 2,221 deaf and dumb, 2,045 blind, a large 3. The number of pupils reported in the elementary and secondary schools, gymnasiums and colleges, is 2,289,727, of whom 1,187,408 are males, and 1,102,319 females. In the country villages the proportion of pupils is greater than in the cities, which proves that the government pay due attention to the sparse population at large: an object which is too often neglected. COMMON SCHOOLS IN NORTH CAROLINA. At the elections which lately took place in the State of North Carolina for the choice of members of Congress, the people were required, by a law passed the last session of the Legislature, to give their votes on the question of accepting, in the several counties, the provision made by means of the Literary Fund, for the establish ment of Common Schools, on the terms therein proposed. This nett income of the literary fund for the year 1839, on condition that provision is an appropriation of forty dollars, to be paid out of the a tax be raised upon the inhabitants of the county for the use of the schools, equal to one half the amount of said appropriation. On the return to the next County Court of the votes to be given in each County, for "School" or "no School," in case a majority of the votes in any County prove to be in favor of an acceptance of the terms, the Justices of the Court are required to proceed to the choice of not less than five, nor more than ten, Superintendents of Common Schools for the County. The superintendents thus chosen are required to meet and divide the County into School Districts, each of by natural boundaries, or prominent object. They are required also an extent of six miles square of inhabited territory, designating them to appoint in each School District not less than three, nor more than six, School Committee men, whose duty it shall be to assist the su. perintendent in the establishment of Schools in their respective districts. In the counties where the majority of votes shall be in favor of the acceptance of the terms above mentioned, it is made the duty of the Justices in the year 1840 to assess an additional tax, to the amount of twenty dollars for each School District in the County, which amount is required to be paid over to the School Committees of the several Districts. The sum of forty dollars is also to be paid by the public Treasurer to the Committee of each District, on the said tax of twenty dollars for each district has been levied in the warrant of the Governor, to be issued on its being shown that the County, and that a school-house has been erected in the district sufficient to accommodate at least fifty scholars. VOCAL MUSIC IN SWITZERLAND. "We have listened," says a recent traveller in Switzerland, "to the peasant children's songs, as they went out to their morning occupations; and saw their hearts enkindled to the highest tones of music and poetry, by the setting sun, or the familiar objects of nature, each of which was made to echo some truth, or point to some duty, by an appropriate song. We have heard them sing the harvest hymn,' as they went forth, before day-light, to gather in the grain. We have seen them as. sembled in groups at night, chanting a hymn of praise for the glories melody instead of the frivolous and corrupting conversation, which of the heavens, or joining in some patriotic chorus, or some social this, we visited communities, where the youth had been trained from so often renders such meetings the source of evil. In addition to their childhood to exercises in vocal music, of such a character as to elevate, instead of debasing the mind; and have found, that it served in the same manner to cheer their social assemblies, in place of the noise of folly, or the poisoned cup of intoxication. We have seen the young men of such a community assembled, to the number of several hundreds, from a circuit of twenty miles; and instead of spending a day of festivity in rioting and drunkenness, pass the whole time, with the exception of that employed in a frugal repast and a social meeting, in a concert of social, moral, and religious hymns, and devote the proceeds of the exhibition to some object of similar occasions, in our own country, with a blush of shame. We benevolence. We could not but look at the contrast presented on have visited a village, whose whole moral aspect was changed in a few years, by the introduction of music of this character even among adults; and where the aged were compelled to express their astonishment, at seeing the young abandon their corrupting and riotous amusements for this delightful and improving exercise." COMMON-SCHOOL MEETINGS FOR OCTOBER. WINDHAM COUNTY.-Judge Sharpe has called the Annual Meeting of the Windham County School Association at Brooklyn, on the 10th inst. Hon. A. T. Judson has made several local appointments for the same week. Prof. Davies hears recitations in some of the higher branches of Mathematics, which will enable the teacher to instruct to better adVantage there pursued in the winter schools. The Rev. Mr. Barton has the department of Reading and Natural Philosophy in his care. The Rev. Mr. Gallaudet is now explaining the uses and the best methods of teaching Composition. He will soon take up the subject of Spelling, and School Government. facility to these pupils to become acquainted with the methods of Mr. Snow, Principa' of the Centre District School will give every teaching and government pursued in his school. NEW-LONDON COUNTY.-T. S. Perkins, Esq. as School Commis. sioner, has appointed meetings of the friends of Common Schools, Mr. Brace, Principal of the Hartford Female Seminary, is explainat Jewett City, on Monday, the 14th inst. at 1 and 7, P. M. At Heading the first principles of Mathematical and Astronomical Geogra of Mystic, on Tuesday at 1 P. M. At Portersville, at 7 P. M., on phy, with the Use of Globes, &c. the 15h inst. At New-London on Wednesday, the 16th. At Lyme at 1 P. M. on Thursday, the 17th, and at Salem at 7 P. M. At Colchester on Friday. LITCHFIELD COUNгY.-Judge Church has called meetings of the Litchfield County Common School Association at Winsted, at the Methodist meeting-house, on Monday, the 21st. At Plymouth, at the Congregational meeting-house, of the 1st School Society, on Tuesday, the 22d. At Woodbury, at the Congregational meeting. house of the 1st Society, on Wednesday, the 23d; and at Sharon, on Friday, the 25th. All of these meetings are to take place at 1 o'clock, P. M. SCHOOL RETURNS FOR 1839-40. The blanks for these returns will be forwarded to the Clerk of of each School Society for the School Visiters of the same, in the course of the next month. The returns will ask for information respecting the Summer schools of 1839, as well as the Winter schools of 1839-40. DISTRICT COMMITTEE. The time allotted to the course is short. The arrangements were necessarily hurried, and yet it must be evident to any one, that these young men will be better qualified at the end of the seven weeks, to If they did nothing more than to familiarize themselves with the instruct and govern children and youth, than they were last winter. methods actually pursued by Mr. Wright and Mr. Snow in their respective schools, this would be of great practical service to them. minds as are engaged in the course of instruction, without carrying But it is impossible for them to listen to the suggestions of such away many valuable principles which they can apply to advantage in their own schools, We hope that many more teachers will yet attend, and at least visit some of our best schools before they open their own schools for the winter. Written applications have already been made to Mr. Wright to secure these teachers. Committees however should make personal inquiries and satisfy themselves. TO COMMON SCHOOL TEACHERS. The subscriber :s authorized to say to those young gentlemen who design to engage the coming winter in common school instruction in this State, that provis on has been made through the liberality of benevolent individuals, for the gratuitous instruction of a class during a few weeks previous to the opening of the winter school. of twenty in a separate apartment of the Hartford Grammar School, This committee is now chosen by the District, and not by the School Society, as heretofore, and we would take this occasion to remind them, that not a day should go by before a Teacher is secured and properly qualified-the school-house repaired-fuel pro-struction of the young gentlemen at such hours of the day, or evevided—the register of attendance, &c. prepared-and such other duties attended to as the interest of the School requires. They should also remember that the public money can be expended for the wages of teachers, and the wages of teachers only. We have learned with much surprise and regret that men who will readily serve as committees in voluutary societies, as military officers, &c., have utterly declined this office. No better evidence could be given of the low estimation in which our common schools are regarded by some of the most intelligent men in the community. PROVISION FOR THE EDUCATION OF TEACHERS.-A GOOD The subjoined notice was given by Mr. Wright less than two Mr. Wright devotes his time to thorough recitation and explana. nations in Grammar, and to methods of School teaching and man. agement. Mr. Post gives instruction in Arithmetic, including particular ex. planations of Rules, &c. A good room, now unoccupied, in the Grammar School building, will be appropriated exclusively to the use of this class. The Principal and Teacher of Mathematics, will attend to the inuing, as will not cause any interruption to their regular duties in school, while it is expected that important assistance will be rendered in the form of Lectures from the Rev. T. H. Gallaudet, Prof. Charles Davies, and the Rev. F. A. Barton. The short course of Lectures and other instruction, commenced on the 23d ult., and by necessity must be limited to about seven weeks. Applications for admission te this class should be made with the least possible delay either personally, or by letter (postage paid) to PROVISION FOR THE EDUCATION OF FEMALE TEACHERS. It gives us great pleasure to state, that Mr. Rockwell, the experienced and successful principal of the Winsted Acade themselves to become teachers, free of charge for his next my, will receive a few young ladies, who wish to qualify term, which will commence about the middle of Noven.ber, and continue sixteen weeks. Applications must be made immediately to Mr. R. E. Rockwell, Winsted. Mr. Rockwell is enabled to make this generous offer, through the kindness and liberality of a few friends of education in his vicinity, who have contributed the means to meet the expense of tuition. Will not the friends of our schools in other places, make similar provision? The amount would be small, and in what accomplish a greater amount of good? If any thing is done, manner can that or a much larger amount be expended, so as it should be done immediately, while the female teachers are in a great measure out of employ. SUBSCRIBERS TO THE JOURNAL. In the next number, the Publishers will acknowledge through the Journal, the orders and receipts from various month. towns up to November, and after that the receipts for each This will dispense with the necessity of replying by letter to the communications enclosing names and remittances. VOL. II. Published under the direction of the Board of Commissioners of Common Schools. PROSPECTUS TO VOL 11. THE CONNECTICUT COMMON SCHOOL JOURNAL will continue to be published under the direction of the Board of Commissioners of Common Schools, and the editorial charge of the Secretary of the Board. TERMS. NO. 4. negligence of parents and district committees. It is worse than wasting the public money, to expend it for instruction in such schoolrooms. The man who taught "the learned pig," versed as he undoubtedly was in "pig learning," and the best ways of teaching pigs, could make but little progress if comAll communications intended for the Journal, may be pelled to instruct a drove of pigs in such miserable places as addressed to HENRY BARNARD, 2d., Secretary of the the innocent children-the future men and women of the Board of Commissioners of Common Schools, Hartford-state-are to be confined in, in a few instances at least, during post paid. the coming winter. It is impossible to speak with calmness on such instances of criminal negligence or narrow-minded The Connecticut Common School Journal will be issued every month, making at least twelve numbers in the year, including title avarice. There is one other topic, which cannot be dwelt page and index. Each No. will contain 16 quarto pages, and the upon here; but it is so intimately connected with the manners, twelve numbers will make a volume of 192 pages, which will be equal the morals and the health of children, and is so universally to 500 octavo pages. The price is one dollar per year for a single copy; but packages neglected, that we cannot pass it by entirely. How can will be forwarded to a single address on the following terms: fathers and mothers expect their children to grow up with P. ckages of 10 copies for $7 00 refined and chaste feelings-with pure thoughts and modest manners-with such utter absence, in a majority of cases, of all proper out-buildings and accommodations as their district school house exhibits? And when they are provided, how often are they defiled by indecent, profane and libidinous images and expressions, contaminating the heart by their 20 50 86 12.00 25 00 All subscriptions must commence with the first number, and be WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE COMMON familiar and constant presence, and finally deadening all moral SCHOOLS THIS WINTER? Before submitting a few additional suggestions in further reply to this inquiry, we will reiterate the substance of what was said in a former number. sensibility. How long will a virtuous community slumber over this subject? When will these fountains of bitterness and corruption-for such both the absence and the presence of such accommodations are-be staid ? The common schools can be improved by establishing a The schools can be improved by rendering the school-room gradation of schools, and thereby securing a better classificahealthy and comfortable in the proper construction and tion of the scholars, more appropriate methods of instruction arrangement of seats and desks, warm, clean, and well ven- and government, a smaller number of children to each teacher, tilated. Since the former article was written, we have exam- and a less distracting and ruinous variety of studies in the ined several hundred school houses situated in four counties, same school. We have reiterated the substance of our reand it gives us great pleasure to say, that in many the desks marks on this head, simply to add that many districts of the are adapted to the seats so as to accommodate children of State have already decided to adopt this course. In some it different sizes; the seats are re-arranged and made of suitable is effected by employing an assistant teacher in the same or heights, so that the feet of the scholars can in all cases rest an adjacent room; in others by establishing a high school for on the floor, and are in many instances furnished with backs; the older children of the society; and in a few we have reason the escape of the foul air is secured by an opening in the to believe a Union School, for two or three adjacent districts, ceiling, or by lowering the upper sash of one or more windows will be set up. By this course, that variety of ages and studies on each side; fuel is in part provided, and a portion of this is now crowded into the winter schools will be avoided, and the dry and well housed; in a few instances a suitable apartment teacher will be relieved from that multiplicity of objects, pressfor the younger children has been fitted up, and all the out ing upon his attention and care, to the almost utter annihilation door arrangements much improved. of his usefulness. The younger children of the district will receive suitable attention and instruction, and be prepared for greater progress in the coming summer school. But we must pass to some other suggestions. But we are compelled to say that in a majority of the school houses which we nave visited, nothing has yet been done to repair the ravages of the elements and of mischievous boys during the past summer-nothing to make the schoolroom The common schools can be improved by the more extenpleasant, wholesome, and safe, for all parties who will occupy sive employment of female teachers during the winter season. it the ensuing winter. The heart sickens to think of the The best interests of the children demand, during all their small, noisy, dirty, close, unventilated, in portions over-heated, early school life, that the more kind, parental, humanizing and in parts half-heated, apartments, into which forty, fifty influence of woman should surround them like an atmosphere. and sixty children, with their teacher, will be herded-fur- Their opening and inquiring natures turn more readily to her nished with seats too high for the sons and daughters of gentle teachings and answering sympathies. They will be giants, (if giants abounded in these days,) and without backs less likely to acquire coarse and vulgar habits, for to the honor to lean against, unless it be the narrow edge of the writing of the female teachers it must be said, that they are less addictdesk. It needs no prophet to foretell that coughs, consump-ed to such habits. We do not advise that female teachers tions and deformity will do more or less of their cruel work should be more extensively employed to take the sole charge upon the inmates of such rooms, through the apathy and sinful of the winter schools as they are, with all the variety of ages, |