1834.] Teacher's Almanac for October. 477 descriptive; if oral, it mimicked sounds, if written, it drew pictures. Mankind at once saw the power of these representations, and as the readiest and most effectual mode of communicating their ideas, copied, as well as they could, the objects of their knowledge. This was a natural language, and though it was superseded by the invention of letters, and artificial language, still the effect of paintings and drawings has never in any age been overlooked. As the arts have advanced, pictures have been multiplied; and as no one till recently seems to have doubted their utility, their introduction into books has kept pace with the progress of the arts. The recent invention of lithography has resulted in an immense improvement in the art of sketching, and this, in connection with the great progress made in the art of wood-engraving, rendering it a cheap and beautiful style of illustration, has led to the present state of the picture system, of which some persons complain. To many, it may appear incredible that the utility of pictures in instruction is seriously controverted; but such is the fact. It is so obvious to most minds, that a good picture of a lion, a tiger, or giraffe, will give more clear and vivid ideas than volumes of written description, that it seems absurd to condemn their use in books, particularly in books for youth. Still, such condemnation, with greater or less reserve, has been uttered by persons, who consider their opinions worthy of respectful consideration, and it shall be met with a more full reply when your limits will permit. Y. THE TEACHER'S ALMANAC FOR OCTOBER. THE SCHOOL ROOM. THE languid heats of summer, and the unhealthy period of autumn, are now past; and the temperature and the air are calculated to revive the vigor of body and mind. In those schools whose vacations are already past, the labors of the winter may now be commenced with energy and success. But in order to secure these to the full extent, ample time must be given to active sports, and provision must be made, by rendering the school-room tight and comfortable, and preparing fuel for days which render fire necessary, to prevent that chill of body, and chattering of teeth, which impair cheerfulness, or take away the power of mental activity. To require study from pupils in this condition is tyranny; and nothing is more absurd than to regulate the period of fires by the almanac, instead of attending to the temperature of the air, or the state of the body. Many an autumnal fever, and many a winter's cough, may be traced to ridiculous precision, or mistaken economy on this subject. Nor is such a course always without moral influence. Dr Combe remarks with great justice and sarcasm, What advances in morals and religion can be expected under the charge of one, who says, “ Do unto others as you would be done by," and then leaves his dependants (pupils) to suffer pain, chilblaius, and disease, for want of fire to warm the room in which 478 Teacher's Almanac for October. [Oct. they sit; he, himself coming into it with features flushed by the heat of the blazing fire which, for weeks, has been provided for comfort in his own apartment?' In a large number of our schools, this is a period of recess. Let their teachers employ this favorable season in gaining vigor of body for their winter's labors, and in laying up a store of instruction and amusement for their pupils, by careful observation of the scenes and events which pass under their notice; and when this point is effected, let them be diligent in preparing to teach well, all that they attempt to teach. THE EARTH. It is the month of the fall of the leaf; the foliage which was the ornament and shelter of the trees in the heat of summer, is now about to drop as a useless incumbrance, to allow the more free access of the sun to their trunks and branches. In this, as in every change of nature, the kindness of the Creator has not forgotten to provide pleasures for the eye; and the very pall-bearers of the year, are adorned with the gayest and most beautiful livery. It is a simple and easy branch of the observation of nature, with children, to collect the leaves of plants and trees, and dry them in folds, or books of wrapping paper; and it would be no small addition to the interest of such a collection, if you could induce your pupils to gather those of each tree as they are fading, with each successive change, till they reach that skeleton state, which is often produced by the decay of winter. THE HEAVENS. Aquarius is the sign of the Zodiac on the meridian at nine o'clock in the evening, during this month. Four stars forming the letter Y, are the only ones which can be distinctly pointed out, without examination of the map. Immediately beneath them is the Southern Fish. The most beautiful star in it is Fomalhaut, which is much used by navigators to find their longitude at sea. East of the Swan and the Dolphin, four remarkable stars, in the figure of a square, will now become conspicuous, which form part of the constellation of Pegasus, or the flying horse. The two eastern stars mark the equinoctial colure which is the first meridian of the heavens. Venus is performing her last duty as the evening star, during this month. and will appear most brilliant at its close. Herschel will be on the meridian in the course of the evenings of October. Let your pupils still keep up the habit of observing the progress of the sun by the shadows at its rising, noon, and setting. Above all, let them not forget Him who appoints the passing seasons in regular succession, and let them read if they do not learn, the beautiful hymn of Thompson, whose first lines ought to be written on our hearts; These, as they change, Ahnighty Father! these, Is full of thee! 1834.] Education of Teachers. 479 MISCELLANY. ADDRESSES ON EDUCATION. Ir is gratifying to see the increasing number of addresses and reports on the subject of education, in the various parts of our country. We have been recently favored with the addresses of the Rev. Stephen Olin, president of Randolph Macon college; the lecture of Dr Drake before the literary convention of Kentucky, on the Importance of Literary and Social concert in the valley of the Mississippi;' Mr Grimke's address 'on the value and power of the Sunday School System;' Mr Key's oration at Bristol college on 'The power of literature in its connection with religion;' Mr Clarke's poem on "The past and the present,' delivered at the same institution; the Inaugural address of Pres. Babcocks'; a Sketch of the Oneida Institute; a spirited report of the Buck's County Society, for the advancement of general education, and several interesting accounts of private institutions. All of them contain much which we wish we could present to our readers, but the extent of our general subject, and the narrow limits to which we are confined, and the necessity of providing something for the various classes of our readers, compels us to pass them by for the present, with only this notice. They well deserve the attention of those who have the opportunity of perusing them. TEACHERS' COURSE AT HOFWYL. Recent letters from Switzerland informed us that the course of instruction for teachers was in successful progress, and that instruction was given in Religion, Language, Chirography, Linear Drawing, Arithmetic, Geometry, the elements of Philosophy, Chemistry, and Natural History, Geography, the History of Switzerland, Agriculture, and Music. Teachers were received and taught gratuitously, and assistance was afforded to the families of those who were indigent. More than a hundred teachers were in attendance. We regret to find that the institution established by the state is continued under the direction of a person not experienced in teaching, and whose instructions have met with great disapprobation from most of those who heard them. It appears that the number of teachers who frequent it is small. From public documents we find that Fellenberg was appointed president of the republic of Berne, but has now retired from the office, in order to devote himself exclusively to Hofwyl and the cause of education. We are not surprised that views so extensive and elevated as his, should not meet with sympathy and encouragement in a canton, where the pride of the aristocracy, and the prejudices of an uncultivated people, are equally unfriendly to enlarged views of improvement. Such has ever been the fate of reformers. MARIETTA COLlegiate InstiTUTE AND WESTERN TEACHERS' SEMINARY. This institution, which was briefly described in our last years' volume, is now under the care of four Professors; and if we may judge from the 'First Annual Report,' with which we have recently been favored, is flourishing. It is in three distinct departments; a Preparatory, a Teachers', and a Collegiate Department. The whole number of scholars who have 480 Baltimore Union Lyceum. [Oct. been entered, in all the Departments, during the past year, is 110; of whom 93 were members at the close of the second term. A farm of sixty or seventy acres is attached to the establishment, for the agricultural labor of the students, and two work shops for those who prefer mechanical labor. One of these 100 feet long is adapted to the coopering business, and will accommodate 30 students. The other shop is for such mechanical labor as the student prefers. It is three stories high, and will accommodate a considerable number. Those who labor in the cooper's shop have their timber and tools found them, and receive half the avails of their merchandise. Those who labor in the other shop, furnish their own tools and timber, and have the entire avails of their labor. These shops are under the direction of suitable persons, who aid, as far as is necessary, those who work in them. During the past year, 44 students have engaged, more or less in manual labor, and the average amount of their earnings for the time they have been employed, is a fraction over six cents an hour. The result of the experience of this Institution, thus far, is, that three hours labor a day, will not impede the literary progress of the student. BALTIMORE UNION LYCEUM. We have collected from the Baltimore, Charlestown, and other papers, the following account of this interesting Institution. It is divided into twelve branches or ward Lyceums, and these into departments, such as ladies', mothers', teachers', apprentices,' and seamens' lyceums. These last are again subdivided into classes. One of the most useful departments, it is thought, will be the ladies' lyceums, in their operations for the improvement of girls who are now, to a lamentable extent, acquiring bad habits in the schools which they attend. One of the first steps contemplated is to ascertain what number of children there are in the city who do not attend school, the causes of their neglect, the best methods of bringing them within the pale of their instruction, what instruction they most need, &c. The plan of instruction about to be commenced by the ladies, is to establish weekly schools, in which needle-work will be particularly attended to by all the girls, together with reading, writing, and such other studies as their age or other circumstances may render proper. A few schools for adult females, where they are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, are already in operation; and more it is expected, will be commenced, after the present season. The Curators of the Baltimore Union Lyceum, are about making arrangements, on the one hand, for securing the efforts of the schools, in collecting specimens of Natural History: and, on the other, for exchanging them and other specimens, with similar societies. The Board are about to assign the subject of Natural History to three or four of their nnmber, whose special duty it will be to collect and exchange specimens, or rather to put the schools in the way to do it. All the labor, both of collecting and exchanging, can be done by lads, aided, in some of the specimens, by the misses in the schools. In the room of the society there are, at present, several thousand geological specimens, collected principally by the boys in some of the schools. It is gratifying to see Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Quakers, Lutherans, and Catholics, all engaged in efforts to promote the same object. 1834.] Manual Labor. Education in the West. 481 WORCESTER MANUAL LABOR SCHOOL. This institution appears to be flourishing. The examination at the close of the first term is represented to have been highly satisfactory. Mr Bailey, late a member of Brown University is the teacher. The second term is about to commence under favorable auspices. EDUCATION IN MISSOURI. Within a few months past, there have been several interesting movements among the people in several counties in Missouri, in favor of Education and common schools. Several associations have been organised, and among the rest, at a meeting of citizens, at Loutre Island Academy, on the fourth of July, one by the name of the Loutre Island Education Society. The object of this Society, as we perceive from their constitution, is 'to take into consideration the best method of teaching, and to seek out and circulate information upon this subject.' They are to meet quarterly. At the meeting abovementioned, among several important resolutions passed, were several which contemplate the appointment of delegates from the society to visit various literary institutions; meetings of citizens in different parts of Warren county, on the subject of education; and the adoption of measures by the several counties in the state for the formation of a state society. MOVEMENTS IN ILLINOIS. It is stated in the Pioneer and Western Baptist that most of the candidates for the legislature, during the late contest in Illinois, have come out decidedly and unequivocally in favor of a system of common schools. From this circumstance the editor of the Pioneer concludes that something efficient will be done at the next session. We hope that time will show his expectations to be well founded. We observe also in another number of the same spirited paper, a communication from Mr Holbrook, on the subject of lyceums and lyceum seminaries, and recommending an education convention to be held throughout the Union, on the first Wednesday of November next. In pursuance of the general train of remark of Mr Holbrook, the editor suggests the importance of a State Education Convention at Vandalia, the first Friday of December next; which is also the time for the annual meeting of the Illinois Institute of Education. PETERBORO' MANUAL LABOR SCHOOL. This is an institution for young men of color, established at Peterborough, Madison County, N. Y. by Gerrit Smith, Esq. It originated in the belief that it is the duty of the whites to elevate the condition and character of the colored people, and is intended to afford advantages for obtaining either a good common or a classical education. The teacher is Mr C. Grant, formerly Principal of Whitesborough Academy. Mr Smith provides, at his own expense, instructors, books, stationary, rooms, bedding, fuel, lights, and boarding; as a partial compensation for which the student is expected to labor four hours, daily, in some agricultural or mechanical employment. Labor is estimated at about twelve and a half cents a day, upon the average, for each student. The student furnishes his own clothing. The living of the pupils is very plain. Neither tea nor coffee is allowed them, and they have meat but once a day. They sleep on mattresses of |