Western Literary Institute.

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MISCELLANY.

WESTERN LIterary Institute.

The Sixth Annual Meeting of the Western Literary Institute and College of Professional Teachers, was convened at Cincinnati on Monday, the 3d of October last, and continued in session the whole week. From a pamphlet of nearly forty pages, containing a full account of the proceedings of this meeting, we have made the following abstract.

The number of members of the Institute, is 222; six of whom are life members. They are from most of the Western and South Western States. The attendance on the present occasion was respectable.

Lectures and addresses were delivered during the session, as follows: "On the proposition that a system of Universal Education is not only desirable but practicable;" by the Rev. J. L. Wilson. This was the introductory Lecture; "On the Philosophy of the Mind," by the Right Rev. Bishop Purcell; "On the difficulties in the management of Colleges, and the manner in which these difficulties may be met," by the Rev. R. H. Bishop.-An Essay was read by a member of the Institute, "On Female Patriotism," written by Mrs L. H. Sigourney, of Hartford, Conn.-"On the present inefficient and superficial modes of Instruction," by John D. Craig, of Cincinnati; "On the importance of uniting the moral, with the intellectual culture of the Mind," by Rev. Alexander Campbell, of Bethany, Virginia; "On the qualifications of Teachers," by Edward D. Mansfield, Cincinnati; "On the necessity and importance of Education," by Pres. Stephen H. Montgomery; "On Popular Education," by Dr J. P. Harrison, of Cincinnati; "On the claims of Phrenology to the attention of Teachers," by Thomas Sim, Jr. There was also an Address, on some subject not mentioned in the proceedings, by Albert Picket, Sen. of Cincinnati. Extended and valuable reports were also read by the Chairmen of Committees previously appointed for the purpose, on the following topics: "On the causes of the fluctuation of Schools; the evils and their remedies," by Samuel Lewis, of Cincinnati; on the question, "Ought Agriculture to be made a branch of Common School Education?" by Dr Slack; "What is the best method of prosecuting the study of the Bible in Schools," by Dr Aydelott; "Ought the vacations in Colleges to be so arranged as to accommodate such students as may wish to teach school during a part of each year?" by Prof. Nutting, of the Western Reserve College; "Ought Manual Labor to be introduced as a means of reducing the expenses of a Collegiate Education; and

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Discussions and Resolutions.

should the engaging in such labor extend to all the students or should it be optional;" by M. G. Willians; "On the most efficient method of conducting Examinations;" by Prof. Wm. H. McGuffey; "Can the reading of fictitious compositions be rendered beneficial to students ?" by Alexander Kinmont, of Cincinnati; "On the means of exciting the community on the subject of Education," by O. L. Leonard, of Kentucky; "On Book Keeping," by E. Stone; "On the publication of a Periodical," by D. L. Talbott; "On the best method of reaching and animating the community on the subject of Education," by N. Holley ; "On the utility of Cabinets of Natural Science as a means of education," by Joseph Ray ; and "On the study of Anatomy and Physiology as a branch of Common School Education," by Dr Daniel Drake, of Cincinnati. Nearly all of these reports were accepted.

Animated discussions were also held on many of the topics of the Lectures and Reports; particularly on the study of the Bible in Schools; and on the introduction of new subjects of study for classes, as Agriculture, Anatomy and Physiology, &c.

Various Resolutions were also adopted, among which we notice the following:

"Resolved, That it be made the duty of every member of the Western Literary Institute, to promote the calling of Educational Conventions in their several districts, for the formation of Associations of Teachers, and other friends of Education.”

"Resolved, That it is expedient and proper that Anatomy and Physiology should, to a certain extent, be made a branch of a general elementary Education in our High Schools, Colleges and Universities."

"That to afford time in such of the latter as have a fixed term and course of studies, some of the branches of literature and science now taught, should (if necessary) be abridged."

"Resolved, That this College believe the formation of Library Associations, and the establishment of a Library in every township in the Western States, would greatly promote the cause of learning, and the moral habits of the young."

We notice, also, a resolution in regard to a Periodical; and another, directing the Executive Committee of the Society to offer a premium of $100, or a gold medal, to the best essay on the maxim that "Knowledge is power"-"competition being open to all friends of education in any part of the United States."

We regret the want of space for the insertion, at full length, of more of the proceedings of this Institute; though we are glad to learn that all its most valuable transactions are to be published, as heretofore, in a volume. We have only room to add the following list of interesting subjects, on which committees are appointed to report at the next annual meeting.

Subjects for Reports.

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1. What branches now taught in our Colleges (if any) should be abridged, to afford time for the study of Anatomy and Physiology?

2. Should the examinations of Schools and Colleges be public or private?

3. On the advantages of having the vacations in Colleges so arranged as to afford time to the students to employ at least three consecutive months in teaching.

4. On Boarding Schools; their advantages and disadvantages.

5. On Domestic Education.

6. What effect on Education has the present great number of Text and School Books in our country?

7. On the best method of classifying pupils, and arranging the studies to be pursued in Common Schools.

8. On the most efficient means of exercising and educating the moral sense of students.

9. What branches of elementary instruction are appropriate to each of the sexes.

10. On Physical Education.

11. On the introduction of the study of Criminal and Constitutional Law into our Literary Institutions.

12. On the best method of diffusing Education in the Southwestern States and Territories.

19. On the causes which conspired in the revival of Literature.

14. On a philosophical classification of all Science.

15. On the expediency of introducing selections from the Bible, instead of the Bible itself, into our Schools.

16. Whether Infant Schools ought to be constituted rather with a reference to Moral than Intellectual culture.

17. On the best means of early Mental Culture.

18. On the beneficial influence of Sunday School Instruction upon the pupils in Common Schools.

19. On the present state of the science of Arithmetic as a branch of Education.

20. On the present state of the science of Modern Geography as a branch of Education.

21. On the present state of the science of English Grammar.

22. On the present state of the History of the United States.

23. On the present state of the science of Geometry as a branch of Education.

24. On the present state of the Practical Mathematics as a branch of Education.

25. To enquire into the extent to which Linear Drawing may be taught in Common Schools.

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Teachers' Convention in Keene, N. H.

26. On the expediency of making the course of Instruction in Common Schools so ample and various as to meet the wants of all classes of citizens.

27. On the practicability and importance of creating departments in our State Governments, having the subject of Public Instruction under their immediate supervision.

28. On the mutual relation of Trustees and Faculties in Literary Institutions, and the peculiar province, right and duties of each.

29. On the importance of Civil Engineering, as a branch of Collegiate Education.

30. On Vocal Music as a branch of Common School Education. 31. On the causes of the idle habits of Pupils in the Class room, and a remedy for the same.

TEACHERS' CONVENTION IN KEENE, N. H.

A County Convention of Teachers was held at Keene, N. H. on the 18th of Nov. last, during which a permanent Association was formed under the name of "The Cheshire County Association of Common School Teachers, and other friends of Education.”

During the progress of this meeting, resolutions were also adopted, recommending the general formation of County Associations of Teachers and other friends of Education; and of Town Associations of Teachers, during the season of schools, for the mutual improvement of teachers. The latter is a measure of great importance, and we are glad to know that measures were taken for carrying it into effect. It was also resolved, and with equal propriety — "that in order to raise the character of our schools and teachers, a social intercourse should be kept up between parents and teachers ;" and that "during the season of schools, it is the duty of teachers to give their whole attention to their avocation."

It is a common apology among teachers- at least to their own consciences for neglecting to devote themselves entirely to their schools, that they are not paid for their whole services; that they more than render an equivalent for their scanty wages during the six regular hours of the day; and that the rest of the time is lawfully and properly their own. This view may be correct; and the consequent course which is taken may be lawful, but is it expedient? Are not teachers required, as Christians, if not as merely moral men or as patriots, to make the sacrifice of devoting all their hours, for the time being, to their schools? Several other resolutions were adopted at Keene; but some of them were of a local if not a doubtful nature and tendency. The convention is to meet annually on the second Tuesday in November.

Schools in Brooklyn, N. Y.

COMMON SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK.

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Great efforts have been making, in the State of New York, for some time past, for the improvement of common schools. In this work, the Common School Assistant, a cheap paper published at Albany, has had a very efficient agency. From 20,000 to 30,000 copies of it are circulated monthly, of which 1,000 are for a single county.

One prominent object of this paper, of the friends of education generally in that state, has been to encourage county and town associations of Teachers and others, to consult on the appropriate means of awakening an attention to common schools, and of elevating their character. Another object has been to secure agents in each county to diffuse information by lectures, and by circulating the Common School Assistant. Both these objects have been to some extent secured. We observe that teachers' meetings are becoming more frequent in that State as well as elsewhere, and that a few lecturers are already in employ.

The zeal which is thus awakened and excited needs to be wisely directed in order to accomplish the best and most permanent results. But zeal we must have — and enthusiasm too— in a cause so neglected as that of common school education, even at the risk of having a portion of it unaccompanied with just knowledge and discretion.

ESSEX COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS.

The annual meeting of this Association took place early in December last, and continued two days as usual. Rev. Theodore Edson, of Lowell, delivered a lecture" on the comparative merits of Public and Private Schools. Dr D. Perley, of Lynn, gave one on "Grammar." Lectures were also given by Rev. G. B. Perry, of Bradford, and Rev Samuel Wood, of London. The time not taken up with lectures was spent in the discussion of various subjects connected with schools and teachers.

SCHOOLS IN BROOKLYN, N. Y.

We have received a pamphlet from a friend of education in Brook lyn, New York, from which we are happy to learn that strong efforts are making to raise the character of common schools in that city. In June last, a Public School Society was formed for the promotion of this object. The pamphlet sent us contains an address by that society to the citizens of Brooklyn, with its constitution, by laws, &c. Appended to the proceedings of the Society, we find also the report to the Superintendent in relation to the state and conditions of the schools for