282 Use of the Bible in Schools. Resolved, That the American Lyceum regards with deep interest, the proposition of the American Sunday School Union, to publish a selection of their books of an entertaining and instructive character, such as biographies, histories, travels, &c., as a school library; and that we consider the offering of this library to families, manufacturing villages, neighborhoods and schools for introduction among them, after examination by proper persons, as happily tending to advance the interests of literature, religion and social happiness, among all classes of our citizens, (it being understood from statements made before the Lyceum, that the books comprising this library are free from sectarian peculiarities) and that we regard the proposal for thus circulating this library, as directly instrumental in preparing the way for other and still higher efforts of a kindred character.' The following resolution, offered by Mr Packard, was discussed by Messrs Smith, Johnson, Packard, Rice, Gallaudet, Graham, North, Cunningham, Parsons, Terry (the President,) Patten and Morgan, and unanimously adopted. Resolved, That the use of the Bible in our popular systems of education, as a text book of moral and religious instruction, is regarded by the Lyceum as indispensable.' Mr Hamersley of Hartford, read an essay upon the subject of an international copy right law. The following resolution was offered by Mr Ripley, which after a debate by Messrs Ripley, Hawes, Johnston and Parker, passed unanimously. 'Resolved, That the American Lyceum recommends an association of the teachers of public and private schools to be formed in every town or school society throughout the country, and that they hold regular periodical meetings for mutual instruction relative to their duties in the government, education and elevation of the character and condition of their respective schools.' A paper was read by Dr Alcott, sent from Switzerland, by Rev. Wm. C. Woodbridge, containing an account of two remarkable Sicilian Arithmeticians; after which an account was given by Mr Graham of a singular instance of premature intellectual development, in a lad eight years of age, which he had seen lately in Massachusetts. The following question proposed by the Committee of Arrangements, was discussed by Messrs Smith and Graham, and decided in the negative. Can the system of monitorial instruction be adopted with advantage in Common Schools? On motion of Mr Smith, however, the subject was reconsidered and laid on the table. It was afterwards referred to the next annual session of the Lyceum. At six o'clock this afternoon, the President and other officers, togethe Officers for the Year ensuing. 283 with the members of the Lyceum, in pursuance of an invitation from Henry Hudson, Esq., Mayor of the city, took tea at his house, and subsequently visited his garden. In the evening an Essay was read by Mr Gallaudet, sent by Rev. Wm. C. Woodbridge of Switzerland, On the Education of the Eye;' in which the introduction of Linear drawing into Common Schools, was particularly insisted on. On Thursday, the third day of the session, in addition to other subjects of more or less importance, a resolution was passed recommending it to the Lyceums and Societies here represented, to contribute such means as they may deem expedient to enable the publishing Committee of the American Lyceum, at New York, to publish the proceedings of the Lyceum or any part of them, as they may think proper, and forward the same to the said Committee. Dr Alcott, Chairman of the Committee upon the embellishment and improvement of towns and villages, read a Report, which was accepted and approved, unanimously. The following resolution was offered, and referred to the next annual meeting of the Lyceum. Resolved, That it is highly desirable and important that this Lyceum employ one or more agents, for the purposes of organizing State, County, and local Lyceums in different parts of the country, and visiting schools, and of collecting and diffusing information on the subject of popular education. Resolved, That a Committee of be appointed, with authority to employ, in behalf of the American Lyceum, such number of agents, as they may deem proper, for the purposes specified in the preceding resolution, at such salaries as shall be agreed upon; but no agent shall himself collect. And said agents are hereby authorized to solicit contributions in the name of the Lyceum. It shall be the duty of each agent to make report to the Executive Committee, at least once in six months. Mr Brace of Hartford, chairman of the Committee of nomination, reported a list of officers of the Lyceum for the ensuing year, which was accepted, and the officers were afterwards duly appointed. They are as follows. President, Wm. A. Duer, New York. Vice Presidents. G. W. Ridgely, Penn.; Edward Everett, Mass.; Peter W. Radcliff, New York; John Griscom, Penn.; Nathaniel Terry, Conn.; and Theodore Frelinghuysen, New Jersey. Recording Secretary, Robert G. Rankin, New York. 284 Duties of School Committees. Corresponding Secretaries. Theodore Dwight, Jr. New York; F. A. Packard, Phil.; J. L. Comstock, Hartford; John P. Brace, do.; Wm. A. Clayton, Athens, Geo.; J. M. Sturtevant, Illinois; Wm. C. Woodbridge, Switzerland; Alva Woods, Alabama; James M. Garnett, Virginia; Charles Goddard, Zanesville, Ohio; James M. Alexander, N. J.; and Prof. A. W. Smith, Conn. Additional Members of the Executive Committee.-Dr J. S. Rogers, N. Y.; James M. Donaldson, do.; G. P. Disosway, do.; A. P. Halsey, Brooklyn; Thomas H. Gallaudet, Hartford; and Lemuel H. Parsons, and J. Holbrook, Pennsylvania. The next annual meeting of the American Lyceum is to be held at Newark, New Jersey. DUTIES OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES. The following are extracts from a late law which was passed by the Legislature of Massachusetts, respecting schools, and especially the duties of School Committees. The School Committees shall annually make a detailed report of the condition of the several public schools in their respective towns, designating particular improvements and defects in the method or means of education, and stating such facts and suggestions in relation thereto as in their opinion will best promote the interest and usefulness of said schools; which report shall be read in open town meeting, in February, March or April in each year, or be printed and distributed for the use of the inhabitants. The School Committees shall select and contract with the teachers for the town and district schools; provided, however, that the teachers may be selected, and contracted with, by the prudential committees as heretofore, whenever the town shall so determine. The School Committee in each town shall be provided with a Record book, in which all votes, orders and proceedings of the committee shall be duly recorded, and said record shall be delivered over by the committees at the expiration of the year, to their successors in office. The members of the School Committees, except in the city of Boston, shall be paid by their respective towns one dollar each per day for the time they shall be actually employed in discharging the duties of their office, together with such additional compensation as the town may allow. The Board of Education shall prescribe a blank form of a Register to be kept in all the town and district schools in the commonwealth, and the Secretary of State shall forward a sufficient number of copies of the same to the school committees of the respective towns; and said committees shall cause Registers to be faithfully kept in all said schools according to the form prescribed.' Common School Papers. CONNECTICUT REDEEMED! 285 So say the political papers; but with how much more of truth might it be so said, were her Common Schools what they should be! There is, however, one redeeming fact which has lately come to our ears. Α female teacher, in the town of Bristol, in that State, has received, during the past winter, thirteen dollars a month and her board, for her services! We have known many an experienced female teacher employed there during the winter, for five and even four dollars a month and her board; and never before knew one receive over eight. Males are often employed for the latter sum and even for less. COMMON SCHOOL PAPERS. These are becoming quite numerous. Ohio has three, and another is proposed. Illinois has one. Michigan has one, or is about to have. New York has one. One is proposed in Maine, and one in Pennsylvania. Of late, also, one has been proposed in Massachusetts; to be called the Common School Journal;' and to be edited by Horace Mann, Secretary of the Board of Education, and published by Marsh, Capen & Lyon. We can scarcely have too many of these journals, provided they are conducted in the right spirit, by judicious men, and for right purposes. But if they are designed, as we fear some of them are, such, for example, as the Common School Advocate, of Cincinnati, chiefly to 'puff' or 'sell' certain books, or accomplish certain local purposes, they will be of little service, in the end—perhaps a nuisance. The prospectus of the Common School Journal, has the following language respecting its objects and intentions. We like its promises; and we hope they will be most scrupulously performed. 'The great object of the work will be the improvement of COMMON SCHOOLS, and other means of Popular Education. It is also intended to make it a depository of the Laws of the Commonwealth in relation to Schools, and of the Reports, Proceedings, &c., of the Massachusetts BOARD OF EDUCATION. As the documents of that Board will have a general interest, they ought to be widely diffused, and permanently preserved. 'It will not be so much the object of the work to discover, as to diffuse knowledge. In this age and country, the difficulty is, not so much that but few things on the subject of education are known, as it is that few persons know them. Many parents and teachers, not at all deficient in good sense, and abounding in good feelings and good purposes, fail only from want of information how to expand and cherish the infantile and juvenile mind; and hence they ruin children through love unguided by wisdom. It should therefore be the first effort of all friends 286 School Convention at Marietta." of education to make that which is now known to any, as far as possible, known to all. THE PERIODICAL PRESS, GENERALLY. The Religious Magazine, the Mercantile Journal, and perhaps a few other papers of this city, frequently contain important articles in the department of education. The Lady's Book seems to be going over to the side of fashion and frivolity; though a solid article occasionally appears, even in this. Most of the business papers of Boston and other places, though they are still behind in this matter, are yielding to the popular demand, and slowly coming up to the great cause of human education and improvement. SCHOOL CONVENTION AT MARIETTA, OHIO. The semi-annual meeting of the Washington County School Association, was held at Marietta, on the first and second days of May; and appears from the account given in the Marietta Gazette, to have been well attended. The subjects of Corporal Punishment, Emulation and Legislative Aid in raising the standard of the qualifications of teachers was fully and freely discussed, as well as several other exceeningly important topics. Reports were also presented and accepted, on Physiology as a branch of Common School Instruction, by Dr S. Fuller, and on the best method of teaching English Grammar, by L. Tenney. An address was delivered on the use of the Bible in our Common Schools, by Prof. Jewett ; and another on the subject of Education, more generally, by Samuel Lewis, Esq., the State Superintendent. Resolutions were passed for the appointment of committees to report on State Institutions for the education of Common School Teachers, on School Libraries, on improvements in Common Schools, and on a Periodical for Schools; and committees on all those subjects, respectively, were appointed, with directions to report at the next meeting, which is to be held at Belpre, on the first Tuesday of November next. The following resolution was adopted. Resolved, That in the opinion of this Association, a firm and salutary discipline may ordinarily be maintained in our schools, by the skilful employment of moral suasion; and that the teacher should resort to corporal punishment only in cases of extremity, and when all other proper modes of influencing the pupil, have failed of success. |