328 Moral Effects of Music in Schools. 5. Children's voices are incapable of singing tenor or bass. They may, however, if considerably advanced, sing a second; but, in general, in children's singing schools, no more than one part should be attempted. Tunes or songs are sung for the purposes of cultivating the ear, bringing out the voice, acquiring a correct articulation, and for the pleasure and variety they afford the children—and not for the purpose of teaching them elementary principles. Only one part is usually sung in the German schools, or in Boston. 6. None. Such a description, though it would be interesting in an anatomical point of view, would, perhaps, be of no musical advantage. It is highly important, however, that teachers should understand how delicate are the organs of sound, and how easily injured. Children should never be allowed to make great exertions, or to sing very high or very low; or for so long a time at once, as to become much fatigued. In general, 30 to 50 minutes is long enough for a lesson.' It may be interesting to many of our readers to know that Mr Mason is now publishing a set of lessons on large sheetsdesigned to be hung up in the school room, for the use of a class. They will be done in about two months, and will save much labor of the teacher. We are exceedingly glad that this subject of vocal music in schools is being agitated so extensively in this country. The result cannot be otherwise than highly favorable in every point of view; but especially the moral results. We do not believe there is a school to be found, where the experiment has been fairly tried, in which the teacher has not been struck with its excellent moral influence. We hope it will soon be as common as arithmetic or geography are; and taught as scientifically and as thoroughly. School Rooms. 329 MISCELLANY. MISERABLE SCHOOL ROOMS. We must be permitted to advert frequently to the subject of school rooms, for it is admitted, on all hands, to be one of great importance. Every fact which discloses to us, in any measure, their present condition, confirms this conclusion. The following is an extract from the printed report of the Schoo! Committee of the town of Scituate, Mass. The report is one of much interest, and was probably drawn up by the Chairman of the Committee, Rev. Samuel J. May. 'It is with great regret we give it as our opinion that most of our school houses are such, or in such a condition, that the children, when assembled in them, have not been well situated for the purpose of either mental or moral improvement. Not more than two or three of the whole number are large enough to accommodate so many as have been usually gathered in them. Most of them are much too small every way. So small are some of them, that the scholars could not all be seated without crowding one another - nor move out of their seats, without serious interfer ence. 'Not half our school houses are 20 feet square. Only two of them are as much as 24 feet square. One of them is a little more than 9 feet high. Few of the rest are as much as 8 feet. In rooms so small, thirty, orty, fifty, and even sixty children have been brought together, and there kept three hours each half day, with intermissions of only five or ten minutes. "The air, embraced within the walls of rooms of such dimensions, would be exhausted of its life-giving properties, by the breathing of thirty or forty children, in a few minutes; and had it not been for the little fresh air which has pressed in through the cracks and crevices, suspension, if not extinction of life would have ensued. Because such disasters have not happened, you are not to take it for granted that your children have incurred no evil. Although they may not have fainted or died, they have been compelled to suffer lassitude, or nausea, or headache, for the want of a proper ventilation of our school rooms. Go and open the door of one of these school rooms, after the inmates have ocpied it an hour, and you will need no arguments we can adduce, to convince you that it is a most unsuitable place for beings whose com fortable existence depends at all upon pure air.' 330 The Pennsylvania Schools. EDUCATION IN PENNSYLVANIA. The Fourth Annual Report on the Common Schools, Academies and Colleges of Pennsylvania, by Mr Burrowes, the Superintendent, is a document of great interest, (says the Sunday School Journal) prepared with great labor and care. It shows that the system of common schools which went into operation three years ago, was ski.fully devised, and will fulfil the best wishes of its advocates. In addition to the primary and secondary common schools, the superintendent recommends institutes for the education of teachers, which would elevate the profession in efficiency and respectability. We were much impressed by the liberal views of this functionary in regard to the profession of teaching. He would have teachers liberally paid; and aims to place their profession among the most honorable in the community. Instead of fixing a maximum compensation which the pay of teachers should not exceed, he advises the Directors of the schools to establish, by all means, a respectable minimum, less than which they should not in any case give the teacher of a full primary district." The Report contains the following just sentiments on an evil we have long perceived, and have wished for a remedy. A most unjust difference prevails, in some counties, between the salaries of male and female teachers. The latter, though possessing equal, if not superior qualifications, are generally forced to be content with a third of the amount paid the former. This should not be. The fact is undeniable, that in the same number of male and female teachers, the greater portion of incompetency will be found among the males. The whole number of districts (townships, boroughs and wards) in the State, exclusive of the city and county of Philadelphia, and the city of Lancaster, as near as can be ascertained, is now 1,001; of these, 765 have accepted the terms of the law, and either have schools actually established under the system, or are providing for them. There were 4,089 primary schools taught in the districts which had made reports. The average number of scholars in each was about 42, the whole number taught during the year 182,355, at an average cost of 42 1-2 cents per month for each pupil. The whole number of young persons between five and fifteen years of age in the districts reported, is supposed to be about 200,000. $387,552 76, exclusive of $89,536 51 to Philadelphia, have been paid to the districts for the year. Upon the recommendation of the superintendent, appropriations have been made for ten years to the colleges and academies in the State:$1000 per annum to each college, having four professors and one hundred students; and $500 and $300 per annum, to the academies, according to the number of teachers and pupils. In the State are eight colleges in operation having 790 students. School Childrens' Associations. 331 'As much money,' says the zealous superintendent, as would annually construct half a mile of railroad, given each year to the colleges, and the cost of only one mile of canal, to the academies, will place both on a foundation of permanent security and usefulness. Will Pennsylvania rather increase her wealth, than educate her sons? She has shown, in her munificence to the common school system, that she will not.' EDUCATOR'S INSTITUTE, FRANKLIN. The semi-annual meeting of this Society was held at Franklin, on the 23d of May last, at which seven individuals were admitted to the society as qualified to instruct an English School, according to the requirements of the State. An address was given by the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education, and several honorary members admitted, &c. It was also voted by the Society to send a copy of the following questions to each of its members within the distance of thirty miles, with a request that an answer, at length, in writing, to at least one of the questions, be transmitted to the Corresponding Secretary, at, or before the next regular meeting; which we believe will be the last Wednesday of September next. 1. Have you been engaged in teaching, and if so, where, how long, &c.? 2. What are the chief discouragements and encouragements at present to the educator ? 3. How can parents be made interested in the success of their schools? 4. How can scholars be interested in their studies? 5. How can the teacher become interested in the good progress of his pupils ? 6. Ought emulation in any form to be encouraged? 7. Is compulsion to study, or the learning of tasks, favorable in a moral point of view? 8. Can you suggest any improvement in the teaching of the Alphabet, of Reading, of Writing, of Spelling, of Geography, of Grammar, of Arithmetic? 9. To what extent, and in what manner, ought the Bible, to be made a text book in common schools? VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN. The Annual Report of the School Committee of Portland, for the year ending with March 1838, has been received. It is, as usual, full of interest. We are glad to find these reports so full; and that they point out defects as well as excellencies. We notice in the report, an account of the formation, among the scholars of one of the schools, of an Antiswearing Society. Great as is our abhorrence of this vice, and greatly in favor, as we are, of voluntary associations to put down great national 332 Making Children Happy. sins, we have many doubts of the propriety of encouraging, as the Portland School Committee do, the formation of associations of the kind among the children of Common Schools. CONNECTICUT REDEEMED. This was the title of a brief article in our last number, but it is still more appropriate as a caption to the following paragraph from the Connecticut Observer, of Hartford.-We understand that the Bill referred to, passed the Senate with almost as much of unanimity as it did the House of Representatives. "The Bill creating a Board of Commissioners for Common Schools, passed the House with only one dissenting voice. The bill provides for the appointment of eight persons, one from each County, who in connection with the Governor, shall constitute a "Board of Commissioners of Common Schools." This Board is to report annually to the legislature the condition of every Common School in the State, the means of popular education generally, and to suggest such plans for the improvement of common schools, and for promoting popular education, as they shall deem expedient. To enable them the better to discharge their duties, the Board are authorized to appoint a Secretary, who shall devote his whole time, if required, to ascertain the condition, increase the interest, and promote the usefulness of Common Schools, and who shall be cornsated for his services from the Treasury of the State.' GRAND RIVER INSTITUTE. This institution is located in a pleasant and healthful situation, in Austinburg, Ashtabula County, Ohio. There is belonging to it an excellent farm of 225 acres; one half, at least, of which is under good improvement, and furnishes to the students opportunities for labor in the different departments of agriculture. Students are expected to labor, when the weather will admit, not less than three, nor more than four hours daily; and are compensated according to their power, skill, and industry. Convenient situations for prosecuting different branches of mechanical labor are also furnished to such as are accustomed to the use of tools, and it is designed that the facilities and advantages of an efficient manual labor system shall be rapidly and constantly increasing. The objects of the institution are mainly to assist in training young men for the gospel ministry, and to benefit mankiud by preparing any who enjoy its privileges for vigorous and healthful action upon the mass of mind around them. The building of the Institute will accommodate 75 students. Tuition $15 a year. Board, exclusive of washing, about $1,00 to $1,25, |