Resident Editor's Department.

OF OURSELVES.

First, a word of apology. Our January number was tardy in making its appearance. The Resident Editor feels it due to himself to say that the fault does not lie at his door. When commenced, it was not expected to grow to a volume. But it was found that the importance of the subject it undertook to present demanded room, and the preparation and printing of so many and such pages could not be done in a day. It is believed that some of our readers will think themselves well paid for the waiting.

If we should weigh instead of counting the opinions respecting the expediency of waiting for such a number, no doubt the ayes would have it. Then the February number was pushed far into the month, by the pressure of its predecessor.

The present number has had to experience all the delays and difficulties incident to the removal from Hartford to New Britain. By putting on a little more steam we hope soon to overtake the flying months, and keep neck and neck.

And now the only apology, for the clumsiness of this apology, is that we never learnt the art of making skillful ones, remembering that a certain wise man said that one who is good at making apologies is apt to be good for nothing else. There is a deep philosophy in this saying, and we should like to preach a sermon upon it, but must here end the chapter apologetic.

Secondly, a brief request or petition. We wish all good friends of the cause in the State, whether clerical or lay, teachers or learners, to send us short, pithy, practical articles, for our pages. If you do not see them in print, it will be because better ones have taken the precedence.

Thirdly, will these friends all have a list of subscribers ready for our State Agent when he visits them?

Fourthly. If any one thinks it would be a good plan for the State to send the Journal to every School District in the State, let him express his opinion by a petition, or in some other effectual way.

Fifthly, we would here and now tender our heartfelt thanks to the Press of this State and other States for their many kind words.

WHAT IS DOING FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF SCHOOLS IN CONNECTICUT.

"Facts, facts, are what I want," says the matter-of-fact Gradgrind. That is what we propose to treat you with, Mr. Gradgrind, and not dry, cold, stiff, lifeless facts, but living, breathing, eloquent facts. In the January number we spoke of a remarkable "rural district," a district with a new well" of good water, kept good by being used all the year, with no odious rate-bill for a poor widow to pay, and with a female teacher worth thirty dollars a month. That district is located not far from the head of "sloop navigation," in West Hartford. That bright example will not be lost. The "Centre District" in the same town has caught the spirit. Substantially the same policy has been adopted by an almost unanimous vote. The school is to be continued the year round, and a tax on property has been substituted for the rate-bill. There is fact No. 1, Mr. Gradgrind.

If every district in the good old State of Connecticut should follow the example, we should have at once the best schools of any State in the Union. And this assertion is a fact, Mr. Gradgrind.

ESSEX.

This beautiful and wealthy village, together with a very limited extent of the circumjacent territory, now constitutes a town. The good people of this town have undertaken to reform their Common Schools, and they have not undertaken the work any too soon. Last summer they were obliged to close two of the school-houses, because parents would not send their children to such miserable places. They are now thoroughly convinced that something must be done. Meetings have been held for the purpose of discussing the matter, and learning something of the nature and advantages of the graded system of schools. No place in the State possesses more favorable conditions for the establishment of a fine union graded school than Essex.

In the first place all the scholars in the town can easily come to one house; in the next place, there are scholars sufficient for a good classification; then not much money will be lost by abandoning the present school-houses; and finally, the means of support are abundant, if the people are disposed to tax themselves.

GOOD NEWS FROM NEW HAVEN-THE TWO GREAT ELEMENTS ADOPTED!

New Haven has abolished the district system, and thus takes the lead in one very important particular. The schools are now managed by the

Society. The schools of New Haven are free. At a recent full meeting of the citizens, a proposition was made to re-establish the rate-bill, but it was voted down, says the Palladium, by an almost unanimous

vote.

A tax of four cents on the dollar was voted for the support of schools. In DANBURY an Educational Association has been formed for the purpose of promoting the interests of common school education in that town. In "Stony Hill" district, a new school-house has been voted, and the building committee are looking about to find the best possible plan.

NEW LONDON.

We have before us the Annual Report of the Board of Visitors of New London School Society, by the chairman, Hon. Henry P. Haven. Several encouraging facts are stated in this document.

Writing compositions is a school exercise in every district except the 16th.

The New Testament is used as a reading book in all the schools.
Colburn's Mental Arithmetic is used in every school.

A great step of improvement is this, viz: The Board have strictly required an entire conformity with books prescribed by them, and they think they may fairly trace a part of the improvement they discover in the schools, to this course of proceeding.

The Chairman thinks there is an improvement in the qualifications of those who offer themselves as instructors, and we have no doubt they will continue to increase just in proportion to the increase of compensation offered, always maintaining a rigid system of examination of candidates.

From a personal inspection of the schools of New London, we feel bound to say that they present an encouraging aspect. The teachers are faithful. In the High School, under Mr. Jennings, we witnessed some admirable exercises, especially the recitation of a large class in Greek, which was of the highest style of excellence.

New London schools have been made free,—an immense stride of progress. They now need consolidation and some better school-houses, both of which they will doubtless have with due dispatch.

NEW JERSEY REDEEMED.

Connecticut has been disposed to look upon her sister Jersey as a little behind the times in matters relating to common schools. But how does such an announcement as this sound?

The Legislature of New Jersey at the session of Jan. 1855, made an appropriation of the sum of $10,000 per year for five years, for the support of a State Normal School, exclusive of the cost of the buildings for the same."

To our ears it sounds like a note of improvement. Yet there are some who would plug up their ears, and seal up their eyes, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and their hearts should be turned to the ways of progress.

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STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

The next Semi-Annual Meeting of the Conn. State Teachers' Association, will be held in Hartford, commencing on May the 8th, at 3 o'clock P. M., and closing on the evening of the following day.

Shall we not have such a gathering of teachers as was never before known in this Commonwealth? Let every school in the State be dismissed on those days, if the teachers wish to attend. If the time were given to the teachers, the schools would be the gainers for it. Let no teacher say he cannot afford the expense. The truth is no teacher can afford to stay at home. We know some teachers who stay at home much to their disadvantage.

AGRICULTURE IN COMMON SCHOOLS.

The Legislature of Vermont at its recent session passed the following: AN ACT to encourage the study of the science of Agriculture in Common Schools.

It is hereby enacted, &c.

SECTION 1. The Governor is hereby authorized to purchase one copy of "Waring's Elements of Agriculture" for each town in the State, and draw an order on the Treasurer for the payment of the same.

SEC. 2. One of these books shall be placed in the hands of the Superintendent of Schools of each town, with instructions to examine it with regard to its merits as a school-book, and [he] shall report to the Clerk of the said town what number of copies, if any, is required for the use of the Common Schools of the said town.

SEC. 3. The legal voters of each town shall, at the next annual town meeting, vote whether or not the town shall purchase the number of books recommended by the Superintendent aforesaid, and the TownClerk shall report to the Governor of the State the result of such ballot.

SEC. 4. The Governor shall then order to be manufactured, in such style as he shall deem expedient, a sufficient number of the books to supply the demand by the aforesaid ballot, and these books shall be manufactured in the State of Vermont, and they shall be deposited with the Superintendents of schools in the various towns, and the payment therefor collected by the publisher or proprietors at their own expense.

Approved Nov. 13, 1854."

Undoubtedly the object of the above act is a laudable one. It aims to diffuse information on the subject of agriculture, a branch of industry upon the prosperity of which all others depend. There may however exist differences of opinion as to the best and most practical method of accomplishing the object. Certain it is that many of our district schools must undergo a great change for the better before the study of the science of agriculture could be introduced with any chance of success. When the schools are what they should be, a suitable book on farming might be used with profit. The two great interests of education and agriculture should be especially fostered by a wise and liberal legislation.

ITEMS.

Mrs. Emma Willard is a member of the Editors of the N. Y. Teacher.

Hon. Ira Mayhew has been elected Superintendent of Public Instruction in Michigan. Several years since he filled the same office with distinguished ability.

Prof. S. S. Greene has resigned the office of Superintendent of the Public Schools of Providence, and accepted the professorship of Natural Philosophy in Brown University.

Rev. Daniel Leach, of Roxbury, Mass., has been appointed his suc

cessor.

Amos Perry, Esq., of Providence, has been appointed Principal of the Young Ladies Public High School, which is about to be opened in New London. His salary is $1,200. Mr. Perry is an ornament and an honor to his profession. He will be a valuable acquisition to the corps of live teachers in Conn. He has had large experience in the management and instruction of schools, and has spent a considerable portion of the last three years in Europe, where he has enjoyed the best advantages of becoming well acquainted with the systems of instruction practiced in the most celebrated institutions both in Great Britain and on the Continent.