should essentially interfere with this institution, or should fail to extend its blessings and advantages, I should deem injurious to the State, and the cause of humanity."

While we approve of the design and objects of this Institution, and hope it will receive the legislative aid which it needs, we must confess that we cannot see the wisdom of the policy which would expend thousands in taking care of one or two hundred unruly boys, for only hundreds to provide such teachers as would in a great measure do away with the necessity of such reformatory means. We say, let not the cure be neglected, but let the prevention be much more attended to. The only way to make our jails and prisons and reformatory institutions useless, is to make our schools in every nook and corner of the State what they should be, especially by supplying them with good teachers.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.

One Institute at least will be held in each County, during the months of October and November. Each Institute will commence on Monday evening, and close on the evening of the following Friday. It is important that the places of holding the Institutes should be appointed at an early day, so that the arrangements may be thoroughly matured.

It is desirable that these Institutes be held in such places as

1. Are convenient of access.

2. Will furnish board and lodging for the teachers in attendance. 3. Will furnish suitable houses for the day sessions and the evening lectures.

4. Have not been recently favored with an Institute.

School officers, teachers, and others wishing to secure the appointment of an Institute, at any particular place, should, as soon as convenient, make application to the Superintendent of Common Schools, stating the nature and extent of the accommodatians which will be provided.

SHALL THE JOURNAL GO TO EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Since the issue of the May No. we have received several communications from school visitors, all heartily approving the plan. Shall we not hear from others? Will not the visitors in each town explain the matter to the members of the Legislature from their respective towns?

Nothing but light on the subject is needed to give success to the plan. We say, let there be light. Let it be remembered that the whole cost of this measure will not be above three mills for each inhabitant of the State.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

The present term of the Normal School commenced on the 18th of April, and it will close on the 24th of July.

The next term will begin on the 14th of August and close on the 9th of October.

The number of pupils in attendance this term is 133, being an increase of 60 per cent. over that of the last summer term. There are upwards of 30 in the graduating class, which is a much larger number than it has contained at any former period. One member is a graduate of Amherst College, and a teacher of several years of experience.

Notwithstanding the increase of well qualified teachers, the increase for the demand of such teachers is still greater. Some of our schools are obliged to go to Massachusetts for Normal teachers. Connecticut ought to raise her own teachers. Massachusetts has established fortyeight scholarships in her colleges for the purpose of fitting teachers for high schools. Some such provision is needed here. Pupils ought to be encouraged to attend the Normal School, by some provision to cheapen the board. This might be done by building a large boardinghouse, after the plan of the Methodist Conference Schools. In one of these schools in a neighboring State, there were, the last year, one hundred and fifty students from Connecticut. The reason of their going out of the State is, because they can go cheap. In Massachusetts the sum of $1000 is appropriated to each of the four State Normal Schools, for the purpose of aiding such pupils as need it. No reasonable person can doubt the wisdom of that policy which has for its object the multiplication of good teachers; for without this, all other efforts for the improvement of scholars will prove unsuccessful.

Persons intending to enter the Normal School the next term, should make early application to the principal. Several have been rejected this term, because they did not apply in season.

School visitors should require of all applicants for certificates of recommendation to the Normal School, to make a declaration that it is their object in seeking admission to the school, to qualify themselves for teachers, and that it is their intention to teach in this State.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

We regret to be obliged to say, that an unusual amount of matter prepared for this department, is unexpectedly crowded out. We have got hold of several very valuable works, to which we wish to call the attention of our reader. Of the July number, we would say in the prophetic phrase of the almanac maker, "look out for a shower of literary notices-about this time."

Of the Superintendent of Common Schools to the General Assembly, May Session, 1855.

By a provision of the law it is made the duty of the Superintendent of Common Schools to "submit an annual report to the General Assembly, containing a statement of the condition of the Common Schools of the State, plans and suggestions for the improvement and better organization of the Common School system, and all such matters relating to his office, and to the interests of education as he shall deem it expedient to communicate."

Agreeably to this provision, I beg leave to submit the following document as my Report.

By an act passed May, 1849, the office of Superintendent of Common Schools and that of Principal of the State Normal School, were united.

Having accepted this twofold office; I entered upon the discharge of its duties on the first of January.

I have ventured to take upon myself the responsibility of this important trust, not without diffidence and serious misgivings. I can not forget that I occupy the place that has been filled by one whose eminent abilities, wise counsels, and abundant labors in the cause of popular education, have merited and secured the highest respect and confidence of the people of the State. He embarked in this enterprise of beneficence when there were few to encourage and aid, and many discourage and oppose. He had pioneer work to do. He had to encounter the jealousies of party, the prejudices of ignorance, and the VOL. X., No., 7.

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hostilities of a blind though honest conservatism, which could see noth ing in his plans of improvement but destruction to the "old landmarks" of the fathers. In retiring he leaves a different state of things. He has enjoyed the satisfaction of witnessing these obstacles gradually melt away before the power of truth, and the friends of progress ccnstantly increase in number and power, till his long cherished hope of seeing Connecticut regain her ancient proud place in the front rank of the educating States, seems about to be realized, and that blessed day ushered in when every school in the State shall be good enough for the best, and cheap enough for the poorest.

During the brief interval since my appointment, my time has been employed, so far as my duties in connection with the Normal School would permit, in collecting and disseminating information relating to common schools; in acquiring a more thorough acquaintance with the history, progress and wants of our school system; in visiting schools, delivering public addresses, aiding committees in procuring teachers, and teachers in finding desirable situations; in the investigation and decision of questions raised with reference to the construction of the school law; in acting upon the claims of parties for the payment of public money which has been forfeited; in giving advice in regard to the construction of school houses, and the organization and gradation ⚫ of schools, and in conducting a large corrrespondence with school officers and teachers.

In my endeavors to arrive at a thorough knowledge of our system of public instruction and a due appreciation of its excellencies and defects, I have as far as possible availed myself of the results of the observations and experience of those who have preceded me in this field.

I regret that the imperfection of the existing system of returns and reports from school officers to this department, renders it impossible for me at this time to present full and accurate statistical information as to the progress and present condition of our common schools. From the office of the Commissioner of the School Fund, I have obtained the following summary :

Number of towns in the Commonwealth,

153

In the month of March a circular was sent to the acting school visitors, containing inquiries concerning the condition and management of the schools. The inquiries were designed to embrace only such particulars as school visitors might be supposed to report annually to their societies, and therefore have at their command, especially at the close of the winter term of the schools. A copy of the Circular and the entire results of the returns are presented in the Appendix. The incompleteness of the tables is a sufficient argument to prove the necessity of adopting some measures for securing more full and reliable information as to the progress and administration of our school system.

The fault is not chargeable to the want of care and fidelity on the part of school visitors, so much as to the absence of the requisite legal provision for a proper system of returns and reports, This topic will be more fully considered in another part of this communication.

But imperfect and fragmentary as these returns are, they are not without value. An attentive examination of them will throw light upon several important points, such as the ratio of attendance of pupils to the number enumerated, the relative proportion of male to female teachers in the winter schools, the difference of their wages, the proportion of good school-houses, the proportion of districts which tax property for the support of schools, and which have adopted a system of gradation of schools.

But from other sources, and by other means already alluded to, I have gathered a considerable amount of information respecting the operations of our school system and the educational movements in the State, which, although incapable of being exhibited in Arabic figures, is none the less satisfactory so far as it extends, and is important as illustrating the state and tendency of public sentiment in relation to the subject of public instruction.

From these data in my possession, I can not escape from the conclusion that on the whole, the aspect of our Common School system is encouraging and hopeful. In many places a spirit of progress has been aroused, and great improvements have been realized, and these bright examples are provoking imitation. In many places the apathetic slumber has been disturbed, and the people are opening their eyes to their true interests. The gladsome light which for years has been lingering upon the mountain summits has descended into the valleys.