In Westfield, an adjoining society, the people have recently voted to erect a new school house. Improvement and progress are the watch words.

NEW JERSEY.

We are glad to learn that this State is taking the onward and upward step in the cause of education. A Normal School has recently been opened at Trenton, under the charge of WM. F. PHELPS, Esq., late of Albany, N. Y. Mr. Phelps received his Normal training under one of the best Normal Teachers of the age-the late, lamented David P. PAGE; and he has already had much experience. He is a working man, and we wish him abundant success in his new and responsible position.

C. C. HOAGLAND, M. D., who has labored so assiduously for the promotion of popular education in this State, has recently removed to Henry, in Illinois. The doctor is one of the live men; no grass can

grow under his feet.

PROF. WM. RUSSEL.

We Te are sorry to learn that the state of this gentleman's health is such as to induce him to give up the Normal School which he has for several years sustained at Lancaster, Mass.

Prof. Russel has devoted a long series of years to active and judicious service in the cause of education; and our best wishes, together with those of a host of friends, will attend him in his retirement.

NEW YORK TEACHER.

Our friends of the New York Teacher seem determined to make their Journal worthy of support; and they have a right to expect friends of education, and especially Teachers, to aid them in their laudable efforts. We hope the time will soon come, when no individual will presume to teach unless he is a subscriber to, and reader of, some educational paper. Teachers in New York ought to feel proud of their periodical. We trust they will heed the appeal of friend Bowen, the efficient publishing agent, and promptly and cordially extend the dollar-ish hand. "Money makes the mare go," and it will not impede the progress of

"Ver

an educational journal. Teachers! try it; and if the NEW YORK TEACHER does not prove good enough, send for ours― s-that's all. bum sat sapienti."

A FEW WORDS TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.

The present number will complete the volume for 1855, and we take pleasure in saying to our readers that our prospects are more encouraging than they have been at any former period. Our subscription list has gradually increased, and we frequently receive cheering assurances that our humble Journal meets the approval of our best teachers and friends of education, and we can but hope that it has been instrumental of good.

earnestly desire to make the In order that we may ac

But we wish to do still more; and Journal still more interesting and useful. complish all we wish, we not only need the continued sympathy and cooperation of our old subscribers, but we want the aid of many new We wish to make the journal, in all respects, worthy of the support of every teacher and friend of education within the State.

ones.

TEACHERS! We appeal to you, particularly, to lend a helping hand. If you take our periodical, will you not, occasionally, aid us by writing for its columns? Will you not also aid us by procuring additional subscribers? If each of our present subscribers would send us one new name, it would be of great service to us, and cheer and help us in our efforts to add to the interest and usefulness of the Journal. Who will thus aid us?

We already have many ardent and substantial friends who are ready to make any reasonable efforts in our behalf. All true teachers will feel it a prominent duty to help in the support of some educational paper. In aiding a common cause, they will do themselves a special service. Again we ask—Teachers! will you assist us and do all you can to help make our paper all that it should be? Shall we have that MATERIAL aid and encouragement which we need?

SCHOOL VISITORS! will you not do something to promote our interests? We are engaged in a common cause, and may mutually benefit each other. If the Journal is not all that you can desire, is it not worth the trifling price of subscription? Will you not then, do us service by commending it to the attention of the Teachers under your supervision? In this way you may do much for us. We hope hereafter, to have in each number a few pages that will interest parents and

pupils; and we shall be most happy if our Journal can be sent to every family within the State. Parents! will you not lend us a helping hand? If you will, we will pledge our best efforts to make the Connecticut Common School Journal both worthy of your support and promotive of your interests.

MR. CAMP'S ADDRESS.

We commend to our readers the excellent address of L. L. Camp, Esq., delivered before the alumni of the Normal School at the late Anniversary, and published in our present number. It was listened to with marked attention and interest by a large audience. MR. CAMP is one of our best teachers, and his views are well worthy of consideration.

FARMINGTON.

We learn that a new School House is in process of erection in the beautiful town of Farmington. The good work is progressing finely, and the time is hastening on when Connecticut may point to her school houses as among her brightest ornaments.

AN EXCELLENT MOVE.

The members of the Teachers' Association of the City of Waterbury, have requested their excellent Superintendent, Prof. Dowd, to obtain, for each member, copies of "PAGE'S THEORY AND PRACTICE," and NORTHEND'S TEACHER AND PARENT," with a view of having exercises from these authors, weekly. We commend this example to others. Teachers who pursue such a course will improve.

We shall consider all our old subscribers as desirous of continuing another year, unless they inform us otherwise previous to the first of January, 1856.

To any one who will send us the names of five new subscribers and $5, we will forward, postage paid, a bound volume of the Journal for 1854 or 1855. Who will move in this matter?

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

SCHOOL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. By A. B. BERARD; 224 pp. Philadelphia; H. Cowperthwait & Co.

This is an admirable work for Common Schools. It is written in a lively and interesting style, and is free from that tediousness which characterizes most school histories. We think it will do much to make the study of history pleasant and attractive.

Arithmetic and its Applications; designed as a Text Book for Common Schools, High Schools, and Academies. By Dana P. Colburn, Principal of the Rhode Island State Normal School, Providence. 366 pp. Philadelphia; H. Cowperthwait & Co.

From our acquaintar ce with the author of this work, and a knowledge of his ability as a mathematician, we confidently commend this treatise to the attention of Teachers and Committees. It is well printed and is attractive in its appearance; and the slight examination we have given it, leaves very favorable impressions of its merit.

Mitchell's Primary Geography. 144 pp. Philadelphiall; CowperthwaitTM& Co. This is a revised and much improved edition of a work which has been so long and so favorably known as to need no recommendation from us. It is a very attractive book, beautifully illustrated with engravings.

Lovell's Progressive Readers. We have received Nos. 1 2 and 3 of this new series of reading books. They are the production of that well-known and distinguished teacher J. E. Lovell, of the Lancasterian School, New Haven, and appear to be well adapted to the purposes for which they are designed. We know of no man better qualified, by long experience and good judgment, for making a useful series of reading books, than Mr. Lovell. The books are published by Durrie & Peck, New Haven, are neatly embellished with cuts, and are, in all particulars, got up in an attractive and substantial manner.

An Improved System of Geography, designed for Schools, Academies and Seminaries. By Francis McNally. New York; A. S. Barnes & Co. Quarto. This is the third of a Geographical Series, published by this enterprising firm. We like the book for several reasons. In the first place, its mechanical execution is very attractive. In the second place, the general arrangemeut of the work is good; and thirdly, the work is not overburdened with superfluous or irrelevant matter. It is a good book and we commend it to the favorable attention of teachers and school visitors.