It is perhaps well known to many of the readers of the Journal, that the Board of Education of Oswego, have procured from the Home and Colonial Training School of England, Miss C. E. Jones, an experienced teacher, to come to this country for the purpose of training the teachers of their own schools and others in the methods pursued in the best training schools of England. The examinations before the committee were of classes taught by teachers who had been under the training system of Miss Jones, the English teacher. The lessons were designed to cultivate the perceptive faculties and the power of conception, as well as to strengthen the memory, and consisted of lessons on form, size, weight, color, place, number, language, fishes, birds, shells, quadrupeds, plants, on objects generally, and in phonic reading. It would be impossible in the space allotted to this article, to give any thing like a detailed account of the examination. The classes usually gathered around a table, on which would be placed objects to illustrate the lesson, and these were studied. The teacher and children would become so interested and engaged in an exercise that they would seem to forget that there were any spectators present. In one lesson on size, the children were told to hold their fingers 1 inch apart, 3 inches, 1 foot, &c., and to draw squares, triangles, pentagons, &c., of a given size by the eye, all of which was quickly performed with great accuracy. The same was true in the selection and composition of colors, and in other exercises. There can hardly be a doubt that these lessons are far better adapted to develop the faculties, and to educate properly the children of our primary schools, than the memoriter lessons usually given; but before they can be universally introduced, there must be a class of teachers trained and prepared to give them with success. The report of the committee will be published soon, and give the results of the examination. C. WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND TRUTH. One of the best and most experienced teachers in New England, at the head of an excellent high school in a sister State in remitting his subscription, thus writes: I read your Journal with great interest and hope your Connecticut Teachers are sustaining their organ of intercommunication, and source of school information, with a full comprehension of its importance, both to themselves, individually, and to the progress of the cause of public instruction. If there is any one thing that will do more to make a "live teacher" than any other, it is the reading of communications from live teachers, and learning from educational journals what is done by those most earnestly engaged in the cause. The teacher who neither reads, nor associates with his fellow teachers, for sympathy and improvement, is but a monk of the dark ages, cloistered in his cell. He is too conceited to become enlightened in regard to his own ignorance of duty pertaining to his vocation; or too ignorant to comprehend the import of the work in which he is engaged. No teacher can afford to fail of doing two things; to read for the purpose of enlarging his own stock of knowledge; and to write something of his own experience and observation for the benefit of others. Would'nt the millenium of school-teaching be hastened, if all teachers would do these things. FAMILY COURTESY. Family intimacy should never make brothers and sisters forget to be polite and sympathizing to each other. Those who contract thoughtless and rude habits toward members of their own family will be rude and thoughtless to all the world. But let the family intercourse be true, tender, and affectionate, and the manners of all uniformly gentle and considerate, and the members of the family thus trained will carry into the world and society the habits of their childhood. They will require in their associates similar qualities; they will not be satisfied without mutual esteem and the cultivation of the best affections; and their own character will be sustained by that faith in goodness which belongs to a mind exercised in pure and high thoughts.-Silvio Pellico's "Duties of Men." OFFICIAL. OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF COMMON SCHOOLS. TO SCHOOL VISITORS. GENTLEMEN. The law of 1861, (Public Acts, Chap. LIII,) requires that the whole amount of the town schooltax of three-tenths of a mill on a dollar, and the income of the town deposit fund shall be distributed to the several school districts of each town, on or before the fourth day of March. As a portion of these funds must first be taken to make up the amount of thirty-five dollars to all districts receiving less than this sum from the State fund, the income from this fund must be known, in order to comply with the law in making the distribution. The amount of distribution this year will be $1.20 per capita, so that all districts numbering less than thirty children, must first receive a portion of the town school money. Yours respectfully, DAVID N. CAMP, SUPT. OF COм. SCHOOLS. LOCAL AND PERSONAL. MANSFIELD. In this town we had the pleasure of visiting several schools. The largest is at the Center, and has been for several successive seasons, under the charge of Dea. Robt. P. Barrows. The room is very pleasant and commodious, and the whole aspect and atmosphere of the school were of the happiest kind,-teacher and pupil laboring with one purpose. In the afternoon we met the pupils and many of their parents, together with the scholars and several of their parents from South Coventry,-who came over for the double purpose of having a sleigh-ride, and joining the school of Mr. Barrows in their afternoon gathering. It was an exceedingly pleasant, and we hope, profitable occasion. SOUTH WINDHAM. The large school at this place is under the instruction of the Hon. Porter B. Peck, a gentleman of large and successful experience as a teacher. Though he had quite too many pupils for one teacher, he succeeded in keeping them all at work. We witnessed some arithmetical operations on the blackboard that were highly creditable to teacher and pupils. There was an earnestness and enthusiasm that were refreshing. "As is the teacher so is the School." SOUTH MANCHESTER. We spent an hour very pleasantly in the school of Mr. E. P. Loomis, who appeared to labor with much devotion and with a good degree of success. SOMERS. This place has for several years been fortunate in having as acting visitors such men as Rev. Mr. Oviatt and Dr. Wood. They and their associates have accomplished a good work for popular education. We had a pleasant meeting here, attended by many of the parents, teachers and pupils. Our special thanks are due to the Rev. Mr. Oviatt for kind attentions. TOLLAND. We found a pleasant school here of two grades, one under the charge of Mr. Ladd, and the other of a lady whose name we can not recall. The departments appeared well. The Rev. Mr. Marsh is acting visitor, and we are confident his calls at the schools will be highly acceptable to pupils and teachers. SCHOOL FOR IMBECILES.-It may not be known to all our readers, that there is at Lakeville, in Salisbury, an institution for the instruction of imbecile youth. It was established by Henry Knight, M. D., and has not, until within a year or two, received any encouragement or aid from the State. With a spirit of true beneficence, Dr. Knight has labored in his noble work, and he has not labored in vain. He recently made an exhibition of a small class at the Normal school, and we believe all present felt highly gratified. Dr. Knight seems to be admirably fitted for the good work in which he is engaged. Surely his is a noble mission,-but little less than causing the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak. ROCKVILLE.-On Friday and Saturday, 7th and 8th Feb., an educational meeting was held at Rockville. There was a very good attendance of teachers and school visitors from most of the towns in Tolland county. The convention was organized by the appointment of J. N. Stickney, Esq., of Rockville, as chairman and Henry C. Bowles, Esq., of Vernon, as secretary. A part of the afternoon was spent in the upper department of Mr. Turner's school,-with which we believe all were greatly pleased. In the early part of the day we devoted two or three hours to visiting the several departments. We have never seen this good school when it appeared as well as at this time. Mr. Turner and his excellent teachers in the several departments, are doing all within their power to make the school worthy of confidence and we believe all are satisfied. Dr. Risley, the efficient school visitor, cheerfully coöperates with the teachers. The afternoon of Friday and forenoon of Saturday were, mostly, spent in discussions in which several participated. The occasion was a pleasant and profitable one. Our Rockville friends merit the hearty thanks of those in attendance, for the hospitable reception given. BOOK NOTICES. ANNUAL REPORT of the Superintendent of Common Schools of the State of Maine. Our thanks are due to Superintendent Weston for this able and interesting report. It contains nearly 300 pages, and its preparation must have cost much labor. From the report we learn the following facts: Average wages of male teachers per month, besides board, $22.01 8.76 478,017 Aggregate expenditure for school purposes, 742,952 Mr. Weston strongly urges the establishment of a Normal School and shows that the amount paid by individuals from Maine who have attended the Massachusetts Normal School for the last year, would have been nearly sufficient to defray the expenses of a State School. SUPERINTENDENT SMYTH will please accept our thanks for a copy of his excellent report, being the eighth annual report of the State Commissioner of Common Schools of Ohio. It is an able and valuable document, containing a great variety of statistical information in relation to school matters. We have marked an extract for our April Number. MR. EDWIN WHITNEY has our thanks for a copy of the eleventh annual report of the Providence Reform School, of which Mr. W. is assistant superintendent and principal teacher. There are now nearly 200 boys and girls connected with this institution. We learn that it is in an excellent condition and well arranged in all respects. A PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY on the basis of the Object Method of Instruction. By Fordyce A. Allen. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. This little work is prepared on a new plan and we regard it as one of the very best works for beginners. It is beautifully printed in large type, and the numerous pictures and maps give to the book a very attractive appearance. The little folks will be greatly delighted with it. (See Advertisement) |