made on the Monday and Tuesday preceding. On Sunday evening, July 20th, the annual sermon will be preached by Rev. F. T. Russell. On Monday evening the annual address to the graduating class will be given by the Associate Principal of the school. On Tuesday evening, the Hon. Francis Gillette, of Hartford, will give an oration before the Barnard and Gallaudet societies. A Poem may also be expected. On Wednesday, A. M., the 23d, George Fillow, Esq., of Hartford, will give the annual alumni address; and the afternoon will be devoted to the exercises of the graduating class. The usual social re-union will take place Wednesday evening. The next term of the Normal School will commence on Wednesday, September 17th, and those desirous of attending should make early application to Hon. David N. Camp, New Britain, Ct. WATERFORD.-In December last the school-house in the 8th district of this town was destroyed by fire. In that house, during the last twenty-five years, a Sabbath school had been held under the superintendence of Hon. Henry P. Haven, of New London. A new and very convenient house has been erected on the site of the old one, and it was appropriately dedicated on Sunday, June 15th, on which occasion addresses were made by H. C. Trumbull, Esq., of Hartford, Hon. Mr. Haven, of New London, and Mr. Northend, of New Britain. The house was closely filled, and many were unable to gain admission. The new house is well adapted to meet the wants of both the week school and Sabbath school, and we learn that much harmony and good feeling have prevailed in its erection, and we trust it will result in awakening new interest in the objects for which the building is designed. As we sat in the new house our reflections were in relation to the past,-the twenty-five years in which our friend · had labored for the moral welfare of this district. Such labors have not been in vain, and though their complete benefits will not be known in this world, who can doubt that a rich reward will await such faithful laborers when the Great Master shall give to every one his true recompense. AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION.-We would call the attention of our readers to the notice of the next meeting of this valuable Association. It will be seen that Hartford has been selected as the place of meeting, and we hope the teachers and friends of education from all parts of the state will attend that meeting, and thus testify to our friends from abroad that old Connecticut feels a deep interest in all educational movements. (See Order of Exercises, &c.) C. GOODWIN CLARK.-The numerous friends of this gentleman will be gratified to learn that he has recently been promoted to the mastership of one of the Grammar Schools of Boston, with a salary of $1800. Mr. Clark is a native of Guilford, in this state, a graduate of our Normal School, and well merits the honor conferred on him. He has been eminently successful as a teacher. We most heartily rejoice in his success, and congratulate the school committee of Boston in having secured the services of one who will prove a real addition to their present corps of able teachers. JOHN D. PHILBRICK has been re-elected to the superintendency of the schools of Boston. ably received that his annual re-election comes to be a mere form. So far as we can learn, his services are entirely satisfactory to all parties, and under his judicious and efficient management many important changes and improvements have been effected in the educational interests of the city. His well directed labors have been so favor SPECIAL NOTICE.-Our August number will be omitted, this year,—or rather it will be united with the September number, which will be enlarged. This arrangement is made with the approbation of the Publishing Committee. Our readers will have, during the year, the usual number of pages. AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION.-The thirty-third annual meeting of the American Institute of Instruction will be held in Hartford, Conn., at the State House, on the 20th, 21st and 22d days of August. The Board of Directors will meet at the Allyn House, on the 20th, at 11 o'clock, A. M. The Public Exercises will be as follows: Wednesday, August 20th.-At 2 o'clock, P. M., the meeting will be organized for the transaction of business. The usual addresses of welcome having been made, the President will deliver his Annual Address; after which the following subject will be discussed: METHODS OF TEACHING Geography. At 8 o'clock, P. M., a Lecture by SAMUEL ELIOT, President Trinity College, Hartford, Conn. Thursday, August 21st.-At 9 o'clock, A. M., a Discussion. Subject: How can the Study of English Grammar, and of the English Language, be made more efficient and beneficial? At 11 o'clock, A. M., a Lecture by JOSHUA KENDALL, Esq., Principal of Rhode Island Normal School, Bristol. At 23 o'clock, P. M., a Lecture by WM. H. RUSSELL, Esq., Principal of Military Institute, New Haven, Conn. At 3 o'clock, P. M., a Discussion. Subject: Ought Military Instruction to be generally introduced into our Schools? At 8 o'clock, P. M., a Lecture by Hon. JOSEPH WHITE, Secretary of Massachusetts Board of Education. Friday, August 22d.-At 9 o'clock, A. M., a Discussion. Subject: Methods of Instruction best adapted to develop in Pupils the power of COMMUNICATING knowledge. At 11 o'clock, A. M., a Lecture by L. HALL GRANDGENT, Esq., of the Mayhew School, Boston. At 2 o'clock, P. M., a Lecture by Hon. D. N. CAMP, Superintendent of Public Instruction of Connecticut. At 8 o'clock, P. M., a Lecture by Hon. Wм. D. SWAN, of Boston, Mass., to be followed by brief Addresses from Representatives of several states. A. P. STONE, President. WM. E. SHELDON, Rec. Sec'y. ARRANGEMENTS.-By the special request of the Board of Directors, arrangements have been made by the Local Committee at Hartford, whereby persons attending the meeting will be entertained ONLY at the Hotels, and that at one-half the usual rates. American House, 103 Hotels.-The following Hotels will entertain guests at one-half their usual rates: Allyn House, 80 Asylum street. State street. City Hotel, 217 Main street. Main street. Ryder's Hotel, 610 Main street. Main street. Trumbull House, 48 State street. Railroads and Steamboats.-Arrangements have been made with the following Railroad and Steamboat Companies, for the usual reduction of fare, (i. e.) full fare paid one way, and a free return: Eastern, -Boston and Maine, Boston and Lowell,-Nashua and Lowell,Wilton and Stony Brook,-Essex,-Old Colony and Fall River,— Worcester and Nashua,-Boston and Providence,-Hartford, Providence and Fishkill,-New Haven, Hartford and Springfield,-Connecticut River. New Haven and New York, Hartford and New Haven Steamboat Companies, and the Boston and Worcester Railroad. Return Tickets.-Persons attending the Institute will obtain a free return ticket from the Secretary of the Institute, which will be good only on the Railroad upon which the bearer came to the Institute, and only to the Station from which one advance fare” was paid. WM. E. SHELDON, Rec. Sec'y. West Newton, June 18, 1862. George Peabody, 66 CONTENTS.-JULY, 1862. Stationary Teachers, Education, or Information, 209 215 216 219 223 225 228 229 234 235 236 THE Connecticut Common School Journal AND ANNALS OF EDUCATION. N. C. BOARDMAN AND ERASTUS RIPLEY, EDITORS. VOL. IX. HARTFORD, AUG. AND SEPT. Nos. 8 & 9. THE GREAT WORK. MAN has but one great work. It is to prepare himself for his future life. In comparison to this all others dwindle to a shadow. Nothing man does can live but a few years which does not unite to complete his fitness for his future life, yet is it not true that less thought is given to this work than to almost any other? When we look at the little child, as he comes from his Maker, when we see his embryo powers and passions, and see the germs of his future feelings and desires, yet see them all sinless and free from a stain, we feel it can not be that the same child will become the man of crime, with a heart black with guilt, and a mind ignorant and debased, yet fact holds up a thousand pictures of such examples. Do we look at them with wonder, or have we become so accustomed to beholding such great changes as to think little of them? Who has not asked the question, is this great deformity a necessity, is it the result of any law of the child's nature? A voice answers in the negative. How then shall it VOL. IX. 16 be prevented? Certainly not by leaving the child alone during the forming years of his life. The passions of the child were given to him for good to himself and others, but when they grow to excess, either naturally or by indulgence, they become sin and may end in his ruin and others' misery. It is the work of education to take the child with his mind and heart pure, and give him the training which will bring him to true manhood. The parents have the first and foundation work to do. To them are entrusted a work which eternity only can measure. Next to these stand the teacher and to him are these thoughts presented. If by them any teacher's mind takes nobler views of his work which move him to act, and sustain him under his trials and disappointments, they are not in vain. The teacher can not dwell too long on the theme. It will grow as his thoughts remain upon it. Who can grasp the length and breadth of his work? Its boundary is eternity. His influence can change our dearest association. The joys or sorrows of future homes hang on his labors. Society is indebted to him if crime is lessened and harmony increased. Many a dying pillow is made soft by a life of good works and holy thoughts built on a foundation laid near the commencement of life's journey. Heaven is made more joyous as the fruits of his labors are garnered. All these results, yea more, may flow from his work. No aid will be more powerful in helping the conscientious teacher to a true conception of his work than the gems of thought given to us by the most reflecting and keenest minds. Meditate on this gem from the writings of Joseph Addison. It gives you, by a beautiful comparison, the delicate nature of your work. He says, "I consider a human soul without education like marble in the quarry, which shows none of its inherent beauties, until the skill of the polisher fetches out the colors, makes the surface shine, and discovers every ornamental cloud, spot and vein, that runs through the body of it. Education, after the same manner, when it works upon a noble mind, draws out to view every latent virtue and perfec |