WORKS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,

The Art of Reading: or Rules for the attainment of a just and correct Enunciation of written language. Mostly selected from Walker's Elements of Elocution, and adapted to the use of schools. Boston, 1826. 12mo. pp. 68.

In the hands of experienced and judicious teachers, this compend will be very useful. It gives the substance of Walker's treatises, stripped of whatever is merely theoretic and discursive.

The compiler has shown much judgement and taste in his selection of matter; and we cannot help regretting that he has not ventured to take greater liberties than he has, with the system from which his extracts are made.

Even by this little abridgement, it would seem that a young scholar must be master of fifty rules, before he can be expected to read well. Walker's chief fault is, that he has spun out his system to so tedious an extent.

Nearly twenty of the labored rules of that author might have been condensed into the following sentence, 'Where the sense is unfinished, suspend the voice; and where it is complete, let the voice fall.' See Knowles's abridgement of Walker's system.

In a direction such as the above, there is something rational and intelligible, and perfectly true to nature,-something which the pupil can understand as well as his teacher. But in the number and variety of Walker's rules, confusion and perplexity are unavoidable.

A second edition of this manual will no doubt be soon wanted; and in it, we hope the editor will add to the value of his work by diminishing the number of rules, and multiplying appropriate examples.

Sacred Extracts from the Scriptures of the old and new Testaments, for the more convenient attainment of a knowledge of the inspired writers. For the use of schools. Second edition. Boston. 1815.

18mo. pp. 360.

That the juvenile reader of the Sacred volume needs a guide to aid him in the selection of such parts as are intelligible to him and are best adapted to instruct and improve him, is matter of common observation. All parents and teachers, however, have not equal time and opportunities for assisting their children in this way. The present volume is one therefore which seems calculated for extensive usefulness. Any commendation of ours would be superfluous after mentioning that the book bears the recommendation of such names as the late President Dwight, Dr. Morse, and Dr. Nott.

The first lines of English Grammar, being a brief abstract of the authors larger work. Designed for young learners. By Goold Brown, Second edition. New-York: 1826. 18mo. pp. 108.

This little book some teachers may think is not called for; since Murray's Abridgment is already in so extensive use; and perhaps it might have been better, to have had Mr. Brown's improvements so arranged as still to leave the ground to the distinguished grammarian to whom we are all indebted for our knowledge of theoretic grammar.

Mr. Brown's efforts however, are we think, so valuable as to be fully entitled to a place in school books on grammar. We have no hesitation in saying, that we consider the First Lines as the most accurate, and every way the most meritorious work on the commonly received plan.

Teachers who have felt and complained of the omissions and other imperfections of Murray will be gratified to find a manual which requires so little oral filling up, and so few explanations for the purpose of reconciling apparent contradictions.

An Abridgement of Lectures on Rhetoric, by Hugh Blair, D.D. greatly improved, by the addition, to each page, of appropriate questions. By Rev. J. L. Blake, A. M. principal of a literary Seminary for young ladies, in Boston, Massachusetts. Fifth edition. Concord, N. H: 1825. 18mo. pp. 326.

Of the many abridgements of Blair this is the most careful and the most judidious we have seen.

One peculiar advantage which it offers to instructers is, that all the questions naturally or properly rising our of the text, are presented in smaller type, at the foot of each page. This arrangement facilitates the business of the teacher, and, at the same time, furnishes sufficient exercise to the mind of the pupil.

The Pronouncing Introduction. Introduction to the English Reader: or, a Selection of Pieces, in Prose and Poetry; calculated to improve the younger classes of learners in reading; and to imbue their minds with the love of virtue. To which are added, rules and observations for assisting children to read with propriety. By Lindley Murary, to which, by the aid of a Key, is scrupulously applied, Mr. Walker's Pronunciation of the Classical Proper names, and of nume. rous other words, difficult to pronounce, with an Appendix, consisting of words selected from the reading lessons, with definitions. rael Alger, Jun. A. M. Boston: 1823. 12mo. pp. 168.

By IsThe Pronouncing English Reader. The English Reader: or, Pieces in Prose and Poetry, selected from the best writers. Designed to assist young persons to read with propriety and effect; to improve their language and sentiments; and to inculcate some of the most important principles of piety and virtue. With a few preliminary observations on the principles of good reading., By Lindley Murray, to which, by the aid of a Key, is scrupulously applied, Mr. Walker's Pronunciation of the Classical Proper names, and of numerous other words, difficult to pronounce. By Israel Alger, Jun. A. M. Boston: 1824. 12mo. pp. 264.

These books are valuable contributions to a general and extensive reformation in the style of reading. The department of pronunciation is treated with a rigor and closeness of attention which it has never before received. Every word in which any mistake could be made, is carefully and distinctly marked.

If this edition of Murray's reading books should obtain, as we hope it will, the exclusive currency in our schools in town and country, it would take but a few years to produce a uniform and correct pronunciation throughout the United States.

In this edition of these justly popular works the progress of improvement in the schools of this country has outstripped that in England. School books such as these before us would be of great service there, in rooting out the provincial peculiarities which are sill suffered to remain in too many places.

The execution of these books, we may add, is highly creditable to the publishers.

An Outline of Bible History with notes and observations; adapted to the Minds of Youth, and designed for Sabbath and other Schools; with engravings. By Rev. Charles A. Goodrich. Second edition. Hartford. 1825. 18mo. pp. 108.

This outline may be very serviceable in the instruction of pupils who are very young. The catechetical form is perhaps preferable at such an age. Other

wise, we should have preferred a connected and regular treatise, on which the mind of the scholar might be improved by the exercise of furnishing answers to the questions.

There is, we are happy to say, much useful information in this little manual, and it will be found, we think, a valuable assistant both in school and at home.

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN.

The Child's Arithmetic, or the Elements of Calculation in the spirit of Pestalozzi's method, for the use of Children between the ages of three and seven years. By William B. Fowle, Instructer of the Monitorial School, Boston. Boston, 1826: 24mo. pp. 104.

This invaluable little work will, we hope, soon be in the hands of every intelligent mother who feels an interest in the early improvement of her children. Nothing of the kind has yet appeared in this country, and it is therefore with much satisfaction that we see this department occupied by a teacher of Mr. Fowle's talent and experience.

The book is ingeniously and happily adapted to the class of learners for whose use it is prepared. It is on the plan of No. 3 of the valuable English series of publications, entitled' Hints to Parents,' and is intended to be used as an introduction to the more advanced work of Colburn, which has wrought such a revolution in our schools.'

We have recommended this book to mothers, but it is equally suited to the teachers or monitors of very young classes at school. We hope the day is not distant, when the establishment of infant schools will afford a wider sphere of usefulness to this excellent little volume.

We are sorry that authors and publishers in the department of children's books, should be so indifferent to the opportunity of notice which our pages affords as to leave us unprovided with a single other work of the kind for our present number. We regret this neglect, because we consider children's books as possessing a vast importance, from their incalculable influence on the formation of the young mind and heart. We hope we shall not have to reiterate the complaint we have now made.-We attribute our want of books of this sort to the indifference felt towards this department; and we presume we refer the thing to its true cause; for whilst our stock of children's books is exhausted, we have on hand nearly fifty school books, sent us for the purpose of being reviewed, or mentioned in a notice. When adverting to this subject, we feel called on to express our obligations to Messrs. Munroe & Francis, of this city, who have enabled us to enrich our pages with notices of many excellent works of the kind to which we have alluded. It is in fact from these publishers that we have received the greater number of books for children, which have received a notice since the commencement of our work.

Received since our last :

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A communication from the Female Seminary, Troy, N. Y.

Account of the College of Soreze, near Revel, department of Upper Garonne, France.

School act of the State of Ohio.

Account of the Fellenberg School, Windsor, Conn.-Hopkins Academy, Hadley, Mass.-Classical Seminary for Young Ladies, Ipswich, Mass.

Annual report of the Acting Superintendent of the Common Schools of New York.-Public Schools of the city of New York.-New York Female High School.

An article on the exercise of the voice, treated as a branch of physical edu cation.

Strictures on Murray's Grammar, continued.
Review of President Humphrey's Address.
Remarks on the present system of Education.

AMERICAN

JOURNAL OF
OF EDUCATION.

No. VII.

JULY, 1826.

VOL. I.

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF BOSTON.

[The matter contained in the pamphlet bearing the above title, seemed, on reperusal, so important as to require the insertion of the whole. We have deviated, therefore, from our original intention of presenting an abstract, as intimated in our last number, and have given the following rules and regulations in detail.

The interesting age of the children who compose the primary schools; the encouraging success which has attended this important experiment in education; and the vast amount of public good which bids fair to result from it in the present and in future generations-all contribute to give the subject of the following article a value which cannot but be felt by every parent, and, indeed, by every reflecting individual who takes an interest in the common welfare.]

Rules and Regulations of the Primary Schools.

THE Committee appointed to provide instruction for children, between the ages of four and seven years, shall be known by the name of the Primary School Committee; and shall consist of as many members, in addition to the regular officers, as there are schools belonging to the establishment.

The whole Board.

RULE 1. The officers of the Board shall consist of a Chairman, Secretary, and a Standing Committee; to be chosen annually by ballot, at the quarterly meeting in January.

RULE 2. It shall be the duty of the chairman to preside at all meetings; to call to order as soon as a quorum shall have assembled; cause the journal of the preceding meeting to be read, and

then proceed to business. In his absence the secretary shall call to order, and a chairman pro tem. be chosen forthwith by the Board.

RULE. 3. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a faithful record of the proceedings of the Board, with the names of the members present at each meeting, which shall be read at any meeting when required. He shall timely notify the members of all meetings of the Board, and all sub-committees of their appointment and duty, by transmitting to their respective first named members, an attested copy of the vote by which they were appointed, including the names of the members of each said sub-committee. He shall transmit copies of all votes and resolutions of the Board, which may require to be communicated, agreeably to the intentions thereof; insert the names of candidates on the notifications to members; notify new members of their election by the Board; and perform such other duties as by custom belong to the office of secretary.

RULE. 4. The Board shall meet on the third Tuesdays of January, April, July, and October; to devise measures for the general interests of the school; and special meetings may be called by the Chairman or standing committee, whenever deemed necessary. Sixteen members present shall form a quorum.

RULE 5. Elections to supply vacancies at this Board, shall always be by ballot, at a regular meeting; and nomination of candidates for the same, shall be made by the respective district committees in which such vacancies may occur, at some previous meeting; or in the interval of any two meetings by notice to the secretary of the Board, who shall insert the name or names thus proposed, in his notifications for the meeting next thereafter ensuing, when election thereof may be duly made.

Standing Commillees.

RULE 1. The Standing Committee shall consist of as many members as there are districts; whose duty it shall be, besides their attendance on the meetings of the Board, to meet on the second Tuesdays of January, April, July, and October, (and oftener if called by their chairman and secretary,) to consider of every subject relating to the primary schools; to receive the semi-annual reports of the district committees, and the instructer's returns, and prepare abstracts of them; and report at every quarterly meeting the result of their proceedings,-recommending any improvements necessary to promote the general objects of the Board.

RULE 2. It shall be the duty of the standing committee to visit and examine all the schools, semi-annually, viz.-in the months of March and September; assigning a district to each of their members in regular rotation, or otherwise, when expedient.