ANNUAL REPORT. THE Directors of the Institute ask leave to submit the following Annual Report: An examination of the records, and of the reports presented by the several Boards charged with the different interests of this Association, proves to the satisfaction of the Directors, that there has been great fidelity in every department. From the Report of the Curators, it appears that the Institute's Room, No. 21, School-street, Boston, is still kept open and well furnished for the accommodation of members throughout the year. Its table is regularly supplied with several of the best periodicals. in the country. The Library is becoming more and more valuable, already containing many of the latest works on Education, with numerous classical and scientific text books. For these last, we have been indebted in many cases to the liberality of booksellers and authors. The Censors report, that the publishing of the Lectures delivered before the Institute at the annual meeting in Worcester, was effected at an earlier date than has been usual in preceding years. In regard to the expenses of publication they further state, that after negotiating with several publishers, and adopting the proposal which they deemed the most favorable, they caused three hundred copies to be printed at the expense, and as the property, of the Institute. The whole cost was $259, of which $100 have been paid from the funds previously existing, and a balance remains of $159, which must be drawn from the treasury hereafter, unless it shall be realized from the sale of the volumes.. These are in the hands of a bookseller, to be disposed of on commission. No account has yet been rendered, as the principal sales have been expected to be made during the time of the annual meeting at Lowell. The Censors express great confidence in the favorable results obtained by the annual publication of the Lectures, but they believe that even such results will not justify the incurring of any debt, which might afterwards embarrass the financial concerns of the Institute. It is their opinion, as well as that of the Directors generally, that the discontinuance of these publications would diminish the influence and usefulness of this body; and the Censors finally suggest, that these volumes should hereafter be published as far as possible by subscription; and that, for this purpose, a paper should be circulated among the members at each annual meeting. The Committee of Finance report, that they have audited the Treasurer's accounts for the year past, and find them accurately kept and well vouched, and a balance due that officer, of thirtyone dollars and seventy-one cents; that this balance, added to that which remains due to the publisher of the Lectures, amounts to the sum of one hundred ninety-one dollars and twenty-one cents. The Committee of Finance are not apprised of any other debts due from the Institute. Among the transactions of the Board of Directors, at their stated meetings during the year, the following is deemed the most important. At the meeting in January last, it was resolved, "That a Committee of three be appointed to propose a premium of Five Hundred Dollars, provided that sum be raised otherwise than from the funds of the Institute, for the best Essay that shall be offered upon a system of Education best adapted to the Common Schools of our country; it being understood that the premium will not be awarded, if no essay be furnished, which, in the opinion of the Directors of the Institute, is worthy of it." Such a Committee has accordingly been appointed; the requisite funds have been raised by subscription; and advertisements have been extensively circulated in the newspapers in different parts of the Union. The Directors cherish a sanguine hope that this in vitation may elicit views and suggestions of incalculable benefit in elevating the moral and literary condition of our country. The ninth anniversary of this Association affords a new occasion for congratulating its members upon the success which has attended their efforts for the advancement of common education and for the improvement of teachers. What though the results have come short of our own sanguine expectations, or even of the real and most urgent wants of our community? If we look back to the first organization of the Institute in 1830, we shall see that much, after all, has been accomplished. These advances are most perceptible in our cities and larger villages. Schoolhouses have been built, or remodelled, upon plans much superior to those of former years. A more judicious and enlightened discipline, is coming into use. The course of study has been extended without becoming burdensome to the pupil. Moral and physical education, so much neglected in times past, are beginning to be recognised as the legitimate province of the schoolmaster. Teachers of inferior qualifications find it less and less easy to obtain employment; while the increasing deference and larger salaries paid to those of a more skilful and more cultivated grade, are in a high degree cheering to those of us who take an honest pride in belonging to the ranks of an honored occupation. Even where the projects of the Institute appeared to have failed, we yet have cause to believe that a deep impression was made upon the public mind; an impression so favorable to our views, that the very objects which we then proposed, have since been brought about by other agents, to whom we may claim the honor of having acted as pioneers. Witness our memorial, addressed last year to the legislature of Massachusetts, recommending the establishment of Seminaries for Teachers, at the public expense. Witness also that of the year previous, praying for the appointment of a Superintendent of Common Schools. Both these petitions were unsuccessful for the time, yet we now see one of these our favorite objects almost literally accomplished, while the other is in a train of speedy fulfilment. A Board of Education has been established, whose enlightened Secretary is actively engaged in diffusing the very benefits which had been expect ed from a Superintendent of Schools; while the same legislature which had declined giving its aid to the institution of Teachers' Seminaries, has at length offered liberal pecuniary assistance to those who shall, on their own account, commence the establishment of such institutions. It gives us pleasure to learn that several of the counties of this Commonwealth are awakened to a deep interest in this subject, and that well-endowed NORMAL SCHOOLS, may be expected soon to be in successful operation. From the experience of two years, the Directors are well satisfied of the advantage of changing, from year to year, the place of our annual meeting. This improved arrangement obviously accommodates many persons, who would otherwise be excluded by distance, forever from our councils, and tends to diffuse the benefits of the institution more widely than before. Cheered by the friendly encouragement so liberally extended to these meetings by the citizens of Worcester and Lowell, the Directors have voted to recommend that the next annnal session be held at Springfield; with which place, it is confidently expected that an easy communication will have been effected by the completion of the rail-road. The Directors would here express, in behalf of the Institute, their deep sense of obligation to the Board of Education, whose members, by avowing themselves at all times the friends and patrons of the Institute, have done much to augment its influence upon the country at large. In view of so many encouraging circumstances, it is hoped that every member of the Institute will continue his most efficient exertions in behalf of its benevolent, its glorious, -objects. Let us persevere. Let none abandon so productive a field. And may the Divine blessing ever rest upon our labors. By order of the Directors, WM. J. ADAMS, CHARLES K. DILLAWAY, Committee. Lowell, August 28th, 1838. |
