Page images
PDF
EPUB

Education in New Hampshire.

CHILDREN IN FACTORIES.

431

An attempt has been lately made to do something in France, to prevent the destruction of health and life in factories. In England, much attention has been paid to this subject, and no child under nine years of can now be compelled to work in the factories at all, and none under thirteen more than 48 hours in a week. But in France, there appears to be no law of the kind; and that in some instances children from the age of six or seven years are still subjected to an amonnt of labor which destroys their constitution in the very blossom, and hinders them also from acquiring the least instruction, religious, moral, or intellectual. They grow up in the most brutal ignorance, and are worn out long before the period at which man usually obtains the full development of his maturity. A writer in the New York Observer says that the Society for Primary Instruction among Protestants are taking up the subject, and something will be done for these white slaves, as he calls them. He says, and with no little reason, that it is high time to put an end to the frightful and horrible practice of using up infancy for profit, and to prevent the rearing, in our bosom, of a generation of barbarians, of men without religion, without education, without morals, without principles of of any kind, who are ready, at the first political commotion, to whelm every thing in fire and blood. On this subject, too, Christian America might do well to take a few lessons, or at least a few hints, even though they come from infidel France.

POPULAR EDUCATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

We learn that the House of Representatives in New Hampshire, at their session in 1837, passed a bill for the establishment of a Board of Education, to have the superintendence of the public schools of the State, and at the recent session of the Legislature, this bill coming before the Senate, the consideration of it was postponed till next year, with the direction that in the mean time it should be published. It has accordingly just appeared in the New Hampshire Patriot.

It contains provisions similar to the act recently passed in this State for a similar purpose, the only material difference being that the New Hampshire Board consists of but three persons, while that in this State has ten members. In contains provisions for the rotation in office of the members of the Board; for the returns by the school committees of the several towns, and the prohibition of a share in the Literary fund to those towns which neglect to make returns; for an abstract of the returns to be made by the Board, similar to those in force in this State.

432

Notices of Books and Papers.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION.

We have just received from David M'Clure, Esq., of Philadelphia, a copy of an elegantly printed octavo volume, of 363 pages, entitled, 'A Brief System of the Philosophical Principles upon which the System of Education for the Girard College of Orphans is founded.' Prefixed to the work are also about fifty pages of correlative, or explanatory matter. We are exceedingly interested in the work; and when we have perused it more thoroughly, we intend to give our readers an account of it. We will only say now, that it is evidently the result of much thought, and of profound and thorough investigation; as must be admitted by all who examine it, even if they should not agree with Mr M. in every one of his positions.

THE EDUCATOR.

We have seen the third and fourth number of a new paper, with the above title, published at Easton, in Pennsylvania; and conducted by Pres. Junkin, and Prof. Cunningham, of the Lafayette College. The numbers which we saw appear to inculcate just and enlarged views; and to breathe a liberal spirit. The mechanical execution of the paper is superior to that of any paper of the kind now published, except the Common School Assistant.

We ought to add that the paper is issued every second week, in numbers of eight pages quarto size, at one dollar a year, if paid in advance, or one dollar twentyfive cents, if payment is deferred.

REMARKS ON TEACHING PENMANSHIP.

We have seen a neat little pamphlet, just issued from the press of Perkins & Marvin of this city, entitled, Remarks on Teaching Penmanship,' by Mr B. F. Foster, whose reputation as a teacher and author on Writing and Book-keeping, are well known. It is designed as an introduction to a set of large and small hand copies, which, we understand Mr F. is preparing to publish. We should be glad to make liberal extracts from this pamphlet, but have not room in the present number.

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small]

AMERICAN

ANNALS OF EDUCATION.

OCTOBER, 1838.

COLUMBIA FEMALE INSTITUTE.

[ocr errors]

MOTHERS and schoolmasters,' says Dr. Rush, ' plant the seeds of nearly all the good and evil that exist in our world; its reformation must therefore be begun in nurseries and schools.' We have long believed so; and this should be a sufficient reply to the question so often asked, why we devote so much of our time to writing for these two classes of citizens. Half, or almost half the adult world are mothers. Is it not therefore a matter of consequence how they are educated who educate the world? True, the occupation of a schoolmaster is highly dignified. 'Next to mothers,' as Dr. Rush also informs us, the schoolmaster is the most important member of civil society.' But in putting him next to mothers, he obviously gives to the mother the first place.

It is in the spirit of these sentiments that we often dwell so largely on the education and influence of females both in the family and elsewhere. It was in this view that we gave so much space to this subject in our last number, especially to the address of Dr. Wylie. In the same view, and not to compliment a particular institution-one in which we cannot possibly have any personal concern or interest-we now present a brief account of the Columbia Female Institute. We are sure the account will be highly gratifying to many a western and southwestern citizen, besides Dr. Wylie; as well as to many a friend of female education this side of the mountains. Philanthropy is not bounded by rivers or mountains; or by state or national limits.

The Columbia Female Institute was established nearly three years ago. A general idea of the building may be obtained from the engraving on the opposite page. It is a noble Gothic structure, 120 feet in length, and three stories high, with spires

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »