the withdrawal of children from such schools by those the difficulties which now lie in the way of school imparents who value an education, and are able to secure provement, in the law itself.

it at a private school. It would be far better to suffer In Massachusetts the importance of securing this grasome inconvenience in point of distance, rather than dation of schools, and the employment of female assistlose the inestimable advantage of a spacious school ants for smaller children, who require a discipline adaproom, properly located and fitted up, of a well qualified ted to their own active and susceptible natures, has led teacher, and of a universal attendance of all the children to the passage of a law requiring the employment of a of the district. Besides, I have not found that the chil- female assistant or assistants in every school which condren who live nearest the school house are most regular tains over 50 scholars as the average number, unless in their attendance. On the other hand, I have found the town or district, at a meeting regularly called, shall the reverse to be true in a majority of instances in vote to dispense with the same. which I have made inquiry. I have found too that. The Pennsylvania and Ohio school laws, which have some of the best schools in the State have been crippled been framed with great care, and after a critical examand ruined by this division and subdivision. So impor- ination of other school systems, contain similar provistant is this considered in New York, that the Superin-ions. With such provisions in our law, and a correstendent of schools has frequently set aside all that has ponding practice in those districts which admit of it, been done in forming new districts, in case the existing and adequate means for raising up and compensating district is, by the formation of the new one, left with good teachers, I shall look forward with hope and faith less than 40 children, or the new one embraces less than to the increasing prosperity of the common schools. that number. This rule is not dispensed with unless Before leaving this topic of school districts, I will say under peculiar circumstances. Provision is also made that no part of the school law requires such thorough for annexing the inhabitants of districts, which have revision as this. The relation of districts to the school fallen below the standard of ability in respect to chil-society should be better defined, the powers and duties dren and taxable property, to maintain a respectable specifically pointed out, the facility of division and subschool, to adjoining districts. division checked, all that relates to the building and But there are evils incident to districts containing repairs of school houses be cleared of the difficulties 'too many children, or embracing too great an extent which now embarrass the action of districts in this reof territory. If the attendance is full, (and I could name spect, and the power of taxation so far extended as to several districts where the average attendance exceeds authorize a small annual appropriation for a school 70 even when one third of those enumerated did not at-library, &c. tend the public school,) the room is crowded with scholars of every age, in almost every branch of study been set off with so little regard to the requisitions of There are a large number of districts, which have of every degree of proficiency, in a great variety of text books, so as to defeat all classification and require a the law, that most of the proceedings would be adjudglarge share of the teacher's time to govern his school. ed invalid by our courts. In not a few instances teachThese are however in part cured by the employers would find it difficult to maintain an action for the ment of a better paid teacher, and in some instances, recovery of wages, and the treasurer of the district by dividing the school into separate apartments. Would be liable, personally, for moneys paid out. The This last succeeds admirably well, but it is difficult law should be made more plain, its requisitions enforcto find authority for it in the law. When howeved, and a copy be always accessible to the proper offier the practice does not prevail, it leads to the with- cers in each district. drawal of many children from the public school, and the establishment of a "select" or private one. Here the evil of crowded room, bad ventilation, and, promiscuous associations are avoided. But the public school is sure to suffer in reduced means, and much more in the abandonment of all that concerns its prosperity, by some of the most intelligent families of the district.

3. ENUMERATION.

The whole number of persons between the ages of 4 and 16 residing and belonging in the several districts in this State, as returned to the office of the Comptroller, was 83,977. This, however, does not include 1400 in districts which made returns in 1837, and will probably apply for their proportion of the school fund money, forfeited from non-compliance with the law in this particular. This number, together with 300 returned within the last three years, in small districts which there is no evidence have been dissolved, gives an aggregate of 85,777 persons between 4 and 16 in the State. This number compared with the whole population of the State, and to the census of other States, is unusually large. It may however be perfectly accurate. Other States have not the same inducement to be so minutely accurate, to look up every living person between the above ages. Still I have reason to believe that a different construction of the words "residing and belonging" prevails in different districts, which leads to a There can be no objection to these alterations, for double enumeration of the same person. The practice no district is compelled to act under them unless it is general, if not uniform, to enumerate all persons beshould be thought advisable. They remove some of tween the requisite ages, in the district where their

These two opposite evils, of too small and too large districts, may be remedied by a law authorizing the union of two or more districts, which shall leave the younger children, if it is thought advisable, of each district where they are now, and lead to the establishment of a school for both districts, at the most convenient point in reference to the extremes of each; and another section, authorizing the employment of one or more female assistants, in the populous districts, or the classification of the scholars according to age or proficiency, into two or more departments, to be taught in the same building, or in rooms located at the most convenient points of the districts.

1

home is, that is, where their parents or guardians re- or the district committee, as such. And the rates of side, even though they may be absent for some tempo- tuition are such as to close the door to the children of rary purpose. On the other hand, such persons resi- the poor. But including this class of scholars, and deding in any districts for the temporary object of instruc- ducting those under four and over sixteen, and the tion, are considered so far to belong to those districts actual attendance at school any portion of the winas to be enumerated. This last practice was pro- ter, falls short of the number enumerated, near 17,000. nounced by the Commissioner of the School Fund in While the average attendance falls below the enumer1833, erroneous. According to his interpretation of ation, near 25,000.

the Statute, a child's residence is its home, or where its This irregularity of attendance is a serious hindrance, parents reside. And the child does not reside and be- not only to the scholars practicing it, but to the whole. long to the place to which it temporarily resorts to at-school, and adds greatly to the perplexities and labors tend school or receive instruction of any kind. The of the teacher. Besides, it amounts, as will be scen child can only be enumerated in the district where it above, to a total absence from school of nearly one belongs. This decision given at the request of the fifth of the whole attendance. Committee of the Legislature, reduced the enumeration But serious as this evil is, the non-attendance of from 85,172, what it was in 1832, to 83,644. It will 17,000 children on the public schools out of an enumerbe seen, that including the children in districts not re- ation of near 67,000, is in itself frightful evidence of the turned last year, the aggregate number is nearly what want of general interest in these institutions. This nonit was in 1832. The failure to make out the enumera- attendance is made up of those who are placed in prition as required by law, is now an evil of frequent oc- vate schools, on account of alleged, or existing defects, currence, and of serious consequence. For the first or inconveniences connected with common schools, or eight years after the passage of the law, the average of those who attend school no where. number of applications for school money forfeited from As I purpose to submit a few remarks further on, in this failure, was six. For the last three years the aver-reference to private schools, I will confine myself here age was over twenty. to the latter branch of the evil-the non-attendance of

5. NON-ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL.

This omission has been encouraged by the facility children on any school, public or private. with which such applications are granted by the Legislature. This failure should in no instance occur. The The number of children between the ages of four enumeration of all the children of the district, including and sixteen, not attending any school, public or private, as it should the age and sex of each, is of great impor- is 4730 out of the districts which have made any retance, not only for a just distribution of the school diviturns on this most important point. This number, dends, but as the measure of the educational wants of such districts. It should therefore be made the interest in no school during the past winter. In a majority of great as it is, is far below the actual number who were of a district to see that this duty is performed; and that districts, no returns on this head are given. In several there may be some justice in the loss of all, or of part of them, to my knowledge, the public schools are in a of the money which they would be entitled to, the offi- defective state, and a large number of private schools cer to take the enumeration should be one of their ap-supported-and where these two circumstances are pointment. In case no return is made to the Society found together, a third result may be safely inferred, committee within the time specified, the committee that a large number of children will be in no school should be directed to warn the proper committee of the whatever. Judging then from official returns, from my district of the omission, and then in case of further neg-own inquiries and the examinations made by school aslect, take the enumeration, and the school money thus sociations which have been communicated to me, I am received should go to the support of other schools in satisfied that not less than 6000 children between the the society, ages of four and sixteen were in no school whatever The expense in time consumed by the Legislature during the past winter, out of the 1218 districts returnin action on these applications, and the expense to the ed-and probably not less than 8000 in the State. But district and individuals, would go far to pay a hand- to know how to deal with this alarming state of things, some compensation to every school visiter in the State.

4. ATTENDANCE,

I know of nothing in the school law that limits the proper school age, unless it comes within the general grant of powers to school visiters and overseers. The practice varies in different societies.

The aggregate attendance of children of every age, for any portion of the winter, in 1218 districts returned, is 54,550, of which number, 30,338 were males, and 24,222 females. This includes 1033 under four, and 3438 over sixteen years of age.

let us examine it in detail. These absentees are found, generally speaking, in every school society, but principally in our populous cities and manufacturing districts. First, non-attendance at school in large towns and cities.

Here it is that the inefficiency of our school system, as intended to embrace the children of the whole community is most manifest, and yet here the restraining influence of education is most needed. Good common schools, nay the best in the State, are to be found in our cities-the only ones which can be spoken of as in any degree approaching the standard which should be aimed It includes also scholars in schools strictly private, at in every large district of Connecticut. But these although by a process, the legality of which is not quite schools are few in number, and are confined to particuclear to my mind, they are converted into district schools. lar districts--and owe their character and usefulness to The teacher, it is true, is examined and approved, and that public interest, and wise and constant supervision the school visited twice during each season of schooling, of responsible committees, which can alone make good by the proper committee-but the management of all schools any where. I know not of a single city or town, that concerns the school is not entrusted to the district, in the State which has a system of public schools at al

adequate to its educational wants-not one which can dispense with the necessity of expensive private schools -not one which by creating a living public sentiment, a sort of moral police, in favor of education, includes the children of the rich and the poor in its embrace. Take for example the official returns for Hartford, New-London, Middletown and Norwalk.

Number of persons between four and sixteen enumerated in 1838,

Number in attendance of all ages and for any length of time,

Average attendance, excluding 186 under four and over sixteen,

Children in private schools,

Children in no schools, private or public,
Amount of School Fund dividend,

Avails of Town Deposite Fund and Local Funds,
less than

3939

2803

The non-attendance upon any schools in our cities, is confined principally to these classes:

mittees were but half as vigilant to see who was in the ranks of the absentees would soon be reduced. school, as they are to get all on the enumeration list,

In New-Haven there is a school for children of this one of the most useful charities of our State. It is

class, supported by several benevolent ladies, which is

1st. The children of the reckless, the vicious and the intemperate, whose natures have become so debased that they are willing to abandon their offspring to the chance education of the streets, or the demoralizing training of their own criminal and vicious practices. With such cases, society ought, in self defence, to deal 6345 with parental severity. Better for parent and for child, better for society in all its present and future relations to such, to exert the power lodged in her collected will, to prevent what she will one day be called up2000 on to punish. For there is a moral certainty, that such 1114 children, if allowed to grow up familiar only with sights $8,556 25 and sounds of degrading and loathsome vice, and stranto those motives which ought to stir and guide hu$4,000.00 gers Aggregate expense of private schools, $10,000 00 man activity, will only follow the footsteps of their paThis table is a fair specimen of the condition of ed-rents to deeds of darker dye. ucation in the populous districts and cities of the State. 2d. The children of the poor, the ignorant and the Other instances would only swell the aggregates, but negligent. These can be reached by a vigorous public not effect the proportions. It shows the fact that school sentiment in favor of education, and by the watchful su money is drawn on nearly twice the number of chil-perintendence of school committees. If district comdren who attend public schools-that the attendance as shown by the general average is irregular-that owing to alleged or existing defects more than one eighth of all the children are sent to private schools at more than three times the expense of the public schools-and that nearly one sixth of all are in no school, public or private. And yet from the ranks of such, if they are al- most desirable to have such children brought into the lowed to grow up without the restraining influence of public school, in order to give them self respect-but if the moral code which education institutes, will come sued in New-Haven should be adopted elsewhere. circumstances will not allow of it, then the mode purforth the idle, the vicious, the criminal, to plunder, tax, Such schools should be recognized as district schools, or wound society in its peace, property and happiness. But these evils will not be confined to the cities where so as to receive the advantage of the public money. they spring and are fostered. They are spread out 3d. Apprentices and clerks. These compose a very over the whole State to carry woe, poverty, crime and numerous portion of what would be the senior class of expense to communities which may have made adequate our public schools-those who from the haste of parents provision for the education of all the children within or their own necessities, are hurried into the workshop. their own limits. Hence the moral importance of our or the counting room. Now if they have been properlarge towns and cities in the social and civil economy learned to read with a facility that is itself a pleasure, ly educated, so as to love study for its own sake, have of the State cannot be over estimated. The evils resulting from imperfect systems of education here must be ucation, which can be attained as well in a common and above all, if they have attained the true end of edguarded against. The same principles of supervision, school as in a college or an academy, the power to obhowever well they may be found to work in the country, cannot be safely calculated on in the city. The serve, to reflect, to compare, to judge, to adapt means same reliance cannot be placed on the obligation of to ends, then they can convert their trades and their rental duty in reference to the education of children. For employments into the instruments of their own self edthe results show, that though the State provides the means of common school education with an unprece- deem it very important that evening schools should be To meet the wants of this large class of our cities, I dented liberality, still large numbers of ignorant, unfortunate, vicious, or negligent parents will be found in established. I am aware that after the day's toil, such our cities, whose children will remind them rather of persons will bring with them but little of that freshness physical wants to be supplied, food, clothing, lodging-But on the other hand, I have found that many of this of mind and body so necessary to progress in study. of all those things which concern the present in its lowest sense, than of the wants of the mind, of that moral class, whom the accidents of life, or the haste of parents and mental culture necessary to fit them for present use-selves of any and every means of improvement. Such have hurried into active business, will gladly avail themfulness and immortal destinies. Hence the means provided must be sufficient to keep schools and the establishment of school libraries. The means should be furnished by the opening of evening the school open the year round-the superintendence required every where, must here be more direct, con advantages of such schools should be made available to stant and efficient and the instruction communicated all over twelve years of age. be such as to induce, not only from its cheapness but its quality, the large majority of parents to send their children to the public schools, and thus create a public opinion, active and interested, in favor of education.

pa

ucation.

4th. There is still another class who are among the absentees from schools-I refer to colored children.

tion return. Why then should not the district or society, or city authorities see to their education? Their

There is no reluctance to include them in the enumera

education would be cheaper to the community than their | brace manufacturing establishments, are constituted a crimes and vices, which are the offspring of neglect and board of visiters to ascertain annually, in the month of ignorance. While the blacks constitute but one twenti- January, or some other time by them appointed, whetheth of our population, they furnish about one sixth of er the requisitions of this act are duly observed, and if all the crime of the State. It costs the State annually, not, it is made their duty, to report such neglect to the to prosecute and convict the colored inmates of the pris- next County Court. on alone, a sum sufficient to educate nearly all the col- The amount of intellectual instruction thus secured, ored children of the State between the ages of four and or aimed at to be secured by the law for every child, sixteen. Separate schools for this class of children ex- is small enough; and under proper teaching, can be ist in Hartford, and perhaps elsewhere. They should communicated in a very short period. There may be opened in all our large cities. There is, I should not be a child without this degree of instruction in any think, power enough already in the school societies to manufacturing establishment in the state. And yet I do this. If not, for these and other purposes, cities am not able to learn that, in a single town, the proper should be clothed with the power of school societies. board of visitation established by the act above referred Second, non-attendance at school in manufacturing to, has been organized to ascertain the facts in the case. districts. The returns show, that there are grounds for inquiry. Next to our cities, the largest number of children not And the interest of the children,-the honor and happiin attendance on any school, public or private, is found ness of the State, are involved in a criminal negligence in the districts in which are located factories and man of the education of any who are so soon to become the ufacturing establishments. The comparative cheap- fathers and the mothers, the jurors, witnesses, electors ness of the labor of females, and of children, where it of the State. It will be but a poor glory for Connectican be resorted to at all, has led to its extensive intro- cut, to be able to point to her populous and industrious duction into factories, to the exclusion as far as possible, manufacturing villages as the workshops of the Union, of the more costly labor of men. From a statement in for so many articles of luxury, comfort, or necesa report to the legislature of Massachusetts, a few years sity, if they are also to become blots upon her moral since, it appeared that more than 200,000 females are and intellectual character.

employed in the various manufacturing establishments It is due to the proprietors of these establishments, to of the United States. Most of this number are young-say, that as far as my own personal knowledge extends, many are still of the proper school age. In this single they are anxious to afford every opportunity for the fact, are involved considerations of the most weighty social, moral and intellectual improvement of those in character, as to the influence of such establishments their employ. Several of the most commodious school which have grown up all about us, and from the pecul- houses in the State are to be found in those villages, iar advantages of Connecticut, are likely to increase Evening schools have been opened, and school libraries still further, upon the future destinies of the State and given to the district. But much more remains to be the country. One thing is clear, from the experience done.

of the past, both at home and abroad, that about such establishments will always be gathered a large number

6. LENGTH OF WINTER SCHOOLS.

of parents, who either from defective education in them- The law does not enforce the keeping of the schools selves, or from the pressure of immediate want, or from for any prescribed period, or declare directly that it the selfishness which is fostered by finding profitable shall be kept open both in summer and winter. The employ for their children, do not avail themselves of language that the schools must be visited twice "during the means offered by the State, and not unfrequently each season of schooling," would certainly imply that increased by the liberality of the proprietors, to secure it was to be kept in summer and winter. Such, howevan education for their children. In addition to these in- er, is not the understanding, or the practice. Several fluences, the self interest of proprietors is a temptation constantly operating to withdraw children of both sexes at too carly an age from the school room, to the employment of the factories, which, if always healthful, are not the proper training ground for the moral and mental habits of the future men and women of the State.

districts have been returned as having no school the past winter; and I know of many more, in which no school was kept during the summer. In many, the summer schools are not regarded as public; so far, at least, that it is not thought necessary to comply with the law in reference to visitation.

In the 1218 districts returned, the average length of the winter school is 18 weeks. Deducting that class of schools which are kept the year round, or 24 weeks for the winter, the average is less than 17 weeks.

of the summer schools for 1838. But supposing it to be the same as in 1837, it will give an average of 8 months for the year.

The strong conviction that such would be the results. of the negligence, the necessities, and cupidity of parents on one side, and the self interest of employers on the other, led to the passage of a law many years since, to secure the instruction of children employed in facto- I have not the means of ascertaining the average length ries and other manufacturing establishments. By that act, the proprietors of such establishments are compelled to see that the children in their employ are taught to read, write, and cipher, and that due attention is paid to the preservation of their morals. And for neglect in these particulars, the County Court, on a proper presentation of the subject, and proof, are authorized to impose such fine or forfeiture as they may consider just and reasonable. To secure the observance of this act, the selectmen and civil authority of such towns as em

If this is correct, it would seem that we have not made much advance in this particular, in these latter days of the republic. So early as in 1769, "each town of 70 families must maintain one good and sufficient school for at least 11 months in the year." And those of less for at least six months in the year. So late as 1827, when an examination was made into the condi

In the second place, it leads to the perpetual and expensive change of school books, so much complained of, and so justly complained of, by parents. Every teacher has his favorite text books, and is naturally desirous of introducing them wherever he goes. And as there is no system adopted in relation to this subject in any society, he usually succeeds in introducing more or less of them into every school. The money now expended in the purchase of new books, caused by the change of teachers, would go far to continue the same teacher another month in the same school. Thus the district might practically gain, without any additional expense, two months schooling each year, by employing the same teacher year after year.

tion of our schools, it appeared that the schools were but leads to the breaking up of regular habits of study, kept on an average about 8 months of the year. Since which will be felt in the whole future life. 1827, the dividends from the School Fund have advanced from 72,449,75, to 104,060,00, and within the last two years, the several towns have realized at least $22,000 more from the Deposite Fund, making the aggregate receipt of public funds $53,000 more than it was in 1827, or nearly twice the amount on every child between 4 and 16. And yet the length of the school term has not been prolonged more than two weeks. Before leaving this topic, I would mention that the winter schools commence at so late a period, that the best portion of the school season is lost. Out of the 1218 districts returned, 194 only, commenced in October, 646 in November, 339 in December. This is owing to the delay or neglect of the district committee to procure a teacher, and in consequence of this, too often one of inferior qualificaitons is forced upon a district.

7. TEACHERS.

common schools nearly all those who have decided to In the third place, this practice excludes from our make teaching a profession, and drives them, almost as a matter of course, into private schools or academies, The whole number of teachers employed in the 1218 Out of the 1292 teachers employed, only 100 have been districts returned, is 1292, of which 996 are males, and engaged in teaching for more than 10 years; and of 296 females. The excess of teachers above the num- this number a large proportion have only taught in the ber of districts, is owing to the employment of assist- winter. But this evil is aggravated by the inadequate ants, principally female, in the same schools, or the di-compensation which is given. vision of the district into two departments, under teach- The average rate of wages for male teachers is ers independent of each other. This is done in some $15,48 per month, exclusive of board; for female districts under a special act of incorporation; in others, teachers, $8,33. This includes the very liberal salathe practical advantage of the course has led to its ries paid in some of our large cities and districts, for adoption, without much inquiry into the legality of the teachers permanently engaged. Leaving them out of practice. It is uniformly admitted in those districts the estimate, the average rate will be somewhat rewhere the practice has been adopted, that the schools duced. are better off than they were before. And I can add, It is time for every friend of improvement in our that in such districts are to be found the best schools of common schools to protest against the inadequate and the State.

The proportion of male to female teachers would be reversed in the summer schools The great ambition in many districts seems to be to have a "man's school" in the winter, and a "woman's school" in summer. Most of the teachers employed the past winter, have not taught the same schools two successive seasons. Out of 1292 teachers returned, but 341 have taught the same school before. Omitting those who are engaged for the whole year, as permanent teachers, and the number is less than 240. And these were not engaged in the summer, but only for the winter. In this single fact is found an explanation of many of the acknowledged defects in our schools.

disproportionate compensation paid to female teachers. I have no hesitation in saying, that in the schools which I have visited, the female teachers were as well qualified, as devoted to their duties,' and really advanced their pupils as far as the same number of male teachers. Let but a more generous appreciation of the value of their services as teachers, especially in the primary departments, prevail-let the system be so far modified as to admit of their being employed more extensively than now, not only in the summer, but the winter schools, and, as far as possible, for the year round, and a new and happy impulse would not only be felt, in the more thorough intellectual training of youth, but in the improved manners and morals of sociIn the first place, nearly one month of the school is ety. As it is now, that class of females best qualified, practically lost in the time consumed by the teacher in by having enjoyed the advantages of superior and exgetting acquainted with the temper, wants, dispositions, pensive schools, cannot be induced to enter the common and previous progress of his various pupils, with a view schools as teachers, on account of the inadequate comto their proper classification, and to the adaptation of pensation, and the unnecessary difficulties and inconhis own peculiar modes of government and instruction. veniencies connected with the employment. If the State By the time the school is in good progress, the scholars would but furnish an opportunity for a numerous and begin to drop away, the school money is exhausted, most deserving class of young females, who are forced and the school dismissed. After a vacation of unneces- by their necessities into the corrupted atmosphere and sary length, as far as the recreation and relief of the unhealthy employments of our workshops and factories, children are concerned, the summer school commences to prepare themselves for teaching, and then remove with reduced numbers, under a less vigilant supervision, the obstacles in the way of their being employed to the with a poorly compensated teacher, to go through the best advantage, an untold amount of female talent and same course as before ;-and so on from year to year. usefulness, now in part wasted, or if employed even at The loss of time consequent on the change of teachers, better compensation, at least to a far less useful purpose, and the long intermission between the two seasons of would be enlisted in the so much needed work of mouldschooling, not only retards the progress of the school, ing the childhood and youth of this State and nation.

!