In the Prussian system, the law required plans of schoolhouses, and commanded that none should be built except according to such plans. Says M. Cousin, "The ministry has shown the most praiseworthy perseverance on the point, and I have now under my eye a general order addressed to all the regencies, containing a detailed description of the best and most economical manner of building school-houses-for the construction of school-houses must not be left to inexperience, or to an injudicious economy."

In the construction of a school-house, the windows should be high, so as to prevent out-door occurrences from attracting attention, also for the purpose of ventilating the room without throwing a current of air upon the head and neck of the pupils. A school-room should be equally warmed throughout every part of it. To secure this object a thermometer ought to be kept in every such room, and the heat regulated to about sixty degrees.

The floor of the school room should be level, and not on an inclined plane. Much is lost in symmetry, convenience and comfort by inclined floors, without any thing gained to compensate the loss.

The desks for scholars should be level; and the seat for each scholar separate, and confined to the floor. They should be accustomed to such desks as they will generally use in after life. Those in front should be lower for smaller children than the rows in the rear.

The backs to the seats should be so constructed as to conform to the natural curve of the back of the child. If so made, when he leans back for rest, the whole frame will be equally supported. This, on examination, will be found to be an important principle.

The following ground plan of a school-house contains eighty separate seats and desks. It is selected, with some variation in the arrangement, from the plans presented to the American The school-room should be so large as to contain a sufficient Institute of Instruction. The whole edifice, without the portiquantity of fresh and pure air. For the want of space to con- co, is 58 feet long, and 35 feet wide. The plan may be entain enough of this vital element, many a child has been sac-larged or diminished according to this rule. For ten scholars rificed. The want of space and air is a waste of health and of add four feet to the length; for twenty-eight scholars, add four life. feet to both length and width. For a less number of scholars, the length or breadth, or both, may be diminished at the same rate. The school-room here presented is 47 feet by 35 feet, within the walls.

The dimensions of the building should be such as to allow 21 feet to each scholar. It is believed that this allowance is not too liberal, the platform of the teacher being included.

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PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN MICHIGAN.

of the school district.

a

attending school, the time a school has been taught by a qualified teacher, the amount of money received from the board of school inspectors-amount for library-amount of money raised in the district, the purposes for which it was raised, and the books used in the school.

Every organized township in the State is separated into suitable number of school districts, in each of which, a school is to be established for the education of youth between the ages The moderator, director, and assessor, form the district board, of 5 and 17 years. Schools so established, are supported by and have power to levy and assess all moneys voted by the disthe interest arising from the primary school fund, and an equal trict-equalize assessment roll, procure a school-house, puramount raised by tax upon the township, as apportioned by the chase for the district, or dispose of district property as directed county commissioners, and by voluntary tax by the legal voters hy the district at proper district meetings-to divide district The officers consist, first, of three School Inspectors, who money into not more than two portions, and apply one of such are chosen by the people of the township at the annual town- portions to each term in the payment of a qualified teacher-to ship meetings, to act in the capacity of inspectors of schools require the assessor to give bonds for the faithful discharge of for the township. It is their duty to divide the township into his duties--to make report to the annual district meeting, of the suitable districts, receive and apportion all school moneys ari-receipts and disbursements of the past year. The board receive their appointment at the annual district meetings, and such sing from school fund or township tax, and money to be appli- compensation for their services as is voted by the district. ed to the support of libraries. Those districts that neglect to provide a school kept three months in the year, by a qualified teacher, forfeit their proportion of school money, and likewise the money to be apportioned for libraries, when provision for their support according to law is neglected. The board are required to report to the county clerk annually, the number of districts in the township, and to transmit the several reports of school directors in the same, under a penalty of fifty dollars, together with the full amount lost by their failure.

The qualified voters, when assembled at any legal district meeting, have power to designate or change the site for a school-house, and purchase or lease the same-to build, purchase, or lease a school-house, and impose a tax for the purpose, not exceeding five hundred dollars in a year, and such other taxes, from time to time, as may be necessary for the support of a school-to determine the length of time (not less than three months,) a school shall be kept, and to fix the amount of money in addition to the apportionment, which may be raised for the support of a school the ensuing year, which sum is not to exceed ninety dollars.

It becomes the duty of this board to examine all candidates for teaching primary schools, as to moral character and ability to teach school, and if satisfied with the qualifications of such Those districts procuring a library case and imposing a tax candidates, to give certificate of the same, signed by the mem- not exceeding ten dollars a year for the support of a library, are bers of the board, which certificate shall be in force one year. entitled to their proportion of all the clear proceeds of all fines The board have power to re-examine any teacher at any future collected in the several counties for any breach of the penal time, and annul his certificate. It is the duty of the board to laws; and also their proportion of the equivalent for the exvisit all primary schools twice in a year, inquire into their condition, examine scholars, and give proper advice to both teach-emption from military duty, for the support of the district lier and scholars, and to fill any vacancy that may occur from whatever cause. School inspectors receive one dollar and fifty cents per day for their services, and a refusal to serve in the office, forfeits, from the person refusing, to the use of the township school fund, twenty-five dollars. The township clerk is, ex officio, clerk of the board, and performs the various duties

incident to the office.

The district officers are a moderator, director, and assessor, elected annually, and obliged to serve or to forfeit, by refusal, to the use of the district library, ten dollars. The moderator presides at all meetings of the district, signs warrants for the collection of taxes and orders for the payment of money disbursed by the district, and countersigns warrants of the director upon the board of inspectors, for money apportioned to the district.

brary.

The foregoing abstract of the Primary School Law of Michigan, is taken from Mr. Blois' Gazetteer of that State. The law, Mr. Blois believes, will be found in some measure defective, not only in practice, but in principle. He thinks that, to be properly administered, efficient, learned and experienced agents are indispensable-and that the present organization does not guard sufficiently for the appointment of such agents.

"A

To correct and perfect the present system, let the government resume its powers over the whole subject, and commit the same to the superintendent. Let preparations be made for supporting a school in every district through the year. three months' school" will never prepare a youth of the rising The assessor is bound to make out an assessment roll of the generation for the duties of life, or the duties of a citizen. All district, which is transcribed in part from the township assess- taxes for the support of schools, should be levied and assessed ment roll, with the addition of the property of resident and non- in the same manner as the county or state tax-and distributed resident persons, purchased since the township assessment roll equally with the interest of the school-fund. School-houses, was last made; to give notice when a tax shall have been as- appendages, and appurtenances-books, stationery, apparatus, sessed; call a meeting of the board for the equalization of tax-&c.-should all be furnished by the proper officers, at the exes; collect taxes, and pay them on the warrant of the modera- pense of the school-tax or the fund. Let the powers of school tor; distrain and sell goods for non-payment, after publishing inspectors, the district school board, and the corporate powers the sale for ten days, &c. &c. Non-payment of school tax sub- of the district be abolished, and the same assumed by the sujects lands and tenements to be sold by the county treasurer, perintendent of schools for the county. Let the superintendin the same manner as is prescribed for the collection of coun- ent of public instruction appoint one or more deputy superinty taxes. tendents for each county in the State, who shall assume all the duties incident to the before-mentioned officers, and such others as are expedient, and who shall have full control of all matters, under his supervision, amenable to the superintendent of public instruction, and who shall have a fixed salary.

It is the duty of the director to record all proceedings of the district, in a book kept for the purpose, and preserve copies of all reports made to the board of school inspectors, to employ and pay a teacher-payment to be made by draft on the board of school inspectors to call meetings of the district board-to Let a committee of three persons from the township and levy an additional tax when the former apportionment shall be three from each district, be elected annually, assistants to the insufficient to pay the teacher-the amount however not to ex- deputy superintendent in such matters as he may require. Let ceed the sum voted by the district; and in case all prescribed him have power to convene either of these committees at resources fail, to assess the deficit upon parents and guardians pleasure, or the members of any school district, for the purpose in proportion to the time their children have attended school of conference, if he may deem necessary. And lastly, but not to take a census of the children of his district, and register their the least in importance, let every officer and teacher be well names and furnish a copy thereof to the teacher-to keep the paid for his services. school-house in repair, and furnish proper appendages-keep Without stating the reasons for all these alterations, which and present an account of expenses to the district board, and to are too obvious, it is confidently believed that these, with some give notice of annual and special district meetings. It is his other necessary corrections, would remedy nine tenths of the duty to report to the board of school inspectors, at the end of evils of our primary schools, in this and the neighboring states. the year, the census of the children of the district, the number But whatever the result may be, the subject is one of superla

tive moment to the rising generation, and should receive the XIV. The Books used in the public schools, shall be such candid consideration of the friends of education: and, whatever the plan of organization may be, it becomes the imperative duty of a people-of all parties and sects-unitedly to give it a cordial support."

I. No person shall be employed as a Teacher, or Instructor, in any of the Common Schools, until he or she shall have been examined at a meeting of the Examiners and Inspectors; and obtain from at least four of them, a satisfactory Certificate as to qualifications and moral character.

II. The teachers of the public schools shall hold their stations during the pleasure of the Board of Trustees and Visiters; and superior qualifications, in reference to moral character, literary attainments, industry and practical skill, shall alone be considered, in their appointment and continuance in office.

only as may be authorized by the Trustees and Visiters;and no pupil, unless furnished with the requisite Books and Stationary, shall be allowed to continue in the school, except by permission of the Visiter of the Ward.

XV. No Instructor in a public school shall be allowed to keep a private school, or attend to the instruction of private pupils, before 6 o'clock P. M., except on Saturdays.

XVI. It shall be the duty of every Teacher about to resign written notice to the Board, (or to one of its members) of such his or her station, in any public school, to give at least one week's intention. In case the temporary absence of a Teacher becomes necessary, a substitute may be employed, with the consent of the superintending Trustee and Visiter.

XVII. It shall be the duty of the Teachers to exercise a constant vigilance with regard to the apartments and premises under their care, that they may sustain no unnecessary injury. Their special attention is also required to the ventilation and temperature of the school rooms, and the cleanliness and comfort of the pupils.

XVIII. The HOLIDAYS of the Common Schools shall be every Saturday; Christmas and New-Year's day; and all III. All Teachers appointed by the Board are entitled to the Thanksgiving and Fast-days authorized by the State or Genrespect and obedience of their pupils; but the Principal Teach-eral Government.-The VACATIONS shall be the two weeks preers, being more immediately responsible to the Trustees, shall ceding the 2d Monday of July, and the two weeks preceding have precedence of the Assistant Teachers, in the regulation the 2d Monday in January, of each year. and direction of the studies and business of the schools.

IV. The several Teachers shall record the names and ages of all the pupils taught at their respective schools: noting the daily attendance of each, and the periods of suspension or departure; and return a copy of such record to the Board of Trustees, at the commencement of every semi-annual Vacation.

V. The hours of tuition and study, between the 22d March to 224 September, shall be from 8 A. M. until 12 o'clock at noon; and from 2 till 5 o'clock P. M. Between the 224 September and the 22d of March, they shall be from 9 A. M. until 12 o'clock M.; and from 1 'till 4 o'clock P. M.

VI. Teachers shall be punctual in attending to the hours for opening and dismissing school; and shall afford their pupils constant employment during the hours of tuition;-endeavoring to render their studies at once pleasant and profitable, by combining oral instruction with the use of Books, and providing a judicious variety in the tasks assigned them.

VII. No pupil shall be allowed to depart before the appointed hour of leaving school, except in case of sickness, or some pressing emergency; of which the Teacher shall be the judge. VIII. To prevent the irksome effect of long confinementthere shall be a Recess of Fifteen Minutes afforded for recreation (morning and evening,) between the opening and dismissal of the schools.

XIX. The Annual EXAMINATIONS (as enjoined by the school law) shall be held in the month of June; commencing on the last Monday of every current year, and closing with a general PROCESSION and EXHIBITION of the Schools;-at which the MAYOR, TRUSTEES and EXAMINERS will award and present appropriate Books, or Medals, to those scholars who have made the most satisfactory proficiency in learning.

XX. It shall, at all times, be the duty of the Instructors to exercise, as far as practicable, a general supervision over the conduct of their pupils, both in and out of school; and to inculcate upon them, on all proper occasions, the principles of morality and virtue. MINOR RULES,

To be observed by the PUPILS of the Common Schools of Cin

cinnati.

I. The Pupils must all appear at the appointed hours, with their hands, faces, and clothes clean.

II. They must be careful of their School Books ;-which are not to be soiled, torn, nor scribbled in.

III. They must be regular in their attendance; and never loiter (either for play or mischief,) on the way to or from School.

IV. They must promptly obey their Instructors; and strict-
ly observe the Rules adopted for their government.
V. They must attend diligently to their lessons.
VI. They must not study aloud, nor make any improper ges-

IX. Teachers shall at all times exercise a firm and vigilant, but prudent, discipline; punishing as sparingly as may be consistent with securing obedience; and governing, as far as practures, or unnecessary noise. ticable, by persuasive and gentle measures.

X. For violent or repeated opposition to the Authority of a Teacher, a pupil shall be subject to exclusion from the school, for the time being; upon which the parent or guardian, and Visitor, shall be informed of the measure, and time allowed for reflection and consulta ion. In all cases where the example of a refractory pupil is found injurious to his associates, or where reformation appears hopeless, it shall be the duty of the teacher, with the advice of the Trustees of the Ward, to have recourse to suspension from the school. But any suspended pupil, on giving satisfactory evidence of amendment, and expressing to the Teacher regret for his misconduct, shall, with the concurrence of the Trustee, be reinstated in the privileges of the school.

XI. No pupil shall be received or continued in the public schools under the age of [Six, nor over the age of Sixteen, years-except by special leave of the Board.

XII. Whenever it may be found necessary to reduce the number of scholars in any school, for want of sufficient room,the excluded pupils shall be taken from the youngest portion, and from those most irregular (and, of course, least benefitted)

in their attendance.

XIII. Pupils shall not be allowed the privileges of one school while under suspension in another, nor shall they be admitted into a school situated out of the District in which they reside, without an order from the Board.

VII. They must neither write, talk, nor whisper to each other, during school hours.

VIII. They must not leave their seats without permission; -nor remain at play longer than the time prescribed for them, IX. They must in all cases speak the TRUTH.

X. They must not quarrel with, nor strike, or abuse each other, on any occasion.

XI. They must not, either in speaking or writing, use profane, indecent, or offensive language.

XII. They should be always polite and respectful, in their behavior; and, neither do nor say, any thing to injure the persons, feelings, or property, of their neighbors or associates. P. S. SYMMES, Prest.

CHARLES SATTERLY, Clerk.

LESSON ON AIR AND BREATHING. Questions. 1. When we take in air by breathing, where does it go to? 2. When you close your nose, why do you open your mouth to breathe? 3. What good does breathing do? 4. How does breath or air do you good? 5. What are the lungs? 6. Why do people breathe faster after running or walking hard? 7. When I press my finger on my wrist, why do some of my veins look blue and others red? 8. Why does work or play often make the cheeks red? 9. Why does it make a person pale, and feel weak or sick, to sit long in a close room, with many other persons?

[Remarks, which may be used as answers to these questions. The teacher may first ask the questions, and let the pupils answer them; then read the remarks, and then put the questions again, to be answered.]

1. When we breathe, the air goes in at our mouth or nose. Near the back part of the mouth it comes to a place where two pipes or tubes begin. These pipes run side by side down the neck. You can feel them, by pressing your finger and thumb to your throat. One is in front, and the other is behind it. The front one is called the wind-pipe, because the air passes through it when we breathe, first down and then up. It has a cover, which shuts tight over it when any thing except air is coming. All the food we eat, and the water we drink, have to pass right over the top of this pipe: but the cover keeps them out. The opening of the meat-pipe is just behind it; and there the food and drink all fall in when we swallow. We have to open the cover or valve of the wind-pipe to speak ; and sometimes ill-mannered people, by attempting to eat and talk at the same time, get a crumb into the wind-pipe by mistake. You will know when this happens by their coughing. They cough because they cannot help it. The inside of the windpipe has a thin, tender skin, so that any thing that touches it, except air, feels rough, and makes you cough violently till it comes out. Our Maker, in kindness, has made all this so, to keep every thing except air out of our lungs, because it would injure or kill us.

2. There are only two ways to our wind-pipe: through the nose and the mouth.

3. Breathing does us good by getting fresh air into our lungs. If we do not take it in every little while, we must die.

4. Air does us good by refreshing our blood. But before you can understand all that you should about this, you should learn how the blood goes through all parts of us,-what sends it there and brings it back again,-how it gets changed in going out and coming back,-and what two gases air is made of, with the nature of each. I can tell you but little of all this now. Put your hand on your left side. You feel your heart beat. The heart is like two, small forcing pumps placed side by side. The first throws the blood into our lungs, where it meets the air we breathe, and is purified by it. Then this purified blood is fit to go through our veins again; so it is taken back to the heart, and the second pump throws it into our arms, legs, head, and all parts of the body. The air makes it bright red when it purifies it; but when it comes back, it is dark purple or blue. It is then entirely unfit to go round again; and we are so made, that if we do not get air into our lungs to purify the blood as fast as it comes into them, we feel distress. Hold your breath, and you will understand what this means. We feel so too, in some degree, if the air which we get is very bad. If it has been breathed before, it is not fit to be breathed again. It will not purify the blood fast enough. So, if we take short breaths, or breathe very slowly, it is bad for us, because the blood does not get air enough. If I button my coat too tight, I cannot take a full breath, because I must move my ribs to breathe. Some people wear clothes much too tight, and get the consumption, and die, without knowing why. Is it not your duty to tell others that they will injure their blood, and so perhaps kill themselves, if they wear tight clothes?

LESSON FOR SCHOOLS.-LANGUAGE.

Reading, writing, defining, grammar, composition, rhetoric. and declamation are called branches of education. They are rather secondary branches, that is, all branches of a larger branch, which is Language. It will be useful to a teacher to remember this, and to teach them sometimes in their natural connection. Many convenient methods have been devised to accomplish this. We will give an example of one.

The teacher may give out a few words for a class to use in writing sentences; and either choose subjects for them or not. New words he may define, and illustrate by remarks, or he may refer to a dictionary. The words given out may be marked with a cross or otherwise, in the composition. For example: LESSON 1st.-Spring, trees, flowers, grass, green, walking, pleasant, road, school, teacher, learner, books, kind, parents.

LESSON 24.-Summer, grain, fields, hot, shade, farmer, oxen, labor, rest, fatigue, house, industrious, water, drink, pure, refreshing, cool, read, enjoyment, converse, thoughts, retirement, repose.

LESSON 3d-Autumn, chilly, blow, leaves, variegated, hues, air, exhilarating, fruits, apples, peaches, resembling, age, contemplation.

LESSON 4th.-Winter. (The pupils may be required to select five, ten, or more words, and to put them into sentences on Winter.)

SPECIMENS. The following specimens of lessons written on this plan, we have copied, with the permission of a respected female teacher. They are from a book containing sixty-nine lessons, neatly written by a girl between nine and eleven years of age, who, when she began it, could not write a sentence on any subject without great difficulty and repugnance, and, before its close, was able to write with great facility, propriety, and pleasure.

LESSON 18th.-(Acceptation, easy, different, difficult, discouraged, include, particular.)

When we are trying to write a sentence from words, if we find them rather difficult, we should not be discouraged, but we should try to make one that will include the words, and if we cannot make one the first time, we should keep trying till we make one. If we always do so, we shall find it easy, although the particular acceptation of different words may trouble us.

LESSON 38th.-Azure, mausoleum, memento, mezzotinto, parlanquin, requiem, sequel. (The plurals of any of these words may be used if more convenieni.)

I think it would put me to a nonplus to write a sentence from these words: but I will try.

5. The lungs are two large things, like sponges, joined together at the top, and placed in the breast, or chest, partly above the heart. They are very light, being full of very small holes, or little pipes, which run in all directions. You may understand how they look, by observing the lungs or lights of an ox, The great men of India travel in palanquins, which are carsheep, or pig, which has been killed. Some of the little pipes tied on the shoulders of men. When they die, the people form in them lead from the heart, and take the blue blood as it comes a procession, and proceed to the grave of the deceased, where from the first pump. Other pipes lead from the wind-pipe, and a requiem is sung, and all their most valuable articles are bu receive the fresh air from it. The air and blood are thus al-ried with them. A mausoleum is then erected over the grave, most mixed together. The blood gets something from the air which is sometimes ornamented with mezzotintos, which are which reddens it, and the air gets something from the blue engraved with various devices. Mementos are then given to blood which changes its qualities, and makes it unfit for the relatives of the deceased. But after a few years, the sequel breathing again. This is all done while we are drawing in of their history is forgotten, as the azure sky, which soon vanour breath once.* We then breathe it out, and draw in some ishes. more fresh air. Our lungs are spread out and pressed together every time; and this we keep doing all day and all night. If we should stop for one minute, we should die. God keeps us

(AN EXERCISE IN SPELLING.-Let the pupil recollect and write down correctly the words he has mis-spelt in each lesson, and have it at hand to review daily; and at the close of the week be called on to spell them all over again. This has been found a very useful method.)

Here, then, is the patriotism of woman,-not to thunder in senates, or to usurp dominion, or to seek the clarion-blast of I wish it were so: but I am afraid the question is settled, so fame,--but faithfully, whether at home or abroad, to teach, far only as we have gone. What the future may disclose, who both by precept and example, that wisdom, integrity, and peace, can certainly tell? It is yet a grand desideratum, whether we which are the tutelar deities of our republic. As the termites have religion and virtue and intelligence enough to sustain our patiently carry grains of sand, till their citadel astonishes the blessed institutions. The danger is, that our liberties will de-eye,-as the coral insect toils beneath the waters, till reef joins generate into licentiousness, and that the growing laxity of fam- reef, and islands spring up with golden fruitage and perennial ily government will hasten on the fearful crisis. verdure, so let her of the weak hand and the strong heart,' in the school-room, the nursery, or the parlor, even to her deathbed, labor in the cause of that knowledge, purity, and piety, which are the glory of a nation.—Mrs. Sigourney.

There is an evil growing out of this prevailing spirit of insubordination, which we think has not been often enough adverted to; we mean an increased difficulty on the part of teachers. It is a trite but true saying, that no teacher can bring in-ceived, that such schools, in an accepting district, are entitled to proper subjection those pupils who are not well governed at home. We have demanded too much of our teachers for some time past, when we have required them to do more and better in their schools. The wonder is, not that they have done so little, but rather that in the midst of a set of pupils, neglected and ungoverned at home, they should have accomplished so much.

This evil of parental neglect is, as we have already said, very great. But this is not all of which we complain; would that it were. If parents who do not govern their children at home, would let the teacher govern them at school, it would be more tolerable. But so far are they from doing this, that they almost universally withdraw their children, if teachers do their duty. The common or public schools may indeed form an ex-ger.