that a large portion of the next generation will be ignorant, and consequently vicious and degraded. We do not hesitate to say, that the community cannot afford such a sacrifice. It is our duty, and for the public good, to provide the means by which all may have at least the rudiments of education; but we go farther, and take the ground that all should have a good one. We do not mean by this that all should have what is called a classica!, or collegiate training; but that every one, so far as practicable, should have the advantage of a good English education; and we believe this can be done at a very moderate expense, in addition to the amount of money received from the public funds. Another reason why our schools are not more useful, is, that they are not continued through the year. The boy who may have been well taught in the winter, and is out of school in the summer, finds, when he again enters the winter school, that he has to go over again his old lessons, before he can make any advance in his studies; and if, as is generally the case, there is a new teacher in the district, the difficulty is greatly increased. The great advantage of continuing the schools through the year, under com. petent teachers, has been tested in the first and fifth districts. We do not believe there are any schools in the State that surpass them; and in the 5th district, (Greenville) where the scholars are divided into three classes, under as many teachers, the good results have been very great. We can recommend these schools as models for the Society. Singing has been introduced into the first, fifth, and sixth districts, with good effect; and we were much gratified with hearing the scholars unite their voices in songs and hymns. We wish the practice could be introduced into all the schools of the Society. We cannot expect to have our common schools what they ought to be, until we have teachers who are trained to their profession. To effect this, we must have normal schools, or seminaries for the instruction of teachers. This must be done by the State, and ought to be done immediately. We have already stated, that we have been compelled to refuse certificates to two applicants; it was painful to do it; but it was our duty, and we could not hesitate in the course we were bound to take, as the agents of the Society. To illustrate the necessity of elevating the qualifications of teachers, we will state another fact. The teacher of the first class at Greenville, being obliged by ill health to leave the school, the district cominittee advertised for a person to fill the vacancy. They had 4 applications for the situation. On having stated to them the qualifications required, 13 declined being examined. We examined the 14th, and were constrained to reject him; and yet, that is not of a higher order than every district school ought to be. The schools at Greenville have been improved and elevated, by uniting the two districts, and classifying the scholars. The same, we believe, may be done in all the districts, by adopting a similar course. And we recommend that there be but three districts, to be called the first, second and third. We propose to unite the 1st 2d and 6th to form the 1st; the 3d and 4th at the Falls, to form the 2nd; and the old 5th and 7th, now united at Greenville, to form the 3d. Under the new arrangement, we propose to have the boys and girls in each district taught together, until eight years of age, by females, to be taught spel ing, with defining and reading, thoroughly, and the elements of arithmetic and geography. The girls, over eight years, to be taught in another school, in each district, by females, and the boys by males. Instruction to include all the branches of a good English education; and all the schools to be continued throughout the year. By this arrangement, we should have in the first (new) district, 3 primary schools for boys and girls, to occupy the present school houses; 3 schools for girls over eight years, in the same buildings, and one school for boys of the same age, to be kept in the upper room of the school house in the (now) first district. The last mentioned school to be taught by one male teacher, and one assistant the whole year; and, if necessary, another assistant in the winter, giving six female and two or three male teachers in the new district. We think this can be done, at an expense not exceeding $700 more than is now paid in the three districts. The expense of fitting the room for the boys' school, would probably be from two to four hun dred dollars. In the second (new) district, at the Falls, we propose to have two primary schools for the young children. It might, perhaps, in this district, be well to vary the plan, and have but one school for boys and girls over eight years. The number of scholars might not justify the establishment of four schools. In the third (new) district at Greenville, we recommend no change from the present arrangement. To carrry this plan into effect, the Society or the districts must provide funds by a tax on property, or an assessment on the children. The latter course has been taken at Greenville, the past year, and the cost has been one cent per day for each scholar's attendance; which was all paid, except $28, by the parents. We think, if the Society will appoint a committee to examine the subject, they will approve of the adoption of the plan submitted by us, or some other, which will effect the object proposed, without greatly increasing the expense of sustaining the present schools. The school houses in the first, third, fifth and sixth districts are good; in the second and fourth, they are not so good; in the second, a new house is needed. We earnestly recommend that libraries of useful books be introduced into all the districts. It may now be done at a small expense, and the result, in creating a taste for reading, and an increased de. sire to treasure up knowledge, cannot be too highly estimated. To facilitate instruction in geography, every school should be supplied with good maps and a globe. All the schools have blackboards, and are much benefitted by their use. Parents might add much to the in. terest of the scholars in their studies, by their visiting the schools. We are happy to state, that more of this has been done the past year than for a long time before, and the effect has been good. In Greenville, at the last examination, there were more than 40 present. There has been an improvement in all the schools the past year; especially in reading, spelling and arithmetic. In Grammar, some progress has also been made in all. In Geography, owing partly to the want of maps, and partly to imperfect instruction in some of the schools, the proficiency is not so great as it ought to be. The classes in history are small and but few of them. We think this study should be introduced into the higher classes of all the schools. At Greenville, there were small classes in surveying, Algebra, and Natural Philosophy. We were pleased to find the writing books neatly kept, and the improvement very good. There is a great dif ference in the schools. Classing them generally, we should say the best were in the first and fifth, the poorest in the second and fourth districts. They all might and ought to be equal to the best. We cannot close this report without again taking notice of the great irregularity in the attendance of the children, and urging upon parents the duty of seeing that they go to the school, every day, if possible, and always in season for the opening of the school. We have thus very briefly made a statement of facts, and offered some suggestions, without entering upon a course of argument to es tablish our views; leaving it to the good sense of the Society, to ap prove or condemn them. Respectfully submitted, S. B. PADDOCK, Signed, F. A. PERKINS, Sub-Committee. The undersigned, members of the Board of Visiters, concur in the views and statements submitted in the above Report. SIGNED BY A. Bond, J. L. Boswell, George Hill, A. L. Whitman, Wm. C. Gilman, G. F. Pool, Thomas K. Fessenden. [We had the pleasure of visiting the higher departments of the first district school, kept by Mr. Gallup, at the landing. Everything in the order and studious attention of the school, the promptness and accuracy of the recitations, bespoke the presence of a thorough teacher. The examination to which the class in Arithmetic was subjected, on the blackboard, was as creditable to the pupils and teacher, as any which we have witnessed in any part of the State. We regret that the common schools should lose so excellent a teacher as Mr Gallup.-ED.] HARTFORD-FIRST SCHOOOL SOCIETY. The Board of visiters appointed on the 7th of October, 1839, con. sisting of Nathan Johnson, George Burgess, Leonard Kennedy Jr. Melvin Copeland, Oliver E. Daggett, George O. Sumner, Isaac N. Sprague, Roswell C. Smith, and Charles Davies, immediately after their appointinent, designated two of their number, Nathan Johnson and Charles Davies, to be a committee for the examination and approbation of teachers. That duty has been attentively performed by the committee, and they are gratified to be able to remark, that the teachers who have been approbated, have generally been better qualified than heretofore, and that an improvement in this respect, so far as our information extends, is apparent in this and the neigh boring school societies. If this important point can once be gained, our schools will feel the beneficial impulse, and one great difficulty which has long depressed them, will have been surmounted. The aggregate number of children which have attended the dis. trict schools in the society the past year, has much exceeded that of former years. In this respect exertion has been crowned with unexpected success, and the parents and guardians of the children seem universally more ready to aid the public exertion than heretofore. If this feeling can be kept up and increased, its bearing upon the great question of popular education will be vastly important. No part of the subject has been more difficult and discouraging than the apathy of parents and their total neglect of the schools which their children attend. The teacher feels the disheartening influence of this neglect, and the child with watchful eye regards himself as an object of parental indifference, and is almost led to conclude that he school-house is considered as a house of correction, rather than a hall of mental improvement, elevation and enjoyment. The whole number of children in the Society, between the ages of our and sixteen in August last was 2687, showing an increase of 161 over the preceding year. The number between the ages afore. said in the second school society, which embraces the parish of West Hartford, was in August last 334, which was an increase of 16 over the preceding year. The whole Town therefore including about 10 children belonging to the Town of Bloomfield and forming a part of the Gravel Hill District contains 3021 between the ages of four and sixteen. This society is divided into nine school districts of very unequal size, but which are all incorporated by special legislative resolve, and therefore cannot be changed but by the same authority. There are in this society, one hundred and seventy colored children between the ages of 4 and 16, who are mostly collected and educated in a school by themselves, in the city, under the African Church. Their share of the public money is paid to them under the direction of a committee of the society appointed for that purpose, and is faithfully applied. Their school appears well, and we are fully persuaded that no portion of the public money is expended with greater advantage, and more to the furtherance of the public weal, than that which is laid out in the support of the African School. The Catholic children who for a time were collected in a school by themselves, have now returned to the several districts, and are mingled without distinction, among those of equal age and improvement. This course has contributed greatly to their improvement, as well as to their apparent good feeling and comfort. They gener ally appear well, and are not wanting in diligence and advancement in their studies. [The following particulars are gleaned from the report respecting the several districts. We have added in a few instances one or two items, gathered from the reports of the district treasurers.-ED.] 13 $3079 and made comfortable within, so as to be convenient and pleasant to There has been no improvement in this district, since our last an. 1381 nual report. Their school. house is unfit for use, and they are una. 620 ble to agree upon any plan that has been proposed, either, to build a 557 new one, or repair their present building. The inhabitants of the district are mostly an independent and industrious agricultural popu lation, and have the materials for a first rate school; and it is to be hoped, that the time is not far distant, when they will aim, with united effort, to accomplish what their most important interests require; the means of affording to their children the opportunity of acquiring an early and good education. Their children between 4 and 16 are Average attendance in summer, Whole amount of teachers' wages Porter H. Snow, Principal $900 Amos A. Bradley, Writing Master 370 Miss Lewis, Miss Bridgman, Miss Rogers, each 200 Josiah H. Temple, Assistant Principal 525 Miss Lowry, 200 Miss Brown, 156 66 Miss E. Johnson, primary department for girls 200 Miss Willard, Miss H. Johnson, primary department for boys, 1st divis. 200 Miss Cheeney, 169 Miss Woodruff, Dividend from school fund, Town deposite fund, Local fund, Dividend from school fund, Town Deposite fund, Amount raised by tax on the scholar, WEST MIDDLE DISTRICT. 102 16 42 $126.87 22.95 137.00 "200 $1657,92 Number of children between 4 and 16, in August, 112. They 299,93 are still destitute of a suitable school-house. There is, however, a 30,00 prospect of a revolution for the better. The district is rapidly increasing in population and enterprize, and we presume the symbol Nominal amount raised by tax of 1 per cent. for repairs and other expenses $15 9,19 of prosperity, a good school-house, will soon be seen there. Dividend from School fund, Amount raised by quarter bills ($4 per yr.) on scholars, $1792,57 Although this school has been more numerously attended than on any preceding year, in consequence of collecting many who have heretofore been absent fro.n any school, yet the private schools have increased, and the weight of influence preponderates in their favor. This cannot be avoided unless primary schools for small children are multiplied and made accessible and inviting, supported at the public expense and under the supervision of the board of visiters. Their school-house is a neat and commodious brick building, and, they have before exhibited for many years. The South and although not conveniently seated, is still highly creditable to the dis- North Middle districts especially, have made astonishing adtrict. Although the district is very small, and their school of neces- vances within the year past. The school-rooms have been fitsity few in number, yet here is fully made manifest how much can ted up in a manner and with a liberality highly creditable to be accomplished by even a small number, when they are united, and the community and the districts. There is, however, a fundetermined not to be satisfied with anything short of excellence. damental error in the organization of the public schools. The The population here are scattered, and a larger district would sub-districts are now isolated, instead of being part of one system. ject small children to more travel, in bad weather, than could be well There is a great want of primary schools for the younger children of the city, located at convenient points, and of a high school with two departments, for the older boys and girls in the more advanced studies. This want is now supplied by expensive private schools, which operate unfavorably on the prosperity of the public school.-ED.] sustained. The school last summer continued about five months under the instruction of Miss Eliza Goodwin, with the compensation of one dollar and fifty cents and board. The winter school was kept by the same teacher four months, for which she was paid $1.75 and board. Miss Goodwin, as a teacher, possesses the rarest qualifications. Her government and method were good, and her school appeared to the best advantage. Dividend from the School fund, $31.08 They levied no tax the past year, and raised only about $35, tax on the scholar, being about $1.50 per scholar per annum. NORTH EAST DISTRICT. 22 24 by a There were in August last, in this district, thirty-six children between 4 and 16. Their school-house is a new and comfortable wooden building, and seated in the old way. The school is small, but an increased attention to its prosperity is manifested by the inhabitants, which encourages the hope of increased improvement. Dividend from School fund, 46 Town Deposite Fund, $44.78 8,10 Their summer school was kept by Miss Margaret Wilcox, for $1.25 per week, and board, for five months. The winter term for three months, by Mr. George Burk, for $12.50 per month, and board. 16 19 This district contained at the enumeration of August last 115 children from 4 to 16. Their school has become so large, that their accommodations are insufficient. However much teachers may be disposed to exert themselves, still, without a commodious house, pupils will feel as though their comfort was neglected, and their education considered as a secondary object in the estimation of those entrusted with their direction. MIDDLETOWN FIRST OR CITY SCHOOL SOCIETY. The committee-men of the City School Society of Middletown respectfully present the following report: In accordance with the votes of the society, one passed August 14th, 1839, directing the committee to take the management and supervision of the district schools, and make them as efficient as the nature of the case will admit, the other passed January 29th, 1840, directing them to hire and fit up the rooms under the Episcopal church, hire the necessary teachers, and commence schools on the plan submitted by the committee, and adopted by the society; your committee, during the past year, have effected a re-organization of the schools of the society, and progressively introduced the system which is now in successful operation. Owing to unavoidable circumstances which are too well known to the public to need recapitulation, and which indeed from the tenor of the first vote appear to have been anticipated by the society, we were compelled to continue the schools in the buildings furnished by the respective districts during the winter term. With a view, however, to the advantages of classification, and owing to the increased number that attended, the children in each district were divided into two departments; all over ten years of age placed in the charge of male, and all under in the charge of female teachers. By this improvement, together with directing respecting the general arrangement, the books to be used, the mode of instruction and frequent visiting, the committee accomplished all that it was in their power to effect. The schools were well conducted. The teachers without exception were faithful to the trust reposed in them, and the improvement made by the pupils exceeded our expectations. The expenses of the schools for instruction for six months, amounting to $1111.50, were, as had been customary, defrayed entirely from the public money, which, consequently, left only $225 of the March dividend to be devoted to the summer term. $119.40 Having procured a lease of the rooms under the Episcopal church for five years, with the privilege to either party to vacate the lease on complying with the conditions therein expressed, your committee attempted on the 1st of June last to carry out the views of the soci ety as expressed in the vote of the 29th of January, 1840. 53 21.60 The summer school was kept about seventeen weeks, by Miss Woodruff. Her wages were three dollars and fifty cents per week, without board. The winter school continued about eighteen weeks, and was kept in part by Miss Wells, at $3.50 per week, and in part by Miss Sheldon, at $3 per week, without board. Ne tax on the list, or assessment on the scholar, has been levied in this district the past year. AFRICAN OR COLORED SCHOOL. The colored children are all numbered in the respective districts to which they belong. Of these, there are 48 in the Middle district, 9 in the Second North, 37 in the South, and 7 in the West Middle, making in all 120. Their school is kept in the basement of the African Church, in Talcott street. It has been well kept and well attended the past year. The pupils are ambitious, and attentive to their studies, and in their behavior have exhibited a manifest improvement. The Society, by a committee appointed for that purpose only, give them their equal share of the public school and town funds. Placing all the children of nine years of age and under. in the school houses of their respective districts in primary schools under the instruction of competent females; they collected all between the age of 9 and 16, and placed them, the boys under the charge of Mr. Saxe, the girls under the charge of Miss Hovey, each having a competent assistant in two distinct high schools, which schools, both the primary and high, with the exception of a short vacation, have continued in successful operation to the present time. The number on the list of the primary schools amounts to 293, on that of the high schools 252. The average attendance at the primary schools equals only 228, at the high schools only 203. The expense for instruction in the primary schools, for the five months commen. cing with June and ending with October, will be $350; in the high schools for the same period, $750; amounting together to $1100, being $11.50 short of the expense of instruction in the district schools for the six months previous as above stated. A capitation tax of about fifty cents on those children who have 45 attended the primary schools, and of two dollars on those who have $149.25 attended the high schools, will in addition to that portion of the pub27.00 lic money applicable to the summer term, as near as your committee can judge from present data, defray these charges. Confident that thorough not superficial instruction was what the public expected, and sensible of the deficiency of many schools in the primary branches of education, your committee have directed the instructors in the respective schools to commence anew with the scholars in whatever branch they were to be taught, and pay particular attention to those of reading and spelling. In the primary schools, owing to the tender age of the pupils, they have been confined to those branches, with the exception of a few of the elder children, who were enabled to devote a portion of their time to the rudiments of geography, and exercises in mental arithmetic. In the high schools, instruction has been given in spelling, reading, writing, grammar, geography, as tronomy, arithmetic; and in the boys' department, algebra, and the dead languages, and book-keeping. When sufficiently acquainted with these subjects, the system admits of the introduction of others, should the society deem it best to afford the necessary facilities. By confining the schools to these few elementary branches at the commencement, instead of adopting the more general course-inclu. ding chemistry, botany, mental philosophy, &c. &c., promised in the prospectuses of most of the boarding schools of the country-the committee fear that the expectations of some have been disappoint ed, and others have been chagrined at being compelled to travel over studies with which they fancied themselves familiar. To such, if there are any, they can only offer as their excuse, the old, but now revived and well received opinion, that the object of education is not merely to crowd the mind with ideas, but also so to discipline as to enable it to control them at will-that that course of instruction is best which best fits us for the prosecution of the every day duties of life. On the character of the schools, and the efficiency of the system as exhibited in them to meet the wants of the public, your committee deem it unnecessary to enlarge; satisfied themselves with the result that has attended this first and necessarily imperfect effort, they feel assured that nothing but a steady perseverance on the part of the society, in the same course, is requisite to place its schools on a footing equal to those of any city in the Union. A comparison of our schools as at present organized, with those of last winter, exhibits the superiority of the system, not only in the greater advantages for education which it affords, and the greater number to whom these advantages can be extended, but also in the diminished expense with which, in comparison to these advantages, it is attended. The expenses of instruction for six months in the crowded schools of last winter, embracing 335 children, was as above stated, $1111.50. The expense for instruction for five months in the present schools, embracing 545, is $1100; or in the former about $3.30 each; in the latter about $2 each; and which would on the present system be further reduced to about $1.30, were the whole 840 children embraced within the limits of the society to attend, and the rooms sufficiently copious to accommodate them. While the charge for instruction remained the same, the cost to each scholar would be diminished by the increased number among whom that charge would be divided. With the funds raised by tax, the rooms have been fitted as directed by the society in a suitable manner to commence the system, and a small balance, as will appear by the treasurer's report, remains in the treasury. This can be devoted to meeting the rent of $125 a year, which will accrue on the rooms, or to the purchase of maps and other facilities for instruction much needed by the schools, as the society may think proper. Presuming that it was the intention of the soci. ety to defray the rent from the present tax, the committee have felt themselves compelled to refrain from purchases which they would otherwise have made. In either event the amount hereafter to be raised from the grand levy will not probably exceed half a cent on the dollar in any one year, until the increased number of scholars compels the erection of enlarged and better arranged rooms for their accommodation. While on this subject, your committtee beg leave to call your attention to the amount actually saved to the public by the present plan, as compared with the sums formerly paid by our citizens in educating their children. By reference to a report made in December, 1838, by a committee especially appointed for this purpose, it will be found that at that time of the 835 children belonging to this society, only 276 attended the public schools, at an expense of $1377, or about $5 each; that of the remaining 559, only 311 attended private schools, at an expense of $4504, or about $14.50 each. Thus showing that 587 were educated on the old system at an expense of $5881 for instruction, and 545 on the present for about $2200 per year. Difference, $3681. The former course costing about $10, the present about $4 a year for the instruction of each scholar. In concluding their report, the committee cannot refrain from calling the attention of the parents to the absolute necessity of punc. tuality on the part of the children in their attendance at school, if they wish them to improve. While the primary schools number 293 scholars, on their list it appears that the average daily attend. ance is only 228, and that the high schools, with a list of 252, have only an average attendance of 203. In youth we are said to acquire the habits which control us in after life. Among the features of this system, and not the least important, is that of impressing good habits on the scholars. It numbers among its maxims, "a time for every thing, and every thing in its time," and its success depends on a strict adherence to the rule. Classified as the children necessarily are, according to the studies they pursue, and advancing from day to day by classes in the acquisition of their studies, every child who is allowed to absent himself, not only falls behind his class, and be comes discouraged, and loses his ambition, and with it his desire for improvement, but also adds to the difficulties and perplexities of [Having been present by invitation, at an examination of both departments of the high school, on the 13th ult., we are happy to add our testimony to the marked success which has thus far crowned the efforts of the teachers, and committee, to improve the common schools of the city. We have not any where seen so much good accomplished in so short a period of time, in any part of the state, We shall recur to this school and the primary schools of Middletown again, barely remarking here, that if the course already pursu ed can be persevered in for a suitable period of time, this city will have the best public schools in the state.-ED.] KENSINGTON, OR BERLIN FIRST SCHOOL SOCIETY. ber, as in the case provided for in the eleventh section of the act of Early in the season, your committee appointed two of their num 1839, as a committee whose duty it should be to exercise all powers and discharge all duties of school visiters, subject at the same time have visited the several winter schools twice, as the law directs, to the rules and regulations of said visiters. That sub.committee and they have also visited all the summer schools twice, except the school in the south part of the South district, which has been visited but once in the summer, the school not being expected to terminate till within about three weeks from the present date. It will be the duty of the successors of your committee to visit said school, since the visitation which the law requires, must be made during the two weeks preceding the close of the school. According to the requisitions of the law, the teachers were all examined, and received certificates of their qualifications to teach in said society. The visiters, agreeably to the usual practice, have consulted together in regard to the interests of the schools, and suggested, from time to time, such counsel to teachers and to the children as they ored to follow out the views of their predecessors, in regard to the judged to be suitable and necessary; particulary have they endeav description of books which should be used in the several schools. They have aimed to secure an uniformity of books in the several schools, as soon as would comport with a due regard to convenience and economy. In respect to the state of the schools, your committee are happy afforded them much satisfaction. Evidence is not wanting, that an to say that the experience and experiments of the last year have interest has been awakened in this parish, on the subject of common the schools has been of the most propitious kind. That evidence is school education, which is unusual among us; and that the effect on in the very important and public character of several of them. Un. found in the frequent meetings which have been held among us, and been common, and in the spirit both of teachers and pupils, there der this impulse, the schools have taken a higher stand than has was early the promise of those results which have been secured. The statistics of the several schools may be found in the report prepared by your committee and forwarded to the Comptroller, and published by the order of the legislature. * In all the winter schools there was a commendable zeal on the part both of teachers-and pupils to do well; and the committee are of opinion that a good degree of proficiency, in the various branches of study, was made among the children generally during the season. It will be recollected that the spirit which was awakened in the winter, in behalf of common school education among the community, together with the knowledge that much effort had been made to excel, led to the happy general meeting of the schools, which took place in the month of March last. The summer schools commenced under very favorable auspices, as the superintendence of the schools, by your wish, had been committed to Mrs. Willard, subject to the general control of your commit. tee. This was done with the expectation that new plans of instruction would in some measure be adopted, and that a still greater zeal would be exhibited in respect to the discipline and studies of the schools. The results in general, the committee think, have been most happy; and the community also, in this and in the neighboring towns, have had an opportunity of judging in a public examination of the schools, which was held in the early part of the present month. It is believed that the public opinion has been decidedly favorable, and that the parish has acquired a reputation abroad which it should be anxious to sustain. Your committee feel that all excellence in this department of effort is comparative, and they would by no means intimate that nothing remains to be corrected and improved; but they trust that the mea. sures put in train, if followed up with a due degree of zeal, will eventuate in the most beneficial results to the schools. The alterations in two of the school houses, and the increased attention paid in all of them to the physical comfort and convenience of the children, cannot fail to be auxiliary to the great object which is had in view by our system of common school education. ROYAL ROBBINS, BIRDSEYE JUDSON, PUBLIC EXAMINATION OF SUMMER SCHOOLS. We were present by invitation, at the public examination of all the schools of this Society, which was held on the 10th of September, at the Church, before a large collection of parents, and friends of Common Schools, not only from Kensington, but from the adjacent school societies. We were among the first on the ground, and a happy sight it was, to see group after group of the children assemble, as bright as the morning, and as happy as on a holiday. They were arranged on a platform, erected across one end of the church, and in front of the pulpit with their teachers. The exercises commenced soon after nine o'clock, A. M., and continued with an hour's intermission, till half past six in the evening, without the slightest abatement of interest on the part of the numerous assembly, or of weariness on the part of the children. Before alluding briefly to the examination, we would invite the attention of our readers to the following letter of Mrs. Willard, setting forth the plans and methods she had adopted in supervising the schools, during the past summer.-ED. LETTER FROM MRS. WILLARD. other subjects are acquired, and through which they are to be made Composition, then, has been, during the last part of the season, a daily exercise in our schools, and we have thus, as we shall show, advanced the younger scholars some three or four years by means of their printing in the use of the written language. As to the older ones, one of the last exercises of this day will be to require each to write a letter in your presence, giving some account of what they will have witnessed of the proceedings of the day, in full assurance that the task will be executed with accuracy, as to form and manner. By watching with diligence these their earliest efforts, we have se cured our pupils as good spellers. Experiment every day proves that It is by no means certain that he who spells well by the ear, will this can never be done merely by the old method of putting out words. spell correctly by the eye. But the last is by far the most important. Spelling by syliables is not however to be contemned, for it is im portant to elocution; and assists the writer in several ways, though it is not of itself sufficient to make him a correct speller. The rule, that, when a word cannot be wholly written on the line where it is begun, but a part must go to the beginning of the next line, that word must not be otherwise divided than by syllables, could not be applied without a previous knowledge of syllabication. Although we have not abandoned the old method of putting out words, we have spent much less time than was formerly done in this manner, but have rather combined our exercises in spelling with those of composition, where our pupils have improved in spelling much faster, and at the same time, as is evident, in other important particulars. In respect to the subjects to which, in connection with language, the attention of the pupils was to be turned, it was not the only question how many might be profitable to them, but how many of such as seemed best adapted to their stage of advancement, could be profitably attended to in the short period allotted for the summer MR. BARNARD: Sir-It occurs to me that the examination will be made more interesting by some account of what have been the lead. ing views, which I have, with the faithful and able assistance of the principal and assistant teachers, attempted to follow out in Kensing-school. ton during the past summer. The principal teachers were Misses Arsenath and Phebe Ann Clark, Sophia Buck, and Harriet Hart.* It is not yet four months since I entered upon a supervision of these schools. My first step was to attempt to break up that most disagreeable but universal habit of toning, which I found among the readers, even where the teachers were good. In order to effect this, I was convinced that some radical change must be effected in the method of teaching,-in the first place, the art of reading, and in the second place, the use and meaning of language, after the child should be capable of reading the words. For these purposes we made analyses of sentences and found that the small words, such as articles, prepositions and conjunctions, received, with correct speakers, a sound differing in quantity and quality, when combined in sentences, from the same when spoken by themselves, or used with strong emphasis; in the same manner as sounds change in long words on unaccented syllables. To develope fully the methods which I drew out in writing, and gave in oral instruction to the schools at my stated visits of one whole day in each fortnight, or to the teachers at the stated times of their meeting me at my residence, would not now be possible. Indeed, the better way to do this, would be in a small reading book. You, sir, witnessed the reading of these schools when but a small advance had been made, and you will, I think, be satisfied with their improvement in this branch. It is an improvement which could not have been made, without good method, faithfully applied by good teachers. We have found it easier to teach beginners to read in a natural and proper manner, than to break up long established bad habits. Considering language as the all-important instrument by which Miss Sarah Hall, who was Miss Buck's assistant for three months, learned during that time nearly the whole of Davies' Algebra, although Mrs. Willard did not have opportunity to hear her on the subject so often as once a week. Mr. Davies himself examined her. Reverence for the Deity, and respect for every intimation of his will, should doubtless have the first place;-I gave the Old Testa. ment history to our first class of readers, and the New Testament to the second, with directions to the teachers to endeavor to make the pupils comprehend the spirit of what they read, and to proceed slow. ly, that they might read well what they went over, as it is the good reading only which counts for improvement. In the Old Testament I made selections, and wrote out, for the several schools, short pas. sages of intervening history. In the New Testament I pursued something of the same plan, but the very early age of the scholars did not admit of their going far. We hope, however, they understand, and have deeply impressed upon their hearts and memories, the portions which they have read. Pursuant to the method of teaching language in and through the subjects taught, we have questioned the pupils on scripture subjects, and have accustomed them to write off-hand sentences concerning their lessons, examining and correcting what they wrote, as to the spelling, placing capital letters, and other minutia connected with proper written expression; which, though "little to know, it is a good deal not to know." Next to the scripture history, I selected for the schools the subject of geography. In this branch, we were able to pursue the plan of teaching language through the subject, as this object had been espe cially aimed at in the book which was pat into their hands. This book the pupils read as a common reading exercise, and also studied in order to understand the maps, both as to drawing and studying them, and to learn facts on which they were to be examined. Blanks of proper names, which they must fill by studying the maps, had been placed in the book, with the express purpose of obliging them to think of the meaning, while they uttered the words. There were also occasional questions inserted in the lesson, which the reader was to put, and the class to answer simultaneously. This also was cal. |