that at one time, there were twenty-four children 5. To encourage and provide lectures in the employed in a single factory, who could not write winter season; either a regular course, on some their names, and five, who could neither read or department of science connected with the pursuits write--and that in not single town had a board of the district; or a miscellaneous course, calcu of visitation, as directed by law, been organized, lated to supply interesting and profitable topics of to examine and ascertain the existence of such conversation, stimulate inquiry, direct the reading facts, and apply the remedy. of the young, bring all classes together, and thus cultivate happier social relations.

But apart from these, and other examples which might be cited, of the utter abandonment of the 6. To assist in the establishment of school and education of children employed in early, and fre- social libraries, and to contribute, from time to time, quently excessive, labor in factories, it was found to the purchase of new books, and especially of that many who did attend school, did so irregu- that class, which relate to the history, biography, larly, and without books, so that their school privi- scientific principles, or improvement of the prevaleges were almost lost. The condition, too, of lent occupation of the inhabitants. the houses of the work people, the want of libra- To enable and assist individuals to carry out ries, lectures, and other means of intellectual and these and other steps for improving the condition moral improvement, in many of our manufacturing of manufacturing districts and above all to prevent villages, was such as to call loudly on the patriotism the continuance of existing abuses, some legislative and benevolence of employers, and of all who re- action is necessary. For this purpose it has been gard it as the highest praise of a state, to have a recommended to the Legislature to provide, healthy, moral, and intelligent population, for more 1. That no child under 14 years of age shall be systematic efforts at improvement. employed in any factory or manufacturing establish This subject, in its various bearings, especially ment more than eight hours during the day, and as connected with good common schools, lectures, entirely prohibiting their employment at night. libraries, &c., I have frequently discussed in my 2. That no child under that age shall be emreports, public ad dresses, the Journal, and inter-ployed at all, unless such child can show a certifi views with school committees, and gentlemen inter- cate of attendance on some day school, either ested in it. The course which I have generally public or private, for at least three months of the recommended in voluntary efforts has been, twelve next preceding.

1. To improve the physical and social condition of the manufacturing population, by making their homes more convenient and attractive, and attaching to each tenement a peice of ground for the cul. tivation of garden vegetables and flowers.

3. That a penalty for any and every violation of such enactments should be paid by the person found guilty of so doing, for the use of the common school in the district.

4. That provision be made, or at least some 2. To provide, encourage, and sustain, all games inducement offered, for the establishment of libraand pursuits, of an innocent and rational character, ries in every district in the State, manufacturing, such as are directly calculated to develope the as well as agricultural. physical frame, to counteract any unfavorable Although no legislative action has followed these tendencies in their mode of employment, to inspire recommendations, it is believed that individuals, cheerful thoughts, and tend to promote better social committees and districts have been more interested relations, by being shared in by rich and poor, the in the attendance of the children, the improvement more and the less favored in intellectual improve- of the schools, and means of education generally, in manufacturing villages, than before. In some,

ment.

3. To see that the district schools are organized a more vigorous public sentiment has been created, on the best system, and kept open the year round, which, in an intelligent community, will throw so that a portion of the children of the proper age around children a protection stronger than law. might be kept at school punctually and regularly In others, voluntary associations have carried out for at least half the year, or for such period as some one or more steps of improvement. In oth they did attend. The school in a manufacturing ers, individuals have contributed largely to estab district should not only be as good, but better, than lish libraries, and procure popular lectures. The such schools in the country districts, to counteract manufacturing village of Greenville, can boast of the unfavorable tendencies of a monotonous and better schoolhouses, a more complete system of unintellectual employment. The studies, too, public schools, a more numerous, as well as a should be different, and some of them be adapted larger average, attendance of children of the school to improve the skill, and direct the inventive fac- age, than any city or village of the State. The ulties, of the pupils, in the arts to which they are efforts to improve the schools of this village, comdevoted during part of the year, and arelikely to menced earlier than 1838, but since that time, the be for life. For this purpose, drawing, and the two districts have united, two elegant, convenient, first principles of practical mechanics, and chemis- and even model, schoolhouses have been erected, try, should be taught at school, or in evening a gradation of schools established, school apparaclasses. tus provided, and the services of competent teach4 To establish evening schools, or classes, for ers, at the highest rate of wages, secured. such as are necessarily employed during the day, So important have I regarded this subject, in or may wish to pursue a particular study not view of the probable growth of the manufactu-ring taught in the day school. interest in Connecticut, that I have prepared a

separate report on the "Legal provisions respect- this Board. It was felt and encountered by me in ing the education and employment of children in the outset of my labors, as the great cause of the factories," &c., in this country and in Europe, inefficiency of the school system, the prolific source In this document, I have added an account of what of the evils which destroyed, in a great measure, has been done by the proprietors of a small man- the usefulness of the schools, and the great obufacturing village in England, and by the largest stacle to be overcome in the work of improving manufacturing town in the United States, to and perfecting the means for the more thorough promote the physical, social, moral, and intellect- and complete education of all the children in the ual improvement, of the manufacturing population. State. This want of interest-this paralyzing and Accompanying it, is a mass of valuable evidence, disheartening indifference on the part of individunder the head of " Education and Labor," show- uals and the community, was shown and felt in ing the importance of a good common school edu- various ways. cation to every form of human industry. I intend

The attendance at the regularly warned meeted to have added some evidence of the same char- ings of school societies and districts was thin, and acter, communicated by gentlemen in this State the doings of such meetings confined principally to who have now, or have had, large numbers of the transaction of such business as was absolutely persons in their employ; but it would only swell necessary to the receiving of the school fund the document to an unreasonable length. dividends. In six of the largest societies of the

IX. In 1838, the difficulties which still impair State, the annual meeting for 1837, duly warned, so largely the usefulness of many of the district was attended by three persons. In two others, schools, had not been sufficiently investigated, including an aggregate of more than thirteen hunwith a view to discover their origin, or ascertain dred voters, the meeting was adjourned for want of the remedies. a quorum to transact business. In 1838, the reg

These difficulties arose principally from the want ular business of several of the societies, was gone of systematic classification and regulation of the through by the moderator, the clerk, and society schools-from the crowding together of a large committee. In ten others, which included an agnumber of scholars of every age, in a great vari- gregate of more than eighteen thousand voters, the ety of studies, and greater variety of text books, aggregate attendance at the annual meeting, was under one teacher in the summer, and another eighty persons, or eight to each society. In thirty teacher in winter, and not under the same teacher more, the annual school officers for the society and for two summers or two winters in succession. district, were chosen by an average of less than thirUnder a good teacher these difficulties are almost ty voters, while the ordinary business of the town, insurmountable, and under a poor one, they defeat, on the same day, was transacted by an average of in a great measure, the usefulness of the schools. more than one hundred persons. In many of the These evils were increased by the late and irreg. districts, the first and main business, was, not to ular attendance of the children, and the want of see how many immortal minds were to be improvinterest, visitation and supervision, on the part of ed, and how many children were to be made good parents and committees. citizens, useful men and women, the blessings of To expose and discuss these difficulties and evils, this world, and the blessed of another, but how to induce parents to correct such as grew out of much public money was to be received, and then their own neglect and want of co-operation, and to square the expenditures to the receipts from clothe the proper school authorities with power this source. The great questions, where and for to remove and correct such as did not, has been a what can a well qualified teacher be had, what leading object of my labors. The mode of doing can be done to make the schoolhouse comfortathis, will be seen in the two following topics of ble, convenient, and healthy; to secure the attendthis report. ance of every child of the proper school age; to

X. In 1838, in city and country, in agricultural supply every poor child with books, and the whole and manufacturing districts, there was a great want school with a uniform set of class books, with a of an intelligent, active, inquiring, and generous globe, maps, black board, and a library, were not public interest in the administration and improve- agitated. To make the quarter bill as small as ment of the common school system. An indiffer- possible, the practice, if not the maxims of many ence, wide spread and profound, characterized the action and views of individuals, and of the community, on the whole subject.

districts, were, "anything will do for a teacher," "any place for a schoolhouse," and "absolutely nothing for apparatus."

All this was indicated in the returns made by The plainest requirements of the school law school committees to the Comptroller, under the had been disregarded. In several instances, the resolution of the Legislature of 1837. It was ev- school money had been appropriated to other purident from the results of personal inquiries made poses than to the paying and boarding of instrucin the winter and spring of 1838. It was com- tors. Schoolhouses had been repaired, and fuel plained of universally by members of the General supplied with it. In others, it was paid to teachers Assembly of that year; and "to discover the ori- who had never been duly appointed and approvgin of this apathy and neglect so much complained ed; and, indeed, to some, to whom a certificate of, and to enlist the co-operation of virtuous and of qualification had been refused by the legal comintelligent parents in every district," was one of mittee. It was expended on, schools, which had the main objects proposed by the Joint Select not been visited at all by the school visiters, and Committee on Common Schools, for organizing in several instances, where the two visits required

by law, were made on the same day; and, in one The little interest taken in the common schools, instance, where the school had been called to- was not only shown directly in the above ways, but gether after it had been dismissed, and examined was more fatally exhibited indirectly, in the subor twice in the same afternoon. The certificate of dinate place assigned it among other objects in the the society committee, which is the only effectual regards and efforts of the public generally, as well check provided by law on the improper applica- as of that large class of individuals who were foretion of the public money, was not unfrequently most in promoting the various benevolent, patridrawn without any written or personal evidence otic, and religious enterprises of the day. A meetbefore the committee, as to the manner in which ing for the choice of school officers, or the im the provisions of the law had been complied with. provement of the schools, would, by nine individuIn one county alone, it was ascertained that sixteen als out of ten, be considered of less importance such certificates had been returned to the Comp- than a political caucus, or the choice of the most troller, from as many school societies, in each of subordinate officer, civil or military. An examinwhich, one or more of the violations above referred ation of all the schools of a society, for the purpose to, had occurred, according to the testimony of the of awarding public preference to faithful teachers, teachers themselves. or worthy, talented, and industrious scholars, an

But not only was the regular supervision of the exhibition of plans and specimens of improved schools, and administration of the system marked schoolhouses, school furniture and apparatus, or by great coldness, indifference, and even palpable of more certain and speedy methods for developing disregard of the requirements of law, but the great the moral and intellectual faculties of children, points connected with the internal economy of a would attract far less attention, and excite far less school, were but little attended to. The regular feeling, than a cattle show, a ploughing match, or and punctual attendance of all the children of a an exhibition of specimens of improved farming district at school, the advantages of a gradation of utensils, or of labor-saving machinery of any de schools, of parental visits to the school, of an asso- scription. The claims of the Temperance, the ciation of the teachers for mutual improvement, Bible, the Missionary, and other benevolent, enter and the visiting of each other's schools, and a pub- prises, were urged, through the press, the pulpit, lic examination of all the schools at least once a and the lecture room, upon the attention and conyear, the evils arising from the improper location, tributions of the community, while that cause, which, construction, and furniture of schoolhouses, from a if promoted, would carry along with it every other diversity of text books in the same study, from a good cause, had scarcely an advocate, or was not multiplicity of studies in the same school, from the honored by any personal or pecuniary sacrifice. neglect of the small children and the primary stud- Such were some of the ways, direct and indirect, ies, from a constant change of teachers, from the in which a want of interest in our common schools employment of teachers not properly qualified, was seen and felt. To awaken this interest, to refrom severe and unnatural punishment, from the store the common school to the place it once ocwant of suitable apparatus, from the mechanical cupied in the regards of the patriot, the philanthroprocess of teaching reading, arithmetic, and other pist, and the christian, to enlist the hearty co-oper studies, from the neglect of moral education, and ation of parents, and of the whole community in other subjects, were but little thought of and dis- the work of improvement, and to breathe into cussed in the public assembly, in the newspapers of every department of its administration, the quickthe State, among individuals, or in the reports of ening breath of a public interest, the press, the liv school committees. There was but one school so- ing voice, voluntary associations, all the agencies, c'ety which had made any provision for a written indeed, by which the public mind was reached and report respecting the condition and improvement informed on other subjects, were appealed to, and, of the schools as the basis of such discussions. it is believed, not altogether in vain. A brief sur Among a class of the community, an impression vey of these agencies, must conclude this topic of prevailed, that schoolhouses, studies, books, mode my report.

of management, and supervision, which were good 1. Public meetings for addresses and discussions enough for them forty years ago, were good on the subject.

enough for their children now, although their chur- A series of public meetings in the several countches, houses, furniture, barns, and implements of ies, was the earliest step taken to give a vigorous every kind, exhibited the progress of improvement. and general impulse to the cause. These meetings Among others, the principle was avowed, that the were numerously attended by committees, teachschool fund was intended for the exclusive benefit ers, and the friends of school improvement gener of the poor, and that to support the common school ally. They collected together those who were by a tax on the property of the whole community most interested in the subject, from nearly every was rank oppression on those who had no children town in the State, and representing every political to educate, or chose to send them to private party, and religious denomination. At these conschools. Among another and increasing class of ventions, one or more addresses, calculated to fosthe community, who despaired of effecting any im- ter a salutary zeal, to disseminate information, and provement in the common schools, private schools, bring all hearts and hands to a united effort were of every name and grade, were exclusively patron- made, and were followed by statements and disized. Opinions and practices like these, would cussions respecting existing defects and desirable destroy the original and beneficent character of the improvements in the organization and administra common school, and strike out from it the very tion of the school system, and the government and principle of progression.

The

instruction of the schools. From these conventions, associations among the mothers, and ladies genmany a friend of school improvement returned to erally, of a district, to improve the common school. his own town and district full of the spirit and ener- From the outset of my labors, I have aimed to engy which springs from the sympathy of numbers list the active and zealous co-operation of females, in the same pursuit, to animate others, scatter and of mothers especially, in this work. They information, try proposed plans of improvement, stand at the very fountain of influence. and organize local associations for the general ob-cleanliness, dress, manners, and punctuality, of the ject. If the efforts of the Board had stopped here, children, and the review or preparation of the they would have infused the leven of a new life into school lessons at home, depend mainly on them. the public mind. As an evidence of the impulse By their associated, or even individual, efforts, a communicated, it was stated in my first report, revolution in our common schools can be effected. from information then before me, that during the Let the mothers of a district read, converse with foregoing winter, one or more addresses on this each other, and become well informed as to what subject were delivered in one hundred and fifteen constitutes a good school, and the fathers and school societies, and that in upwards of fifty, volun-voters generally, will hear of it. Let them visit tary associations were formed, to carry out the re- the places where their little children are doomed commendations of the conventions. to every species of discomfort, and improvements

After the first year, similar meetings were held in the seats, desks, and ventilation of the school for a smaller number of towns, and finally for a sin-room will soon follow. Let them invite the teachgle town. During the past year, I endeavored to er to their homes as a friend and companion, and enlist sufficient aid to hold a public meeting for they will give the teacher of their children her proaddresses and discussions on the subject, in every per position in society, and elevate her in the resschool society which I had not previously visited, and through the co-operation of school visiters, in every school district. The last object has been accomplished in a few societies. The first was accomplished in nearly every society in five out of the eight counties. The reports of the Rev. Dr. Field of Haddam, who, in the course of the last three years, has visited most of the towns in Middlesex and New London counties, and of Mr. William S. Baker, who has attended and addressed eighty-six meetings in Litchfield, Hartford, Tolland, and Windham, counties, are herewith annexed.

In the course of the four years, I have addressed one hundred and forty-two public meetings in relation to common schools, and secured the delivery of more than three hundred addresses on the same topics, from gentlemen every way qualified for the work. This number includes those only who have prepared and delivered addresses on my personal, or written, application. I have reason to believe, that at least an equal number have been made by clergymen, school visiters and others, at their own option, or the invitation of local associations.

2. By addresses to children in the schools. This course has been adopted by me in most of the schools which I have visited, and by Dr. Field, Mr. Baker, and others. In some societies, the school visiters have always made this a special object in their regular visits. These addresses are found invariably, to interest the parents through the children.

3. By voluntary associations of parents and others in towns, school societies, and districts, for the improvement of schools.

pect of her scholars. Let them become acquainted with the fact, that many children are kept from the school, especially in cities, for want of proper clothing, and their ready and active charity will soon supply the want. As an illustration of what may be done in this new form of associated effort, to interest at least one half of the community who have been practically excluded from all active concern in our schools, I have appended an account of the "Female Common School Association of the East District of Kensington." This association was formed under the direction of Mrs. Emma Willard, the late distinguished Principal of the Troy Female Seminary. Four similar associations have already been formed in other towns.

4. By an association of the teachers of a town or school society.

These associations were recommended, with the expectation that the sympathies of a common pursuit, the mutual benefit of each other's experience, and the discussion of topics which concern their common advancement, would not only attach them to each other, and increase their self-respect, but impress the community with the importance of the profession from its aggregate strength, and with its claims to a higher social and pecuniary consideration.

5. By a meeting of all the schools of a town or school society, with their teachers and parents, at least once a year.

This course was recommended, not only as in accordance with former practice, but as well calculated to impart a healthy stimulus to the teachers and scholars of the several schools, and awaken a lively interest in parents. I have attended sevIn many societies, these associations have been eral such meetings, and with the highest gratificavery successful in awakening public interest by tion at the interesting character of the exercises, means of addresses and discussions. These asso- and the manifest pleasure of the children, teachers ciations have lately assumed a new form, and in and parents. The occasion has always been imthis way, promise to become the most efficient proved by appropriate addresses. In some towns, instrumentality for awakening public interest, and the first impulse to the schools and the parents was acting directly on the schools, which has thus far imparted by such meetings. been applied. I refer to the formation of such

6. By the reports of school visiters on the condition of the schools.

These reports, when prepared with fidelity, and means for reaching and informing the public mind minuteness, and especially when the relative stand- much good has already been accomplished, and ing of the schools, and of the scholars in the sev- the way opened for still further improvement, uneral schools, was specified, have made a powerful less the causes fail to operate which have hereto impression on the public mind. In some cases, fore governed the progress of society. these reports have been read in a public meeting XI. In 1838, the law respecting school societies called for that purpose; in others, in the several and schools, was scattered through various acts, districts; and in a few instances, they have been was imperfect in many of its provisions, and needprinted, and circulated through every family. 1 ed a thorough and careful revision. know of but one instance where such a report was The main features were substantially as they prepared, previous to 1838. were left in the revision of 1798, but these were 7. By the Connecticut Common School Journal, overloaded with amendments and additions, that Amid the jarring conflicts of party, and the loud- made it exceedingly difficult to understand what er claims of sectarian and other interests, the peace- the law was. In the course of a half century, the ful, and unobtrusive cause of education received but circumstances of society had, in many respects, little attention from the public press generally, either changed, and it would be strange, that a system political or religious. It was felt, that a Journal, of schools, even if well adapted in all its details to kept sacredly aloof from the disturbing influences its wants then, should be so now. The direct tenof party or sectarian differences, and made the dencies of our mode of supporting schools, the organ of communication between committees, demand for a wider range of studies, and the multeachers and the friends of education in different tiplication of school books, called for additional parts of the State, the depository of all laws relat- legislation. And if legislation on any subject was ing to schools, and of opinions on questions connect- ever characterized by patient research, careful ed with their administration, and the vehicle of ex- consideration and harmonious action, it is the legis tended discussions and information on the whole lation of Connecticut for the last four years in resubject, would be highly serviceable in awakening gard to common schools. an active, intelligent and efficient spirit in forwarding the cause.

In 1838, the acts "to provide for the better su pervision of common schools," after the careful consideration of a large committee of both Houses,

8. By Lyceums, Lectures and Libraries. In ascertaining the means of popular education, was passed with a single dissenting voice. Any and forming plans for its improvement, this class of further legislation on the subject was deferred till institutions could not be omitted. They aim to the actual condition of the schools could be ascersupply the defects of early elementary education, tained.

and to carry forward that education far beyond In 1839, various amendments to the law, enlarg. the point where the common school of necessity ing the powers of school districts and defining the leaves it. They have been found and can be made duties and provisions for the accountability of still more useful in bringing the discoveries of sci- school officers, were proposed in the report of the ence and all useful knowledge, to the fireside, and Board. These propositions, with others, received workshop of the laborer; in harmonizing the dif- the attention of a committee of both Houses, reperences and equalizing the distinctions of society; resenting equally the political parties, and were in strengthening the virtuous habits of the young, embodied in the "Act concerning schools" by an and alluring them from vicious tastes and pursuits; almost unanimous vote.

and introducing new topics, and improving the In 1840, no further legislation was attempted, whole tone of conversation among all classes. In except to disseminate information respecting the this way, they create a more intelligent public schools of our own and other states, among the opinion, which will inevitably, sooner or later, lead several districts, and to request the Board to preto great improvement in the common schools, as pare a draft of a revised school law. well as in all other educational institutions and In 1841, this draft was prepared and presentinfluences. But apart from their indirect influ- ed. To assist the Board and Legislature in reences, these institutions open a direct avenue to vising and consolidating the various laws relating the public mind, by the opportunities for public to the education of children and schools, the hisaddresses and discussions on the subject which they tory of each enactment from 1650 to 1840 was afford. These opportunities have been improved traced, and the views of school visiters and others to a very great extent. who had been connected with the administration

In the course of the last four years, the number of the system, as to the practical operation and deand usefulness of these institutions have been rap- fects of every feature of the law as it stood, were idly extended. In all of the cities, and in many of collected and compared. the large villages, courses of lectures on various This draft, with other documents, was referred topics of public interest have been delivered to to the committee on education, by whom the va large assemblages of people, and from the returns rious provisions were discussed, in daily sessions, of six public libraries alone, it appears that more for several weeks. Several important alterations than ten thousand volumes have been added, while were made by the committee, most of whom had the number of persons having access to them has been teachers and school committees, and all were increased more than twenty fold. deeply interested in the improvement of the schools. By the intelligent agitation of the subject, which This committee reported unanimously a bill, which has resulted from the application of these various was discussed in both Houses, apparently with a