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Natural Capacity of Children.

metic, geography, history, chemistry, philosophy, astronomy, composition, &c.

'They were engaged in some kind of manual labor during their examination. Justice compels us to assert that the examination of the school made a very favorable impression on our minds, as to the value of the institution, and we believe its scholars would not suffer in comparison, as it respects scientific and literary acquirements, with any of similar age in the State. The advances that many of the scholars have made, in the short period that they have been at this institution, is proof of the superiority of the system, as well as the skill and untiring industry of its superintendent.

'We consider this a charitable and benevolent institution, inasmuch as the scholars are mostly orphans, or the children of parents unable to educate them, and they are here enabled to support themselves, and are receiving an education both scientific and moral, as well as domestic, which will, we trust, prepare them to become useful to themselves and a blessing to the community.

།

'We are fully of the opinion that schools founded upon this system, (that is, the self-supporting or manual labor system) have many advantages over almost any other plan-in that here, the poorest child may obtain a good education, whereas otherwise it could not; and will be more likely to be energetic and persevering for having to labor for his or her support, as it will learn them to depend on themselves, and better prepare them to make their way in the world.

'Another advantage of this system is, much care is taken of their moral and physical education, which is assisted by the aid of labor which in itself tends to strengthen the constitution and make the pupil healthy and active, while it prevents vice.'

NATURAL CAPACITY OF CHILDREN.

Messrs Thome and Kimball state that during their recent tour in the West Indies, they visited the Wolmer Free School, in Kingston, Jamaica-the largest and oldest school on the island. Including the infant school connected with it, the whole number of scholars is 500. They are of both sexes, and of various ages. Since 1815, colored children have been admitted. It appears that from January 1736 to December 1814, a period of about seventynine years, only 869 children were educated in the school; whereas, during the comparatively short time of twentythree years—that is, from 1815 to 1837, no less than 1842 children have been educated in it. This fact certainly speaks well for the disposition of the colored people to receive instruction. But we are most concerned with, and most interested in the following testimony of Mr E. Reid, the Principal of the School, in regard to the comparative

intellectual capacity of the white and colored children. We deem it of the utmost importance.

'For the last thirtyeight years I have been employed in this city in the tuition of children of all classes and colors, and have no hesitation in saying that the children of color are equal both in conduct and ability, to the whites. They have always carried off more than their proportion of prizes; and at one examination, out of seventy prizes awarded, sixtyfour were obtained by children of color.'

BOSTON FARM SCHOOL.

We have often mentioned this school, for it has many interesting features. The following is an extract from the account of a recent visit to it, published in the Christian Watchman.

'On arriving at the Island, we were invited immediately to the school room, where the boys were assembled for the purpose of being examined in their studies, particularly their progress in the theory of Agriculture; after which we were promised an opportunity of seeing their practice. The boys were assembled, dressed in their blue coats and frocks, all observing the utmost propriety and order. First the shoemakers and tailors were called upon, and we were informed by the superintendent that they had made and mended all the shoes and clothes worn by the whole number. Next the farmers were called on in different classes, the older of whom labored steadily during the summer, and the younger divided their time between labor and study in alternate classes. The boys have done all the labor on the farm, except what has been done by the officers of the Institution and one hired man.

'After these general statements, Capt. Chandler, the Superintendent commenced an examination of the boys, from the manual used by them, comprising the leading principles of Agriculture and Horticulture, as well as of Botany; and the prompt answers which they gave, showed the thorough and accurate manner in which they attend to their lessons. They were next examined in Arithmetic, Geography, Reading and Speaking. The manner in which they acquitted themselves was highly gratifying. It did look wholesome to see them all raise their hands when a question was put, for they showed not only their promptitude and accuracy in answering, but a vigor and elasticity of muscle seldom witnessed. Would we could oftener witness such a forest of hardy hands. Their reading and declamation showed remarkable strength of voice and clearness of articulation.'

The writer says that the number of the inmates of the School is at present 110, and that they have had no occasion for the services of a physician during the past year. What would those who are opposed to doing any thing to promote health, and who think health and sickness

384

Education of the Teeth.

matters of mere haphazard, say to this, if they knew the whole means by which an end so happy, is secured? We wish such persons would pay the school a visit.

SCHOOL Books.

During a recent session of the Essex County Teachers' Association, at Ipswich, Committees were chosen to examine the various books, intended for schools, and to report, at the annual meeting, on the excellencies and defects of each, with a view of promoting the substitution of those esteemed the best, for those of inferior merit. The following gentlemen were chairmen of the Committees.

Upon Arithmetics-Rev. G. B. Perry, Bradford. Reading Books— Rev. L. Colman, Andover, South. Grammars-David Choate, Esq., Essex. Geographies-M. P. Parish, Esq., Salen.

EDUCATION OF THE TEETH.

The reader may smile at the title of our article, but really it is no laughing matter to lose one's teeth; and we beg to be considered as in our sober senses, when we say that teeth are lost, to a very great extent, for want of suitable education.

We were led to this remark by reading a small book entitled 'Observations on the Structure, Physiology, Anatomy and Diseases of the Teeth,' in two parts; the first by Harvey Burdell, M. D., and the second by John Burdell, Dentist, and published in New York, by Gould & Newman. The book is exceedingly valuable to the community, abounding in drawings and sterling remarks. Notwithstanding the fact that it sets down hot food, and especially animal food, as a fertile source of injury to the teeth, against which doctrine the Editor of the Boston Medical & Surgical Journal appears to be at war, he does not hesitate to say, in his last number, of the little work in question, it is valuable above almost any manual of the kind we have seen for a long time, because it shows, to the most common understanding, how the teeth may be preserved in good condition in childhood and age.' He wishes, moreover, that 'five or six thousand' copies of it could be distributed thro' the country, and introduced into families.' This is a great deal for Dr Smith to say; but we are thankful for a little, from one who dreads so much the evils of popular knowledge on certain subjects of very great and acknowledged importance. As to Burdell's book, we wish five or six hundred thousand could be circulated, at the least; and not only circulated, but studied.

AMERICAN

ANNALS OF EDUCATION.

SEPTEMBER, 1838.

FEMALE INFLUENCE AND EDUCATION.

BY ANDREW WYLIE, D. D.*

THE wisdom of God has divided mankind into families-communities of such a size and peculiar structure as to render them conveniently manageable by those who are its natural heads, and whose authority is sweetened to its subjects, as is the toil of its exercise to themselves, by the strongest instincts of our nature.

But if you take a company of individuals characterized by the same diversities as the members of a family, the young, and the old, the inexperienced, and the experienced, the weak, and the strong; and place them, out of the relations of the natural family, into other relations of man's institution and devising, in the expectation that such of them as need it shall be instructed in economy and industry, and the ten thousand little things-not little in importance-which constitute what we call good breeding, you deprive yourself of nature's help where it is indispensable; and are consequently laying up for yourself the reward which must ever follow every experiment of that impious quackery which presumes to set aside the laws of Heaven's ordaining, -disappointment and shame.

The best part of a good education is to be obtained at home, within the domestic circle, under the inspection of the parent's eye, and the influence of the parent's example. Yet, there are parents, who are not insane in other matters, who act, in regard to the education of their children, as if they believed the arrangements of nature were the freaks of chance; or rather, as if they expected the order and economy of nature were to be reversed

* See an Address on the subject of Common School Education, delivered at Indianopolis, January 3, 1837.

386

Woman should be taught Housekeeping.

to flatter their indolence. They uttterly neglect the government of their children, suffer them to go where and when they please, to saunter about the streets and public places, to associate with whoever they may chance to fall in with-no restraint—no employment gratified in every whim, appetite, passion, propensity and then, when these same hopeful lads are sent to college, or boarding school, they expect the teacher will do a miraclewithout parental authority, they expect him to effect what they have not done, with it; nay more-to undo what they have done, to root up the vices they have implanted; to teach those industry whom they have nurtured in idleness-to inculcate maxims and principles of prudence, temperance and frugality in those whom they have brought up in folly, intemperance and prodigality; and to inspire with an ardor for pursuits requiring the utmost application and diligence, those whom they have taught to consider themselves as above labor of every kind! Preposterous people! To expect us to bestow gifts by nature denied to their children, were less extravagant.

Degeneracy begins with woman: the influence that regenerates begins with her also. She stands at the fountain head of moral power, and without her aid in the matter before us, nothing effectual can be done. But to come to the point. Our females must be taught in the first place how to keep house. I speak designedly in homely phrase, because it suits my subject, and I wish to express myself briefly and yet intelligibly to all.

Let those who prefer elegance to comfort, and who can afford the expense of such folly, teach their daughters Languages, ancient and modern, Painting and instrumental Music, Poetry and Rhetoric, Oratory and Calisthenics-and they may add if they please, Mechanics, Mensuration, Trigonometry, Astronomy, Hydrostatics, Hydraulics, Optics-Natural Philosophy in all its branches-Chemistry, Physiology, Mental and Moral Philosophy, the science of Government, Political Economy, Grammar, Logic, Philology, Sculpture, Architecture and the art of Landscape, Phrenology, and whatever else they please-but since every man who wants a wife and who has not the stomach of an ostrich, cannot long be pleased with a woman who, when he comes home hungry and tired, serves him up a dish of biscuit, in color, form and weight resembling long bullets, with other articles of food, good it may be in the material, but miserably spoiled in the preparation; since, I say, this is clear to a demonstration, then it follows that every young female should know how to bake a loaf of bread.

O what virtue there is in a well raised, well baked, three days old wheaten loaf! Blessings on the heart and head and hands