[The Commissioner speaks a word for our State It is time that the friends of virtue and humanity journal.] AN EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL. should unite and act in concert, and with a determined energy, till this evil is entirely eradicated. Parents and teachers especially should co-operate As one of the means for keeping alive public in- in every measure the exigency of the times deterest in the cause of our common schools, and as mands. It is not necessary that I should enlarge an organ of communication between instructors upon this subject. All must know and feel its surand the people, the R. I. SCHOOLMASTER, a month- passing importance. ly publication, is a very important and valuable agency. It is a register for marking the new phases of education in other States. It presents also a condensed statement of what occurs in Rhode Island in matters pertaining to schools, institutes and teachers. I trust that the fostering care of our State will never be withheld from the RHODE ISLAND SCHOLMASTEE. The resident editors are Messrs. J. J. Ladd and N. W. DeMunn, assisted rangement that could be made, would be to enby twelve associates. These gentlemen are wedded to the cause of education, editing this publication gratis, thus proving that they work, not for the emoluments, but from a devotion to the cause. Surely, no one can charge them with loving the dowry rather than the bride. Additional accommodations for Grammar school scholars are much needed in the Sixth and Seventh Wards. The Bridgham School is now crowded. There have been admitted the past year 29 more scholars than are seats in the building, and there are at the present time about 40 pupils qualified to enter a Grammar School, that cannot be received for the want of room. The most economical arlarge the Summer Street house, after the model of the Arnold and Benefit street houses. The Federal Street Primary School is also very much crowded. The two teachers have about 80 scholars each. If an additional teacher were appointed to this school, it would afford all the assistance that is needed at the present time. Notwithstanding the Quarterly Report of the Superintendent of enlargement of the Benefit Street house, more acPublic Schools, Providence. commodations will be required soon in Ward One. The evening schools, which have just closed, PROVIDENCE, Feb. 12th, 1862. have been eminently successful, more so, I think, To the School Committee of the City of Providence: than ever before. The Committee secured the serGENTLEMEN :-It is my pleasing duty to report vices of the very best teachers that could be obthe undiminished prosperity of our schools. The tained, and the results are of the most gratifying results of the examinations recently made, afford character, such as ought to convince the most the most gratifying evidence, that in most of the skeptical of the necessity of maintaining liberally departments of study there has been a very com- these schools, as a part of our public school sysmendable proficiency the past term. In Grammar tem. The number of applicants has been more particularly, the examination has never been equal- than 1500, but only 1000 could be received into the led. There are, however, yet a few schools that six schools that have been opened. The average ought to be made better. Either through the un- attendance for the term has been about 700. faithfulness or the incompetency of teachers they are not what they should be. It is true that some schools are unfavorably affected by local circumstances, but after making all due allowance for these, there are schools that might and ought to be better, and it is the fault of the teacher that they are not. There is no more difficult and arduous labor than faithful teaching; and to do this successfully, a teacher must devote himself to it with all his energies. An indolent, indifferent or incompetent teacher ought not to be tolerated in The whole number admitted into all our schools DANIEL LEACH, Our Book Table. a school-room. The work to be performed there is THE FIFTH READER OF THE SCHOOL AND FAMItoo sacred to be entrusted to such hands. Published LY SERIES. By Marcius Willson. by Harper & Brothers, New York. We have taken occasion to speak of this series of Readers several times, and yet we think the The daily routine of the recitations is but a small part of the work of a teacher. The instilling of correct principles of action, the moulding and forming of character, is one of the highest duties that can be performed. And this must ever be dis- great merit of the series demands a constant nocharged with a conscientious fidelity to the trust tice from those who would desire to see adopted in imposed upon them. The office of a teacher is too ed to it. often sought after as a means of obtaining a livli- all our schools such reading books as shall comhood, without regard to the responsibilities attach-bine instruction in the art of reading with that which will convey interesting and useful knowledge. In some of our schools an undue prominence is We have the plan of the author fully carried out given to a few studies to the neglect of others of equal, if not greater importance. Penmanship in the Fifth Book of the Series. It contains all and composition have not in all cases received that the variety, both of prose and poetry, that is an attention in school which their importance de- essential requisite of a good reading-book for admands. The ability to use knowledge with facility and effectively is certainly the most valuable acquisition of a scholar. And this ought to be regarded as the highest test of excellence or superiority of pupils in every school. vanced pupils. Part I. contains a full elucidation of the higher principles of elocution. Part XI. has selections in poetry and prose relating to ancient history. There are subjects connected with the best welfare of our schools that ought not to be passed ov- The illustrations in natural history surpass anyer at this time in silence. I refer to the means thing heretofore published in a similar form. The and measures that are being used to corrupt the admirable system of object teaching has a friend youth when out of school. But few are aware of the temptations by which the young are assailed and co-worker in this series of Readers. If teachon all sides. But few know of the artful and fienders and educators will but examine this new series, ish plots that are laid to entrap the unsuspecting. they will be satisfied of its great merits, A PRIMARY GEOGRAPHY. On the basis of the PREPARATORY LATIN PROSE BOOK. Containing all the Latin Prose necessary for entering College, with references to Kuhner's and Andrew's Nearly every month we are called upon to exLatin Grammars, Notes, critical and explanatory, a Vocabulary and a Geographical and His amine and present the merits of new geographies. torical Index. By J. H. Hanson, A. M., PrinciThey all have merits, some more and some less. pal of the High School for Boys, Portland, Me. Great advance has been made in the preparation Second Edition. Boston Crosby, Nichols, Lee & Company, 117 Washington street. 1861. of text-books for our schools, and long ago it seemThis is a fruit of many years' experience in the ed that nothing more was needed in the way of work of preparing boys for college, and in the mangeographies, but the improvements were not to benefit the "little ones." They are too often for-ner in which the se'ections have been made we see gotten in the struggle to advance the older classes, evidence of a ripe classical taste. and the study of geography has always been particularly forbidding to them. What wonder when we consider the unintelligible manner in which it has been presented to them. Every new geography has been a step in preparation for the coming! of a better day, which day begins to dawn. Children must learn from observation, through the me The selections from " Eclogue Ciceronianae " are highly appro- dium of their senses, and we are glad to find this with those entertaining models of Latin purity, fact made the basis of their text-books at last. From primary schools we would banish all textbooks, could we see them furnished with teachers capable of studying and imparting the lessons of nature. Much has been written and said in favor of the object method of instruction, which is next to nature, and the only reasonable way in which to reach a child's mind. As objects and pictures are the most agreeable, so they are the most effectual means of fixing instruction, and we are delighted to see a geography made upon this basis. Technicalities are thrown away. The child is taken by the hand and led forth to look upon the world around him. He sees first of all things his relation to the world; the sources of all his pleasures, and the means given him for their enjoyment. We quote from the introduction: "We live in a beautiful world! We see the blue sky, the clear waters and the green trees. We smell the fragrant flowers and scented shrubs. We hear the joyous songs of birds, the charming sounds of music and the voices of those we love. We taste delicious fruits the "Epustolae Ciceronis." There are ample re- MANUAL OF AGRICULTURE. For the School, the Farm and the Fireside. By George B. Emerson and Charles L. Flint. The former gentleman is the well-known author of "A Report on the Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts." The latter is the very learned Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, as well as the author of several treatises upon Milch Cows," "Grasses and Plants," &c., &c. Published under the sanction of the State Board of Agriculture. Boston: Swan, Brewer & Tileston, 131 Washington street. 1862. This little text-book has given us great encourand wholesome food. We feel the chilling snows, agement, since it opens to us the great field of agthe passing winds and the warming fires. Seeing, ricultural science, which has hitherto been, in a smelling, hearing, tasting and feeling are our five scientific manner, but little explored. We regard senses; nearly all our knowledge comes through the science of tilling the soil properly as the moththese senses. We learn most things through sight;| and this book with its pretty pictures and easy lessons, has been made to please and instruct us." er of all practical sciences. After perusing this work, I think the farmer will not drop his potatoes into whatever soil he may chance to have ploughed THE CAROL. A New and Complete Music Book or nearest, but will put the seed where the soil has of Instruction and Practice for Schools and elements which are adapted to the growth and nuAcademies. By William B. Bradbury. Pub-trition of it. The chemistry of agriculture is lished by Ivison, Phinney & Co., Nos. 48 and 50 doubtless destined to take a prominent place in Walker street, New York. Here is really an addition to the world of musi- our schools and colleges. This book is highly encal books. Not simply a compilation from other tertaining as a pastime, and will richly repay a peand older books, but a new book. It is a book that rusal. Every farmer must seek for some such aid is eminently progressive in its arrangement-just in these days of progress. the book to awaken new life and interest in the study of music. We commend it to the notice of teachers and pupils. It will be found to contain a fine collection of pieces, WE will furnish THE SCHOOLMASTER. and the Atlantic Monthly or Harpers' Magazine for the subscription price ($3.00) of either monthly. The R. J. Schoolmaster. APRIL, 1862. VOLUME EIGHT. For the Schoolmaster. Vacations. NUMBER FOUR. great happiness. In spite of my experience, I. find myself every quarter beguiled into this vain expectation. It is not that time hangs heavily CHEILON, one of the Seven Wise Men of on our hands, and we need diversion, but the Greece, must have put forth a special effort of mind is various, and intent on a vague, grand his wisdom, in order to produce the following purpose, as a whole, while it does not cordemaxim:- Three things are difficult: to keep scend to grapple with any one of the multifarious a secret, to bear an injury patiently, and to spend tasks on which the execution of the great purleisure well." From his skillful use of the cli- pose depends. "Divide et impera" is the only max in this profound saying,-to say nothing way to become learned and powerful. Our first of the presumptive evidence furnished by his and childish glimpse of intellectual or of mategreat reputation among the ancients for wis- rial acquisitions is of their focal points, which dom, we may infer the hypothesis, that Chei- kindle aspiration. But we learn that we shall lon, like Homer, Tyrtaeus and Plutarch, was a never do more than gaze, unless we are willing schoolmaster, and had quarterly vacations. For to follow out singly, and with unwearied persisdoes he not in his third hard thing, give the very sum and essence of what many teachers now find most difficult? tency, each of the convergent rays, till our plans issue nobly in the realization of what had been waking dreams. It is not the star-gazer that The old sage expressed a bitter pedagogic ex- discovers the asteroids, but the working asperience. I have almost learned to dread vaca-tronomer, who scans the small field of his teletions, and to deem myself happy if I can get scope night after night till he knows the heathrough them with sound mind and body. Oth- vens. tune. er men constantly expect their leisure, either in I am always exercised with a host of such old age or when they shall have amassed a for- chimerical notions towards the end of vacations, But we teachers are periodically idle. and during the two or three weeks that they are The common misery of the retired business man, fresh in mind; and I am gratified to find these who finds his leisure endless ennui, is ours four summa bona of teachers' lives gradually becomtimes a year, unless we learn an art which is ing to me less a matter of perplexity and disusually deemed almost impossible. Montaigne content. The dolce far niente may be set to tells us that he anticipated great results from his Italian notes, which may be played on flutes. retirement to his pleasant country estate, but But American music should express far other that, when there, he found occasion to apply significance, to the sound of bugles and drums. the words of Lucan: "Variam semper dant otia mentem." This "various mind" is the difficulty. Our reg I like better the American style. The good of vacations must be worked out; the harder the toil, the more good. This does not look like a solution of the probular work is so monotonous, that we are tempted lem, how to spend leisure well, but rather like to look forward to a mere cessation of it as a a denial of leisure itself. In fact, we, by no means, acknowledge otium, if it means doing increasing property, he does not, usually, come nothing, but insist on negotium, or no doing noth- in contact with even the coarser forms of the ing. But a rest from one's established business material activity of the world, by which the is commonly reckoned as leisure; and this we manners of so many men are rounded into the are far from denying. On the contrary, we es- poor outward semblance, at least, of cosmopoteem it an essential element of our life. The litan liberality. This topic is not worth long reason why it is essential, is not because it of- discourse. fers rest or relaxation, but because it affords us The genuine man is the product of a myriad great help in resisting the tendency to become influences, which flow to him through channels confined to one way of thinking and acting; as numerous as the pores of the skin. If the the tendency to become narrower partialists channels are all free, symmetry is the result, and than men with five senses and average brains we behold such a man as Goethe, who made it ought to become. The most important result the study of his life to win blessings from things to me of every term of my teaching, is that it of good report and things of evil report. I leaves me oppressed with an incubus which it should now pronounce culture as my topic, were is the paramount concern of vacation to throw I not chary of the use of that word, which has off and render me as capable as I was before. come of late to carry rather a dubious meaning. Teaching is so trifling a portion of my life, that I would speak briefly of the teacher's reception I do not care to buy its special experience at of influences, and even of his search of them, the expense of the numberless other experiences, so far as these depend on the finding of time without which I shall be a pitiable automaton and opportunity. among men. "Happy he," wrote a disconThe pupil excuses his failure by saying that tented schoolmaster in the blue days of the last he did not have time to learn his lessons. The May vacation, "Happy he who can say vaco, teacher frowns incredulous. Very probably I am empty, and yet be full in soul. Mechani- that teacher, standing stationary where his cal persons, like machines, rust when they are school-days left him, conscious of accumulated stopped. Genuine persons, like fruits, ripen sins of laziness, justifies himself with the same lying in the sun. It would be fine if every one plea of want of time. The plea is valid to a naturally found new work with each new day. great extent, but will not go the length of covThen we should respect all sorts of human ering all the lukewarmness that it is meant to handiwork and headwork, and should become excuse. Ten weeks versus forty-two, with all polished on many sides. But after doing the the Saturdays and Sundays thrown in: - in same thing on two consecutive days, we are pre- such an amount of leisure, one would think, we judiced in favor of it the third day, and would teachers might go far towards multiplying our rather do it than any new thing. I know grand modes of being and thinking. But if there is business men who, out of their element, waddle like ducks; and fine grammarians who, in the street, talk with ridiculous weakness." any deficiency of intellectual earnestness in our profession, it probably arises from inferior stock, rather than from any peculiarity of our work. Earnestness is success. It will not be thwarted. Except for keeping that little school, of what avail are you, O teacher, for any ends of beauty Apathy, deadness to impressions, lack of imor nobleness on earth? That school has not pulses, this is fatal to the man, though indiswon for you reputation and salary that you pensable to the machine. This prime excellence should carry off the booty scot free. On all that asserts itself wherever it exists, but will not you have exported thence you have probably come on solicitation. Whoever deserves to bepaid heavy duties, and, may be, you are now come wise, will become wise ;-nay, is wise now. well nigh bankrupt. A dilettante culture cannot find time to read its It seems to be a common opinion that the books, take its music lessons, and learn its teacher is somewhat more apt to wear for him- French; nor would find time, though it had fifself a groove, from which he cannot turn ty-two weeks' leisure each year. It is true that aside, than men of other occupations. This the harvest of our daily duties must be reaped notion was formed in times quite different from in the school-room, and that what we can do the present, but it has not yet become a vulgar more than that must be mere gleanings. But error. Unless the teacher be actuated by greed this latter must be done, while we must not or necessity, and so mingles a little in the pe- leave the other undone. Values are here incuniary speculations, and the manifold ways of versely proportional to bulks. For the Schoolmaster. The Teacher's Grave. I offer these suggestions because it has seemed to me that the body of teachers is somewhat remiss in the duty of intellectual progress. The STOOD there beneath the stately elm tree's shade, nature of our business offers the presumption Upon a wooded slope, a cottage home. that we are of superior intellectual cultivation. Midsummer's rays had ope'd in fullest bloom It is not of great moment that we take pains to The graceful buds, which o'er the cottage door make good this presumption. But whether we The Prairie Queen from mid its leaves put forth; know and pursue our best good, or yield our And through the lattice on the breeze there stole spirits to indolence; whether we respect our ca- The grateful fragrance of full many a flow'r, pabilities sufficiently to tempt them onward by His senses to regale whose watchful care exercise, or ignore our powers as if they were Had fostered them since first from earth they sprang. not; whether we have faith in the soul, or only As on the breezes borne the odor came, in prudence and habits; this is a matter of the very highest moment to every man or woman. Music an Amusement of the Home. T. With sweetest smile his pallid cheek was lit, "The flowers I loved, the flowers remember me." What shall the amusements of the home be? When there are the ability and taste, I regard of ever living green my eyes shall greet, music as combining in happiest proportions in- And fadeless flowers whose bloom eternal is, struction and pleasure, as standing at the head My senses shall forevermore regale." of the home evening cnjoyments. What a ne- And still he spake such words of holy hope, ver failing resource have those homes which of heavenly peace and confidence in God, God has blessed with this gift! How many That as he pictured heav'n's eternal joys, pleasant family circles gather nightly about the Its golden streets, its pearly gates, its founts piano! how many a home is vocal with the Of crystal clearness flowing ever on, voice of song or psalm! In other days, in how many village homes the father's viol led the domestic harmony, and sons with clarinet or flute or manly voice, and daughters sweetly and clearly filling in the intervals of sound, made a A moment, and his work, his cares on earth, are joyous noise! There was then no piano, to the homes of this generation the great, the universal boon and comforter. One pauses and bless- No more his hand shall toll the school-house bell, es it, as he hears it through the open farm-house That called from banks to benches mirthful youth; window, or detects its sweetness stealing out No more his voice implore the grace divine amid the jargons of the city- an angel's beni-To aid him day by day to train aright -- Its music from the angel choir on high,— o'er, His sorrows, pains, forever at an end. The precious charge entrusted to his care; son upon a wilderness of discord, soothing the No more, when they their lessons shall recite, weary brain, lifting the troubled spirit, pouring He'll smooth the rugged path to those who climb, fresh strength into the tired body, waking to With toiling step, the scientific hill; worship, lulling to rest. Touched by the hand His gentle words of counsel nevermore we love, a mother, sister, wife, say, is it not Shall point them to the way of truth and love. a ministrant of love to child, to mana household deity, now meeting our moods, answering Are those who, when in life, had called him friend. Now gathered in beneath the cottage roof to our needs, sinking to depths we cannot fath- They are not those who come in gilded hacks, om, rising to heights we cannot reach, leading, With liv'ried servants to attend their wants; guiding, great and grand and good, and now But simple, unpretending friends who knew stooping to our lower wants, the frolic of our And prized the worth of him who slept within souls reverberating from its keys? The home The cypress casket on the table there. that has a piano, what capacity for evening plea- Among the group, with saddened faces, stood sure and profit has it! Aias! that so many The little band of scholars now bereft wives and mothers should speak of their ability of him who had been friend and teacher too. to play as a mere accomplishment of the past, But felt the sorrow that their looks betrayed. Not one of all who gathered round the dead, and that children should grow up looking on There was no call for borrowed grief, no need the piano as a thing unwisely kept for company Of tears forced out by those who might become and show.-REV. J. F. W. WARE. Possessors of rich earthly treasure now. |