experienced this happiness but for a single time. This, however, was not the case; for I judge that not more than one in twentyfive of the children in our schools received this chastisement. In our High Schools, which enrolled 277 pupils, there was not one case of corporal punishment. The same is true of thirty of our schools of lower grades. Nearly all these punishments were inflicted upon boys, which is good evidence that mankind are everso-much worse than womankind; or if not worse, certainly more unfortunate.

I do not regard the number of corporal punishments inflicted in our schools the last year, as unreasonably large, as schools go nowadays. Our average daily attendance was 5,333; school days 200; days of schooling, 1,066,600; which divided by the number of punishments (1,372), equals 777. Suppose a single pupil had received all the schooling and all the punishments, he would have been whipped but once in almost four school years.

I am not at all prepared to say that corporal punishment should never be inflicted in schools. I doubt not that in some cases it is productive of greater good than could be secured by other means. But these instances are, in my opinion, not very numerous, and I fully believe that half of all the punishments of this kind which are inflcted in families and elsewhere, result only in injury, moral as well as physical, to those for whose good they are designed. Here I come back to the question already stated: What other forms of punishment are proper in the administration of school government?

It is almost dark now, and it is time for me to go home. I can not, therefore, attempt an answer to this inquiry at present. I may resume the subject at a future time, but be that as it may, I wish that some of your able correspondents would take the matter in hand, and give us their opinion on the subject. I believe that the discussion of the question may be made useful to many of the younger class of teachers in our State, and elsewhere. YOURS TRULY.

POSTSCRIPT.-As my letter of a month ago does not appear in the October number of the MONTHLY, I conclude that it reached you too late. I will add a few items of local interest.

Mr. Sidney A. Norton, for nine years teacher of the sciences

in our Central High School, has resigned that position for a similar post in the Mt. Auburn Seminary, in or near Cincinnati. We greatly regret his leaving, for he is a most successful teacher. We can but admire the wisdom of our Cincinnati friends in coming to Cleveland for teachers of the best quality; but we object to their taking them on such short notice. We have scores of teachers that would do much to improve the schools of Porkopolis, but we seriously object to parting with them, even for a purpose so necessary.

Mr. Norton's place has been supplied by the appointment of Mr. Theodore W. Hopkins of this city, who two years ago graduated at Yale College.

Some two hundred of the students of Oberlin College are, through the autumn, making special preparation for teaching next winter. They are under the training of Rev. W. N. Bartlett, Principal of the Preparatory Department. A course of lectures by gentlemen from abroad has helped on the work. Messrs. Ingersoll and Cowdery, of Sandusky, Thome and Smyth, of Cleveland, have lectured within the fortnight past. Y. T.

SCHOOLS OF MIAMI COUNTY.

MR. EDITOR: Perhaps a letter pertaining to the schools of this county may not prove uninteresting to your readers. We have good school-houses as a general thing, but they are poorly supplied with apparatus.

The sub-district schools continue in session from six to nine months each year. The summer terms are taught almost exclusively by women; and they constitute about one-third of the teachers employed in the winter school. The wages for this year will average about as follows: Male teachers, per month, $42; female, $33.33 winter term, and $22 summer term.

Although our school examiners have raised the "standard of qualifications," I am satisfied it would be better for both schools and teachers if they would raise it still higher. Good teachers and good wages are certainly the result of strict examinations. When a high standard is maintained by the examiners, and our local directors adopt that sound maxim-"Good teachers at the price of good teachers, but, at any price, good teachers"-then and only then, may we expect the rising generation to become educated men and educated women. C. D. WRIGHT.

TROY, O., Sept. 21, 1866.

Editorial Department.

A WRONG estimate of the amount of copy handed the compositor, has crowded out the School Officers' Department, and otherwise relieved us of much editorial labor. The practical character of the contributed matter has, however, clearly turned our mistake into the good fortune of our readers. The MONTHLY does not often contain so many suggestive and readable contributions.

TO THE PERSON sending us the largest number of cash subscribers between the first day of November and the first day of January, we will present a copy of the latest edition of WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY, which is generally acknowledged to be the best English dictionary published. The retail price is $12.—Next month we shall announce the winner of the same prize offered in our September issue. Over three hundred of the new subscribers then called for, have been received, and still there is room!

THE COLLEGE QUESTION.

The public high school has largely superseded the classical academy, and to it the college must and ought to look for the great majority of its students. But in order that the high school may properly prepare boys for college, its regular course of study must provide the necessary preparatory training. All experience shows that the high school can not be depended upon to provide special and separate instruction for this purpose. Its pupils must step into college, if at all, from the regular classes. Besides, the boy who at the age of sixteen or seventeen forms the purpose to go to college, should find himself on the direct road, instead of being obliged to turn back and spend a year or two in special preparation on some neglected study or studies.

Now how stands the matter? A prescribed amount of both Greek and Latin is required as a conditon of admission to college; but Greek is taught in very few high schools, and so long as these schools are under the control of officers elected by the people, it is not likely to be taught. Besides, there is no demand for Greek in our high schools except as a preparation for college. It does not even have a place in the course of study in our female seminaries.

Latin, on the contrary, is widely taught in our high schools. It is studied by both boys and girls. The number of high school pupils pursuing Latin last year, was, according to the School Commissioner's report, 1,865-a number greater than were studying any other higher branch, United States history and algebra excepted.

It is evident from the above facts, that if Greek was not included in the pre

paratory studies, and the amount of preparation in Latin, mathematics and natural sciences was proportionally increased, our high schools (as well as firstclass academies) would be able to fit boys thoroughly for college, and without any considerable expense. Greek would thus be brought wholly within the college course, and might, if necessary, be continued to the close of the senior year. Here, as it seems to us, is a practical remedy for that want of harmony now existing between our high-school and college courses of study, which is u questionably one cause of the small number of students found in regular college classes-we say "regular," since a majority of the students in those western colleges which have the largest attendance, are pursuing irregular and partial courses of study. We feel confident that the change suggested would enable our high schools to prepare three boys for college where they now prepare one.

This suggestion which we first made in our last report as State Commissioner (p. 62), has been very favorably received by college men. We have received letters from several college presidents heartily indorsing it, and we learn that several of the best colleges in the State have taken steps looking to its actual adoption.

The subject seems to us worthy of a thorough discussion, and we invite the friends of liberal learning to use our pages for this purpose.

EDITORIAL MISCELLANY.

OFF TO INDIANA.—The teachers of this school-revived State have again tempted us over the border. The following letter shows how the thing was done:

RICHMOND, IND., Sept. 12, 1866.

HON. E. E. WHITE-Est'd Friend: I have not heard anything from you yet in reference to attending our Institute. I hope you can come. Will give you one hundred and twenty-five dollars for the week commencing Oct. 29, and your expenses. You to deliver two evening lectures during the week. Please let me hear soon what you can do. I somehow feel that I can depend on you. One hundred and fifty teachers in this county want to see you. Our schools are all moving on well. With many wishes for your welfare,

I am your cordial friend,

JESSE H. BROWN, Sch. Ex.

We have also accepted an invitation to attend a county teachers' institute to be held at Indianapolis, during the five days commencing December 17th. We anticipate a pleasant time at each of these institutes.

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION.-The thirty-seventh annual meeting of this body, the oldest educational association in the country, was held at Burlington, Vt., on the 7th, 8th, and 9th days of August, Rev. B. G. Northrop, of Massachusetts, presiding. The meagre report of the proceedings which we have seen, indicates that some of the important educational questions of the day were ably discussed. The first day was devoted to the discussions of this large subject: "Our schools: their influence on Agriculture, Commerce, Manufactures, Civil Policy and Morals." In the evening a lecture was delivered by Moses T. Brown, late of Ohio, on "Reading as a

Fine Art," which greatly pleased the audience. On the second day Hon. John D. Philbrick, of Boston, spoke on "Graded Schools; " Rev. Milo C. Stebens, of Springfield, gave a lecture on "Practicability;" and Prof. J. S. Tyler, of Amherst College, on "Socrates as a Model Teacher." The subjects of "Reading as a Fine Art” and "Reconstruction in relation to Education," were ably and fully discussed. The conclusion reached in the latter discussion was, that "Education must be the cement of the Union." The third day was devoted to a discussion of "The Study of the Constitution of the United States and the Different States;" a crossing of swords by Prof. Harkness, of Brown University, and Prof. Atkinson, of Cambridge, on "The Place of the Sciences and the Classics in a Liberal Education;" and an address by Hon. George F. Edmunds, United States Senator from Vermont, on "Learning, the Principal Safeguard of Liberty and Order."

The meeting was largely attended, and is pronounced the best held for years. The officers for the ensuing year are: President, W. E. Sheldon, Boston; Recording Secretary, Charles A. Morrill, Boston; Treasurer, Granville B. Putnam, Boston.

WAYNE COUNTY INSTITUTE.-The first session of this institute, as organized under the present law, was held at Smithville during the five days commencing Sept. 24. About one hundred teachers were present. Hon. John Brinkerhoff, of Wooster, and J. B. Eberly, of Smithville, assisted the writer in the work of instruction. School Commissioner Norris and Dr. Firestone, of Wooster, gave each an evening lecture. We take pleasure in adding that the schools of Wooster were closed, and all the teachers in attendance. A large club of subscribers to the MONTHLY was raised. -A fine building is being erected at Smithville for the accommodation of the excellent academy now in charge of Mr. Eberly.

STARK COUNTY INSTITUTE.-The second annual session of this institute was held at Canton during the five days commencing Oct. 15. Owing to the fine weather for farming purposes, or to some other cause, but few teachers from the country districts were present, but the teachers of Canton and Massillon, having been permitted to close their schools for the purpose without loss of pay, were all present, the former four days and the latter two days. The deepest interest was manifested in the exercises. Messrs. Worley and Smith, of Canton, Mr. Henkle, of Salem, and Mr. Kimball, of Massillon, assisted in the work of instruction. A petition to the General Assembly praying for the organization of a system of county supervision, was circulated for signatures-and a large club of subscribers to the MONTHLY was raised. A good work has been well begun in Old Stark.

INSTITUTES.-A successful teachers' institute was held at Martinsville, Clinton Co., in August, under the direction of A. J. Hixson, principal of the public schools of this village.- -We received circulars announcing normal institutes at Chillicothe and St. Marys, to commence July 30. We have delayed notice, hoping to receive some report of the proceedings. We also learn that a normal institute was held at Waynesville, Ohio, under the supervision of Mr. J. C. Ridge. We have no particulars.-The institute announced at Ashland has been indefinitely postponed-cause not known. Teachers' institutes commencing on the dates named, will be held this month as follows: New Lisbon and Akron, Oct. 29; Ravenna and Berea, Nov. 5; Warren and Marietta, Nov. 12; and Perrysburg, Nov. 26.

FREMONT. The citizens of this enterprising town have voted a tax of $16,000 to erect two school-houses-the one for the high school to cost $12,000. We have received an intimation that this is one of the good results of the institute held there last spring. The schools are prospering.