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mens of which may be seen at the Athenæum,) and other books for children, have been sent forth from the American press.

In general, newspapers are read with the same avidity as with us, and though as yet among the multitudes who are able to read, there is far from being much interest taken in other species of reading, still such a spirit will no doubt be enkindled, as the other means of education come to be employed.

Of these the most important, unquestionably, are, schools of mutual instruction, or Lancasterian schools. The tables adapted to this system were translated into modern Greek, some time previously to the commencement of the present revolution. They were published under the patronage and at the expense of the Hospodar of Moldavia. Some improvements therein made, were taken notice of with approbation, by one of the learned societies of Paris. Cleobulus, the translator, has been now several years in Greece, and has succeeded in establishing more than fifty schools where his tables are used, and whose masters have become slightly acquainted with the system from his instruction. It is true the poverty of the people has prevented these schools from flourishing to much extent hitherto. Every one acquainted with this system, knows that in order to give it efficiency, it is necessary to have a room of ample dimensions, with suitable seats, materials for writing, &c. Instead of these, however, the children in most instances are crowded into narrow and dark rooms, often seated on the floor, with nothing on which to write, save a bit of tin, horn, &c. Still, any schools, however badly conducted, on this system, are far preferable to the old, where a boy is taught only to stammer (or rather sing) in ancient Greek, without being able at all to comprehend the meaning of his lesson.

Some of the best schools in the country were established by foreigners, at Missolonghi, Athens, and Argos, and were, as is well known, broken up when those cities fell into the hands of the Turks. The former teacher of the Lancasterian school of Athens, is now, however, master of a respectable school at Napoli. There is also another at Naxos, with more than two hundred pupils, and a small yet well conducted school for females, under the superintendence of Cleobulus, at Syra. The school which I myself established at Syra, probably contains at the present time three hundred children of both sexes, and it is to be hoped may through the liberality of the friends of humanity in this country, prove a model school of high order.

NOTICES.

A new improved Dictionary for Children, or Definition Book, for the use of Schools; being a Selection of the most important and necessary English Terms, with plain, simple Explanations. By J. Kingsbury. Boston. Munroe & Francis. 1822. pp. 299.

The compilation of school dictionaries has been managed for the most part with very little attention to the capacity of those who use them; the grand object, apparently, being abridgment rather than selection. The editors of such books seem anxious to do justice to the English language, by inserting a large proportion of its words, rather than to consult the wants of children, and afford them the aid which they need. We have had columns of definitions, instead of explanations; and the young scholar has not unfrequently found, on turning to his dictionary, that the word used as a definition is much less

intelligible than the word it is used to define. He finds himself, in fact, much in the situation of Lancelot Gobbo's father in quest of the Jew's house, when he was directed by his shrewd-witted son first to turn to the right hand, and then to the left, and last of all to turn of no hand.'

Besides the vagueness of the definitions, the number of words has been unnecessarily burdensome; extending far beyond the limits of a child's reading, not to say beyond that of most adults. Added to which is another disadvantage in many of our current school dictionaries, the insertion of words necessarily associated with meanings which it is improper to bring, in any way, before the minds of children.

The object of the dictionary under notice, is to avoid these defects by a careful selection of words neither too simple and common for explanation, nor nor too rare and abstruse for the average reading of childhood. Several important advantages are in this way secured. The pupil's memory is not strained by unnecessary and mechanical exertions on unintelligible matter, which serve no purpose but to quash the natural curiosity of the young mind, rendering the study of the English language an irksome task, and, in the issue, enfeebling the mental powers. At the same time that these evils are shunned, there is great positive gain, on the plan adopted in this dictionary. The learner is enabled to enjoy the benefit of finding out for himself the signification of words which he cannot understand without assistance; and application is thus rendered both practicable and pleasant, the mind is kept active when it would otherwise be idle, and is rendered clear and distinct in its conceptions, by the habit of attaching an exact and definite idea to every word. A taste for reading is also favoured in this way, and a good foundation laid for an intelligent use of language.

Of the execution of this work we entertain a highly favourable opinion. The author's undertaking was a difficult one, and she has acquitted herself with great success. This is no ordinary praise in the judgment of those who know how difficult it is to give a happy explanation within the compass of a very few words. The book seems excellently adapted to the objects of a familiar dictionary for common schools, and as such we would earnestly recommend it to the attention of teachers.

After examining this work, it was our intention to suggest to the author, that a minor publication of the same nature would be a useful book for primary schools. We have since observed, however, an advertisement of a book which we have not seen, entitled Primary Dictionary, or Rational Vocabulary, by the author of American Popular Lessons,-which probably is a work already prepared for the purpose we have mentioned.

Outlines of Political Economy, on the plan of the Rev. David Blair. Adapted to the use of Schools in the United States of America. Boston. S. G. Goodrich. 1828.

This is a neat and cheap compend, embodying a popular view of its subject, with notes and illustrations, adapted to the minds of the young. It forms one of those elementary treatises of useful science, which tend at once to enlarge the mind and prepare it for more extensive reading at a period when knowledge may be rendered more complete by consulting the original sources of information.

An acquaintance with the elements of political science is of great moment to the whole community, and especially in a country like this, where popular sentiment is so immediately and extensively felt in its influence on national affairs. The inhabitants of other countries may deride the idea of the people at large becoming political economists, but such is literally and of necessity the case among us; and, as far as the influence of education is concerned, the question simply is, whether it is better to inspire an early taste for a decent knowledge of a science so important, or to leave the subject untouched till the period of mature years and active life.

But there is no science which we deem important to man that we do not prefer to have associated, at least in its elements, with the growth and progress of the mind; trusting that the early impulse thus communicated will best produce an effect on the mental habits and character.

Aside from the importance of the thing itself, however, there are reasons connected with education, which would render it desirable to have this branch of knowledge introduced into the course of study in common schools. The youth of New England, if not of other parts of this country, are allowed, by the narrow plan of popular instruction, to resort to these schools from year to year, during a long and important period of life, without carrying their attention much beyond the round of reading, writing, and arithmetic. The older scholars have no inducement held out to them, by which they might be incited to extend their education, and the younger of course have none to stimulate them to a more rapid progress The period of school-going, however, is sufficiently long to admit of the introduction and study of the elements of most departments of useful knowledge; and it is one of the most decided features of recent improvement in education, that the neglect of which we speak is beginning to be felt as a serious evil, and that the spirit of reformation is effecting a revolution which, as it advances, bids fair to carry along with it the benefits of an enlarged and liberal course of education to every member of the community. Geography and history, in addition to grammar, are now taught in many of our schools. Political economy will prove a valuable accession to the list of branches; and we are happy to see, in the publication before us, a book well adapted for this purpose.

The work is on the plan of the popular school books of the Rev. David Blair of England; the prominent ideas expressed in large type, attendedwhen necessary-with examples and illustrations in smaller type. Questions are annexed at the foot of every page, for the convenience of the instructer and the direction of the pupil.

Select Anecdotes of Animals, accompanied with Descriptions and Engravings; intended for the instruction and amusement of Young Persons. By the Author of Evenings in Boston. Boston. Bowles & Dearborn. 1828. 18mo. pp. 227.

Few subjects blend so much entertainment with the instruction which they afford as that of animal biography; and, under judicious management, none are more conducive to an early and intelligent interest in the works of creation. The present volume is a very happy selection-well fitted to inspire a taste for the department of science to which it is meant to serve as an introduction, and carefully prepared with reference to the circumstances and character of the young; the moral influence of the whole compilation having been attentively kept in view.

The cuts are remarkably good, in the great essentials of resemblance and proportion; and some of them are very creditable to the talent of the artist.

AND

PARENT'S ASSISTANT,

DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COMMON EDUCATION.

This work will be published monthly, by S. G. GOODRICH, 141, Washington Street, Boston. Wait, Greene, & Co. Court Street, are general Agents, and will supply subscribers. The erms are one dollar a year, payable on "delivery of the Jun: number; if payment is delayed beyond that time the price will be one dollar fifty cents, payable on demand. No subscription will be taken for less than a year-all remittances by mail must be post paid.

All communications respecting the editorial department should be addressed to S. G. Goodrich; those which respect the other departments of the work, to Wait, Greene, & Co. No. 13, Court Street.

NEW SERIES.

OCTOBER 1, 1828.

NUMBER 9.

REVIEW.

Observations on the establishment and direction of Infant Schools;
being the substance of a Lecture delivered at the Royal Institution,
May, 1826. By the Rev. Charles Mayo, LL. D. Fellow of
St. Johns College, Oxford. London. 1827. 8vo. pp. 24.

THE increase of infant schools, since their commencement in 1819, has been so great, and their success so perfect, that their practicability or their usefulness is no longer problematical. They are already classed among the improvements of the age, and make a new era in the history of education. Men of the highest attainments, and sustaining, with distinguished honour, the first and best offices, of responsibility, are giving them their patronage, in various forms of encouragement. Among those whose names are already identified with the interests of improvement, is the distinguished Henry Brougham, whose talents and philanthropy, claim the higher admiration, from the circumstance of being exerted in the establishment of infant schools. By his agency, and that of others imbued with the same spirit, more than two hundred of these schools have been opened in England; and their number is still increasing. Within the last two years, they have been introduced into this country. In Philadelphia, there are now three schools of this character in successful operation-two in New-York-in Boston, two have been opened within the last three months-and others, in many of our towns and cities. In all, the happiest results have been developed. Enough has been done to suggest the highest anticipations.

In the pamphlet above named, the writer takes a clear and rational view of the necessity, the practicability, the processes, and

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purposes of these institutions. Some of these views, attended by remarks, we propose to introduce into this article ;-commencing with the first paragraph of his observations.

'An Infant school, assembled in an airy and commodious apartment, provided with pleasing materials of instruction, and under the able superintendence of a kind and judicious master, presents a scene, which can scarcely fail to interest and delight the visiter. But duly to appreciate the blessings it conveys, he should be able to compare the happy, docile, affectionate infants with the quarrelsome little beings which throng the courts and alleys of a densely populated city. It is delightful to view the remedial process in operation; but to ascertain its value we must acquaint ourselves with the virulence and inveteracy of the disease.

'Let the benevolent inquirer into the condition of the poor visit those quarters where it assumes its ordinary features:-in what state will he find the children ?-The parents too busily engaged in their laborious avocations, to tend them, during the day, suffer them to wander through the street, exposed to all the danger of a crowded city, and instructed by the older children in the arts of pilfering and gambling, and in all the demoralizing practices of low-bred idleness;-Or, if confined within the precincts of their wretched dwellings, they must be consigned to the care of an elder sister, (whose tender age rather demands protection,) who, untrained to patient forbearance, and incapable of prudently exercising authority, now vents ill temper in blows, that irritate without subduing, now stimulates, by ill timed indulgence, the perverseness which she vainly tries to soothe. Meanwhile, to no one is instruction given; and the very advantages which benevolent institutions have provided for the elder children are frequently lost to them, through the necessity of their watching over the younger. Thus, in the ill arranged machinery of their domestic life, wheel impedes wheel, and defects in one part waste the power, which would have set another in motion. Were an infants' school to offer its timely aid, the mother, liberated from that charge with which she encumbers the elder child without altogether relieving herself, might pursue domestic employments without interruption, or go out to labour without anxiety; the elder children might avail themselves of the advantages of the primary schools; and the younger ones be sheltered, instructed, and delighted, in the public Nursery.

'If the influence of our primary schools is but too often ineffectual for moral and religious culture, may it not be attributed, in part, to the long preoccupation of the field of contest? The correction of bad habits is proverbially more difficult than the formation of good ones; the eradication of vicious propensities in

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