severing efforts of a few persons, among whom Mr. Barrett is conspicuous for zeal and energy. Wautoma is a pleasant, flourishing place, situated near the center of the county, on the White River; has a good water power, a healthy location and good society. We were promised a copy of the proceedings of the institute but have not received it yet; will publish them next month.

On our way to Wautoma stopped at Horicon, and spent half a day in friend Pickett's school. We were much gratified at the order and discipline manifested in the exercises, and are satisfied that the people of Horicon have been fortunate in securing so able and efficient a teacher. Spent part of a day at Juneau, the county seat of Dodge Co. Mr. W. R. Kinyon has been teaching at this place for a year past, and has given general satisfaction. Mr. Jumes Thorn has been engaged for the ensuing year. The school commenced on the 26th ult.

A CORRESPONDENT at Hudson, St. Croix Co., writes as follows: "The inhabitants of Hudson, considering the present hard times, are pushing forward educational interests with commendable energy. The schools are as yet organized under the general law, but a petition will be presented to the next legislature for a special act. The school accommodations as yet consist of a building two stories high, furnished with ordinary seats and blackboards, but destitue of all apparatus, maps or library, except Webster's Dictionary. The school is graded into a 'preparatory' and 'high school' department.

A hope is entertained that its prospects will assume a brighter appearance by the close of the year.

S. S. B.

A CORRESPONDENT sends us the following queries. They relate to topics of vital importance to parents, teachers and pupils. We trust to receive answers to them in time for publication in the December number of the Journal:

Query. Is no school at all better than an attempt to teach in miserably constructed, miserably located, and densely crowded school-houses?

Query.-Suppose a pupil to be pursuing three studies, what part of the day may be profitably spent in recitation?

Query. Is it possible to do away with all communications in school? If so, by what means is it to be brought about?

PLATTEVILLE has at last taken another good step in the right direction, and she may soon expect to be furnished with a good public school-house. At the last annual meeting it was voted to raise a tax of $1000, and to appropriate (if the Legislature will grant permission) the $1000 coming from the State for the purchase of a site, and for commencing the erection of a suitable school edifice. Nor will the matter rest until Platteville is furnished with as good school accommodations as any town in the State, for her citizens mean to sustain the reputation they enjoy of carrying forward to successful completion whatever they undertake.

P.

We learn that J. J. M. Angear has been engaged as principal of the Berlin Union School for another year.

MR. S. S. Benedict, of Grand Spring, Dane Co., has removed to Hudson, St. Croix, Co., and taken charge of the city schools.

We learn that a well-attended and interesting teachers' institute was held at Omro early in October. We have not seen a copy of the proceedings, but understand that a good deal of interest was manifested by parents and citizens generally, the evening meetings being largely attended. Mr. J. G. McMynn was present two days, and lectured on one of the evenings.

An institute was also held at Sheboygan Falls, in Sheboygan Co., at which a good feeling prevailed, but the attendance was not very large on account of the weather, it being quite rainy.

BOOK NOTICES.

WELLS' FAMILIAR SCIENCE. Familiar science, or the scientific explanation of the principles of natural and physical science, and their practical and familiar applications to the employments and necessities of common life. Illustrated with upwards of one hundred and sixty engravings. By DAVID WELLS, A. M. Philadelphia: Childs & Peterson, 124 Arch Street. New York: Putnam & Co., 321 Broadway. For general reading, and as a book of reference, this volume is unsurpassed by any work with which we are acquainted. It should be in every family library and on the desk of every teacher.

COMMON SCHOOLS OF CINCINNATTI.

Twenty-eighth Annual Report for the school year ending July 6th, 1857, and various supplementary documents, exhibiting the condition of the schools.

We learn from this document that there are 240 teachers employed in the public schools, whose salaries amount to $103,707 44. Total expenditures on account of schools for the past year, $208,064 65. The following table exhibits the number of children, and the number attending school:

There are many valuable suggestions in the reports which comprise a large part of the document. We quote from the report of CYRUS KNOWLTON, Principal of Huges' High School, a paragraph in regard to the mingling of the sexes in the recitation room: "The mingling of the sexes in the recitation room has continued to attract our attention, in removing from discipline its repulsive harshness, and rendering it effective; in cultivating a firm and manly dependence upon proper principles, without detracting any thing from the delicacy so beautiful in the female character; in checking the growth of the baser feelings, and inciting both sexes to wider and more solid

aequirements, we continue to think the plan most beneficial and wholesome in its results." We shall hereafter present more copious extracts from the able report of the superintendent, ANDREW J. RICKOFF, Esq.

THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY. Devoted to literature, art, and politics. November, 1857. Boston: Phillips, Sampson & Co., 13 Winter Street.

We have received from the publishers the first number of this new candidate for the public favor. It is not a flashy compend of "light literature," nor a picture book, and therefore may not command the attention of the frivolous, superficial, butterflies of fashion, nor secure the regard of overgrown boys and girls, but if in its future it shall fulfil the promises given and implied in this first number, we are much mistaken in the American mind, if it does not secure an extended patronage, and exert a powerful influence in the realms of literature and art. It comprises in its list of contributors the names of the ablest and most popular writers of the day, such as W. H. Prescott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Wm. C. Bryant, H. W. Longfellow, John G. Whit tier, Mrs. Stowe, Mrs. Gaskell, &c.

For sale by booksellers, periodical dealers and newsmen, at 25 cents a number, and sent by mail, post-paid, to subscribers, by the publishers, Messrs. P. S. & Co., for one year, on the receipt of three dollars.

ADVANTAGES OF COLLEGES. An address delivered before the Philomathean Society of Carroll College, Waukesha, Wis., on July 15th, 1857, by Courtlandt VANVENSSELAER, D. D.

A Found and able address, presenting with clearness and force the benefits resulting to individuals, the community and the State, from the establishment of a good College.

THE AMERICAN EDUCATOR. A practical monthly journal for the Teacher, the Farmer, and the Family. WILLIAM H. BOYD, Proprietor and Publisher, 346 Broadway, New-York. Vol. 1. No. 2. October, 1857.

A new enterprise on a new plan, comprising an educational, an agricultural, and a home department. One feature, "The Spirit of the School Journals," we like very much. It consists of condensed extracts from the most important articles in the various educational journals of the country. The present number contains a likeness of Dr. NOTT, a view of Union College, and a view of the Union School Building, Schenectady, N. Y. Price, 50 cents a year.

In my former article, I alluded to the pecuniary benefits arising from a good school-house. Pursuing the plan before my own mind, I shall endea-, vor in the present article to illustrate its political value.

Every true patriot-every lover of his country-looks with pride upon whatever advances the interests of popular education.

Mr. Canning, in reply to the question-By what means an uninterrupted succession of men, qualified more or less eminently for the performance of united parliamentary and official duties, is secured?—says, "We owe it to our system of Common Schools and Universities." What is true of the schools and universities of England, is eminently true of the schools of America. The perpetuity of our free institutions depends upon the intelligence and virtue of the sovereign people. The masses must be educated; and the higher the degree of intelligence, the more firmly will our Republic be enshrined in their affections. The common school, then, must be the bulwark of our defence against despotism. It is the corner-stone of our national prosperity; for in the common school must the vast majority of our people find their fitting to act the part of free men. The men issuing from these schools will be what the schools are, and it needs no argument to prove that the schools will be what the school-houses are. This must seem as a general rule. It is not to be be denied that a good school-house may contain a very poor school. But the public spirit which will manifest itself in the erection of a good school-house will diminish the probability of such a thing. Nor, on the other hand, would I affirm that no good school was ever taught in a poor house, but as before I would say, the manifest want of a right public spirit will diminish the probability of such a thing. VOL. II.

11

If we would have our nation controlled by a body of unadorned and unventilated citizens, we need but lie idle as to all progress in educational matters, and leave to the ha'f-qualified and therefore justly half-starved pedagogue as quiet possession of the old rickety school-house as the winds and restless lads will allow. In our nation's infancy, God raised up men of full stature from the log school-houses of our land. As we advance in years and strength and wealth, he demands of us better shops for the elaboration of thought and the moulding of mind. What has been is no criterion for the future. If it were, why allow any advance in mechanic arts, or industrial pursuits, or in architecture.

If our nation be saved from the curse of ignorance and consequent credulity, our educational interests must keep pace with other interests. The log school-house exerted a good healthful influence when and as long as it was equal to the residences of the wealthy-when the homes of the pupils were log cabins-when churches, factories, stores and taverns were but uncouth structures, there might have been a charm even about the old school-house. It is not so much an absolute as a relative value we would contend for. If we would have good, intelligent citizens, they must receive their education in houses always healthful, and in proportion to their surroundings neat and attractive.

PLATTEVILLE, Nov., 1857.

J. L. P.

NATIONAL TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

Continued from page 155.

PREAMBLE.

To elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching, and to promote the cause of popular education in the United States, we, whose names are subjoined, agree to adopt the following

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I. Name.-This association shall be styled the "National Teachers' Association."

ART. II. Members.-Any gentleman who is regularly occupied in teaching in a public or private elementary school, common school, high school, academy or scientific school, college or university, or who is regularly employed as a private tutor, as the editor of an educational journal, or as a superintendent of schools, shall be eligible to membership.

Applications for admission to membership shall be made, or referred to the Board of Directors, or such committee of their own number as they shall appoint; and all who may be recommended by them, an 1 accepted by a majority vote of the members present, shall be entitled to the privileges of the association, upon paying two dollars and signing this constitution.

Upsa

the recommendation of the Board of Directors, gentlemen may be elected as