Now with slender legs he springs O now you are joyful, &c. I should like to be a bird O that would be joyful, &c. With my wings I soon would rise, O that would be joyful, &c. If I'm good, I soon shall rise O that would be joyful, &c. Lord, grant that we poor O that will be joyful, &c. &c. THE END. APPENDIX. ON THE SITUATION AND DIMENSIONS OF AN INFANT SCHOOL-ROOM. IN the choice of a situation for an Infant School, the first consideration should be—the physical health of the children, and next--the moral health. The principle derived from the first consideration is, that the spot should be dry and airy; and the rule deduced from this principle, that the building should be placed on a site elevated either naturally or artificially. The principle derived from the second consideration is, that the school should be so situate as not to expose the children to the risk of moral contamination :-to effect this, it should be a rule always to place Infant Schools in a decent and orderly neighbourhood. Much may be done by forethought and contrivance to secure health and convenience and to save expence; and not only so, but to give the children such a prepossession in favour of order, neatness, and cleanliness, as shall lead to the most beneficial results in after life. The desiderata of the school-room are, free air, light, sunshine, and cheerfulness. The rule, therefore, should be to have high walls in order to obtain a lofty ceiling, and abundance of windows. The size of the room must depend on the number of children to be instructed in it. The form of the room ought to be rectangular: 50 feet by 25 feet is a very good size, and would contain as many children as an active Master and Mistress could satisfactorily and conveniently manage. The height of the room should be from 15 to 20 feet, and without intervening ceiling; such being found to produce an echo. In addition to the school-room there should be another room called a class-room, into which the higher classes might be occasionally taken by the Master or Mistress; the size of this room should be from 15 to 20 feet in length, and from 12 to 15 feet in width. At one end of the school-room, or in a recess at the side, a gallery 18 feet wide and 10 feet deep, should be fitted up with steps or seats rising one above the other, for the purpose of instructing the children with greater facility in some particular branches. The first three or four seats in this gallery might be about 8 inches in height, the remainder from that to 10 inches, and each 17 inches deep, except the upper, which may be only 9 inches. The seats around the large room should vary from 7 to 9 inches in height, be 9 inches wide, and divided about every 7 or 8 feet by a small parti tion, which divisions will conveniently hold each a class of eight children, including the monitor. The wall at the back of the seats should be boarded to about 4 feet high, and terminate in a rail containing pegs for the hats and bonnets of the children. A semicircle may be chalked on the floor at each class for the children to stand at when reading, --the lesson board being suspended from a nail in the wall in the centre. There should be as few doors as possible in the school-room. A play-ground, with other conveniences, should be connected with every Infant School, where practicable: and for 150 children it should contain about 2000 square feet. From the play-ground, the Teacher elicits the individual character of each child, as being at this time, in some degree, freed from controul, the natural temper and disposition of the children are more readily discovered. The residence of the Master and Mistress ought to be contiguous to the school-room and play-ground; so as to enable them to watch over the children during their dinner time. The places of convenience should not only be near the school-room, but a small window from the school or class-room looking into them, would afford the Master or Mistress an opportunity of ascertaining the cause, should a child be long absent, or whether any accident has befallen it. The Master's house should consist, at least, of two sitting-rooms, two or three bed-rooms, with a kitchen, and other conveniencies. of the sitting-rooms might be fitted up as a School Library, and for the reception of visitors. In the country, there ought also to be a garden-not only for the supply of vegetables for the Teachers' use, but also for their recreation and enjoyment in their leisure hours. One The following is a scale of the sizes of rooms for certain numbers of children. For 40 children 20 feet by 12 ON THE ORGANIZATION OF INFANT SCHOOLS. THE Compilers of this little work, having (as before stated) been engaged in Infant Schools from nearly their commencement, and having frequently witnessed the difficulties into which Teachers are thrown in commencing a new school; they think, probably, that a few plain hints on organizing may be of service to those who are about to enter upon this important work. 1. On the morning of admission, place a form or two across the room, allowing sufficient space for the parents and children to stand previous to, and while, entering the children's names; and as each child is registered, let the parent hand it over the form to the Mistress, who will place it on a seat, and where needed, comfort it with a few plums, cakes, or toys. This simple plan will prevent all that confusion, too frequently occasioned at such a time, by parents running about the room, and thereby obstructing the way of the Master or Mistress. 2. We will now suppose all to have been admitted, the parents gone, the door closed, and several crying. Let the Teacher with all patience, kindness, and good feeling, begin to stamp with his feet on the floor, clap his hands, at the same time passing from one end of the room to the other. This will excite the attention and wonder of the little ones, and probably lessen the number of weepers. A few soft balls would be of great service here; as the Teacher might bowl one to any child whom he might perceive to be interested in his movements. He may also walk round the room; shake hands with one, pat the head of another, and comfort a third; until he has by his uniform kindness, in some measure gained their attention and induced all to take their seats. In this part of his work the Christian Teacher will feel his need of "that wisdom which cometh from above." Simplicity and patience will now be needed; and, indeed, every Christian grace called into exercise, Every thing which has a tendency to please and comfort must be resorted to with child-like simplicity. 3. All being now properly seated, and the crying in a great measure subdued, (although it is sometimes the case that two or three days will elapse before it is fully overcome,) the next thing to be aimed at, is to get the children to act together. In order to do this, the Teacher may say hands on the knees-fold arms-heads up-mouths shut |