OHIO JOURNAL OF EDUCATION. These recitals have been presented as hints to the teachers of the State of Ohio, in hopes that circles of a similar character may continue to be formed, wherever genial materials can be aggregated. It is not all of life merely to accumulate, accumulate, study, study, and become book-worms and recluses. Teachers are fitted for society, and the above illustrations show the influence of social sympathy in developing individual minds. Dr. Albert Pickett, one of the most distinguished teachers of the West, counted among his pupils a number of the most gifted and most useful men of New York, where he taught in early life. The Professor adds, "If the history of Literature and Science be ever justly and philosophically written, it will be found that they owe more to the social faculties of man, than man owes to them. It is in the collision of minds that the fire of genius is struck out. It is in the communion of spirits that there bursts out from the cloud those flashings of a light within, which gives us a momentary glance at what the spirit was before darkness passed over Eden. It it the mutual hints, the continual inquiries, the accretions from other minds, the brilliant thought gradually elaborated, and the suggestions of excited imagination, which make up the beautiful woof of literature and the brightest inventions of science. The solitary student may work hard and well, but at last, unexcited by new suggestions and unsupported by kindly praise, he droops upon his wing and tires of his lonely flight!" And on the importance of the communion of nonprofessional minds with our teachers in social gatherings, he continues:-"I have observed that, while all trades and professions need, for certain purposes, associations within themselves, yet in those associations they never rise above themselves. It all smells of the shop. To improve individually, or to elevate a class, there must be the communion of various minds. There must be ideas from without as well as within. The human spirit, like a plant, needs a genial soil, and draws nutriment from the whole atmosphere. To nurture it with only one element, and cast it off from all its natural surroundings, is to dwarf its growth, and while it may be perfect of its kind, is to render that kind below the magnitude and elevation to which it might have aspired." Let it be the subject of immediate attention of Teachers, Boards of Education and Boards of Examiners, to hunt up, arrange and make available for winter reading, the books sent last year and year preceding to each county for a Common School Library. Winter is coming on. Night Schools should now be prepared for. In Cincinnati there is not only ample provision for Primary and Grammar night schools, but a night High School and School of Design. Prepare instruction at night where practicable, for those detained from day schools. Ohio Graded Schools are now so well conducted, that children, instead of being sent abroad to school, are kept at home to receive the formation of their early habits under the Buckeye roof, by the parents who are most concerned in having them twined with all the affectionate sympathies and graces which can only grow up where sister and brother, father and mother, are united in making bright and strong, those sweet chains which bind as with links of steel the cultivated man and woman, to home and native land. · Geological lectures and explorations might be made by competent Teachers on Saturdays, with hills and valleys for Lyceums, and pupils for audience. -The effort, the mental exercise to attain, is often more valuable than the knowledge-the how often more important than the what in the art of learning. - In the days of Dilworth and Daboll, Teachers drew on their own resources. Teachers now with so many advantages, must look to it, that in spite of their many new processes, they fail not to develop the mind of their pupils, by learning them to think. Let them bear in mind this Mann-ly expression, "Thoroughness, thoroughness, thoroughness is the secret of success in a Teacher." - Teachers! If you have not charity-the noble virtues of Faith and Hopeyou are but as sounding brass, and discourse but the music of tinkling cymbals. With us, the youth of the humblest citizen has an equal share, with equal hand, to reach the prize contended for by the richest. Here in Ohio, this teeming middle ground of effort, we are not working in an isolated field, but in the garden of the world, in thè circus or forum of which the East and West are spectators. In our Ohio schools, are youths to become the Humboldts, the Fremonts, Wilsons, Audubons, and Agassizs of science and research. We want the trainers to have not only heads but hearts. In all human hearts there is an impressible place to be found if sought for. It is the duty of the Teacher to study his pupils. - It has been said, he who has the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th Chapters of St. John, has all he needs for life and death. - Many Teachers have no trust in their mission. "Be game," we say; the waters of the sea of life bear up him who trusts it. Schiller says: "It is only through the morning gate of the beautiful that you can penetrate into the reasons of knowledge, and what we here feel as beauty, we shall one day recognize as truth." -Let it be said of the Teacher, "He knew the truth, because he did the truth." — In Edinburgh, Scotland, the Council of Education are about establishing a museum for educational purposes. It will contain plans and models of schools, of fittings and apparatus, desks, seats, books, etc. Such a one in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, would be properly appreciated, and resorted to by those engaged in education in this and adjoining States. A proposal has been made which promises well for another sort of education: To establish Industrial Schools, each of which shall comprise a " training family;" girls to be admitted and instructed during good behavior, in all that pertains to domestic economy and household duties. Will it not be a surprise to have troops of young women skilled in the neglected accomplishments of roasting mutton, boiling potatoes, and making a shirt? The "Litter Box" has been recommended for use in schools, to be passed through the spaces between the seats each half day before the close of school, in which the scholars should deposit scraps of paper and other litter from the floor. A good plan, if the better one is not observed, of requiring no litter to be allowed on the floor. It would be well to have a basket in one corner in which should scrupulously be placed any scraps unavoidably made during school hours. At recess, a school room should be respected as something more sacred than a place to romp in, or as a play ground. To secure neat school rooms, some Teachers appoint weekly, from the pupils, committees of inspection. OHIO JOURNAL OF EDUCATION. Teachers easily induced to abandon posts of usefulness and influence, merely on account of pecuniary promise, are taught a lesson by Oberlin, who placed some estimate upon the opportunities he possessed, and cared for the youth of his charge. He would not leave his place; a much better living was offered him. "No." said he, "I have been ten years learning every head in my parish, and obtaining an inventory of their moral, intellectual and domestic wants; I have laid my plan: I must have ten years to carry it into execution, and the ten following to correct their faults and vices." — It is with the lowest grade of pupils that the shaping process must com mence. Here the best talent as Educators, not as mere Instructors, is wanted. Here we begin the development of character, the implanting of seeds of immor. tal growth, where love to God, and love to parent, and love to all mankind is taught, as well as knowledge of men and things. -The Chairman of the Executive Committee advises us that the annual meet. ing of the Ohio State Teachers' Association will be held in Columbus on the 29th and 30th of December. - Teachers should be careful of their own health, remembering that a man's constitution is like a good garment, which lasts the longer for being better taken care of, and is no more improved by bad treatment than a new beaver is made better by being banged about. – The demand of emigration to the new Territories and Western States will require Teachers of different grades, adequate for pioneer duty. What a blessing to those new homes in the west will it be to have well cultivated Teachers, the product of the advanced spirit of the age. A drain will be made from our State for these Pioneer Schools, and Boards of Education must train up and employ a higher cultured and more practical race of instructors. MCGUFFEY'S NEW ECLECTIC READERS are having great and justly merited popularity among intelligent Teachers. Published by W. B. Smith & Co., Cin cinnati. The circular of the State Commissioner, asking for anecdotes illustrating the inefficiencies of Teachers, will certainly be satisfied in the exhibition made by our correspondent: "In looking over the Register of a school district, within the county of where I have been employed as a Teacher, the past summer, I found some very choice specimens of literature, orthography, etc., which I transcribed verbatim et literatim, and send them to you to be disposed of, in whole or in part, as you may deem proper. By applying the proper tests, I have no doubt it will be found that the enlargement of the capacities of some of our School Teachers, and perhaps some of our School Directors, is an object much to be desired, and that some Teachers need themselves to be taught. “The Teacher employed last winter, commenced his Register thus: Daily Register of Jacson Tp.' His 'report' was of a School kept by A. B—, in District No. -, Jacson Tp., comencing Jan. 12th 1856 and concluding March the 4th 1856' etc. "He certifies his 'report' to be corect.' No less than 22 familiar names, in his enrollment of pupils, are misspelled. For example, Isriah for Azariah, Ansin Nellis for Anson Ellis, Olover for Oliver, Manerva for Minerva, Druzilla for Drusilla, Rody for Rhoda, Margat, Ester, Laisabeth in one instance, and Lisabeth in another for Elizabeth, Learyann berry for Leah Ann Berry, etc., etc. "Extract from 'Report of I. T― teacher' etc. This certifies the above report to be correct and the pupils have made very good progress, and generally obedient.' "Given under my hand this 19th day of Nov. 1853 "(Very precise, formal and official.) "From the 'Report' of J. G. M.: I. T.' "I certify the same to be correct and report progress in the scholars and peace and tranquility predominate J. G. M. Teacher.' "From the same, another term: The term was taught through in peace without any serious jargons and without the Directors having to assemble at any time for the purpose of settling difficulties J. G. M. Teacher.' Jackson Town "In these extracts punctuation, etc., are strictly copied : "School report of E. McL. Teachess in School District No. ship County State of ohio for the term Ending July th 12 18- the number of Puples enrold During this SChool ware Males 27 Females 28 making in all 55 the average Daly attendence 27 the Brnches taught During this SChool was Reding' (it appears this Teachess did not teach speling) 'writing Arithmatick Gramer and Geography E. McL.' "But the 'cap sheaf' is the following: 'School Rules of Reglerlations for School District No. --' "1st Thare shall be no whispering alowed during the hours of School onely in the way of Giting ther Lessing or in the way of Studen ther Lessings ""2nd now Scholor Shall use any profain vulgar or disrespectful language during the time he Stays at the School house or near it in Coming to or returning from School "3rd no Scholar shall be allowed to retaliate when admonished or punished by the Teacher "4th It Shall be the duty of every Scholar to Obey ther teacher in every Command that is rasonble as a Schooler "On the violations of aney of the abov named rules the Scholar thus violating shall be punished with a admonition or reprimanded or by a modrate whipping 666 "It is to be further observed that all Scholars above the age of 14 years the same becoming uncontrolable Shall if desired by the teacher be expelled from the School by the vice of the Directors Clerk R. G. E. L. Prin. "This, you will say, must be a dark and benighted corner of the earth, where the 'Journal of Education' has not yet found its way. It may be so; but there are other corners as dark as this, if not darker. I have known School Directors who could not write their own names. The primary object of schools is the diffusion of knowledge. That great improvements have been made is not to be denied, but further grogress is yet much wanted, and I think the question ought to receive a little more attention from School Examiners, than it has yet, how much, and what kind of knowledge a man can impart to others who knows nothing himself. T." OHIO JOURNAL OF EDUCATION. MR. EDITOR:-Allow me, through the columns of the Journal, to address the members of the State Teacher' Association. I have forwarded the following circular letter to every one who has been an officer of the Association since 1848: ESTEEMED SIR:- Having been appointed by the State Teachers' Association, to audit the accounts and report upon the financial condition of the same at the next annual meeting, I therefore respectfully request that you will inform me what funds of the Association may have come into your hands or passed through them, in your official capacity or otherwise, and what disposition has been made of these funds, to the best of your knowledge. If you have received or disbursed any funds, please state whether you have given or taken receipts for the same, and to or from whom ; also, whether you have vouchers of any kind showing the disposition that has been made of any funds (belonging to the Association) which may have passed through your hands, and whether you will forward me copies of such vouch. ers, or whether you will require me to pay you a visit in order to see them. I have consented to undertake the arduous duty of investigating the financial condition of the Association, in the hope of being able, by the kindly assistance of its members. so to place it before the public, that the strong claims which the Association possesses for public sympathy, respect and support, will be more generally recognized. Solely influenced by these feelings, and soliciting the favor of a reply at your earliest convenience, I have the honor to be, esteemed Sir, Bucyrus, Crawford Co., O., Sept 1857. Respectfully yours, JOHN HOPLEY. It is my desire to prepare an accurate and acceptable report, and to have it ready by the first day of the session. I wish therefore to solicit a prompt response from all whom I may have addressed, that the work of making the report may be so expedited as to enable me to present it as early as possible. Should any read this to whom the above circular may not have been personally mailed, or who may not have received one, they will please consider this as addressed to them, so far as they may feel themselves able to throw any light upon the financial condition of our Association, and to that extent they are solicited to reply. Those who may have received copies of the above circular by mail, are also requested to reply as speedily as convenient. Bucyrus, Oct. 1857. Very respectfully, JOHN HOPLEY. FLATTENING HEAD PROCESS.-Some savages press the heads of their papooses into some favorite shape, making one the pattern for the moulding of all the others. Some teachers, in effect, strive to do that with their pupils, seeking the silly gratification of seeing their own image impressed on their tender and yielding minds, instead of examining the outline of the image already impressed there, bringing out that. Kinmont says, let that image be produced in all its native contour and coloring; and let it be adorned and set off, not with foreign or exclusive ornaments, but with those universal graces and gifts which are the benefits of science, of literature, of morality. Thus, the likeness of the Creator will gradually rise up in interesting relief, in that new mind; and he will have a character of his own, not yours or mine, and he will be a new mirror on earth to reflect on the delighted eyes of mortals some of the hitherto unrevealed glories of the eternal. |