Resident Editors' Cable.

GEORGE ALLEN, Jr.,
C. J. CAPEN,

Boston,
Dedham, S

RESIDENT EDITORS.

JOHN D. PIIILBRICK, Boston.
D. B. HAGAR,
W. Roxbury,

EDUCATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

We have just perused the recent message of Gov. Martin. We took it up not expecting to find anything in it very interesting or profitable, but we were happily disappointed. He gives us sufficient evidence in this document, of his disposition to promote the best interests of society. More than half of his message is devoted to agriculture and education, and however non-committal he may be on other matters, on these topics he speaks out boldly and manfully. He proposes an enlargement of the range of instruction in the common schools by the introduction of elementary works upon agricultural chemistry and physiology. He says that the common schools should be elevated to that standard of instruction which will impart all that scientific knowledge necessary in the ordinary walks of business life, and lay the foundation of an extended education.

His liberal and judicious remarks respecting the Board of Education, stand out in beautiful contrast with the Vandalism recently exhibited by the Legislature of the State of Maine in its action on the subject of education. His concluding sentences on these subjects are worthy of the State which places its glory in the production of men. He says,

"No State can ever languish and retrograde in population, morals or wealth, when her agricultural interests are prosperous, and her educational advantages free, ample and accessible to all. Agricultural. prosperity, knowledge, and virtue, are the sustaining pillars of a republican government, and should be cultivated and sustained by every friend of freedom."

I would suggest for your consideration, the propriety of raising more money than heretofore, for the support of our common schools -and also the establishment of an agricultural commission, for the benefit of that great department of our industry."

This is explicit and unequivocal. To our eyes it is a pleasing spectacle to see a democratic leader of the radical type unfurl the standard of Educational Progress. To the friends of popular education in New Hampshire, Gov. Martin's liberal views on the subject must be very gratifying. To the project of establishing a State Reform School, he gives his cordial approval. He believes such an institution would be productive of great good to society, by removing juvenile offenders from the

influence of depraved associates, and placing them under the redeeming power of education, healthful occupation, and moral and religious teaching.

The subject of Normal Schools was not alluded to in his message. Perhaps it was best, under the circumstances, to postpone it for the present. But the importance of seminaries for the special training of teachers in the theory and practice of teaching, can scarcely be over-estimated. Without such schools, no system of public instruction can be considered complete. We sincerely hope the time is not very distant when New Hampshire will have at least one Normal school, which shall not be inferior in its advantages to any similar institution in the country.

P.

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN DANVERS.

THE population of the town of Danvers is 8,110, and the number of children of the legal school age is upwards of 1,700. It is divided into fourteen school districts, and has two high schools. which have been in operation about two years. The amount of taxable property in the town, by the valuation of 1850, was $3,312,779.10. The amount of money raised for the support of schools the current year, is about $9,500. At the last annual town meeting, the School Committee were authorized to appoint a Superintendent of the schools, who should devote his whole time to the duties of the office. Mr. Marshall, recently a teacher in Danvers, but at present Principal of the High School in Chelsea, was selected to fill the office, but he did not accept the appointment. Subsequently, Charles Northend, Esq., of Salem, was prevailed upon by the committee to undertake it; and we congratulate the citizens of Danvers upon their good fortune in securing the services of a gentleman so eminently qualified to discharge the duties of such an office. He possesses the requisite knowledge of the science of education, and practical acquaintance with the art of teaching. His high reputation as a teacher is well deserved, having been earned by many years of faithful service. In the cause of education he has been long known as a faithful, constant, and efficient laborer, and a wholesouled, true man, and he carries with him into his new sphere of labor the best wishes of his numerous friends for his success.

We have been thus particular in recording this appointment, because we regard it as an interesting sign of the times. We sincerely hope and trust that this example which has been set by the town of Danvers will be speedily imitated by all the cities and large towns in the Commonwealth. It is the appropriate business of teachers to diffuse correct views upon this subject as well as upon other matters pertaining to their profession.

P.

A VOICE FROM THE GLORIOUS WEST.

LISTEN to it, and remember it comes from one who is laboring to place the Educational Journal of his own State on a firm foundation, and tell us if such an example of whole-souled generosity does not do honor, not only to our profession, but to humanity.

"At the Institute which has just closed in this place, I exhibited a specimen of the Massachusetts Teacher,' and the President of the Institute desires me to request a copy to be sent to him. Send the back numbers of the present volume, and enter his name as a subscriber."

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"I hope the Massachusetts Teacher' will be more extensively taken by the teachers of Ohio. Wide-awake, efficient, wholesouled teachers will not rest satisfied with one educational journal, and as we have many such teachers in Ohio, and as we believe the number is fast increasing, and as we especially recommend the Massachusetts Teacher' as an A, No. 1' Journal, we hope to see a large number of subscribers in Ohio. When I say we' I mean the working teachers in the State, and we have a noble little army of them."

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How does this sound to those teachers in Massachusetts, who have good salaries, and yet have never lifted a hand to sustain any educational paper? But that class is every day growing more and more "conveniently small.”

P.

THE TRUANT LAW.

THE State Legislature, at its recent session, passed an act in addition to the law of 1850, in relation to "truants and absentees from school," by which the difficulties in the administration of the former statute will be remedied. The amendments were enacted at the suggestion of our city authorities. The House of Reformation for Juvenile Offenders, has been assigned as the place required by law, for the children sentenced under this law. We should like to ask our city fathers when they intend to enforce this law. Does it take three months to set a policeman on the track of a truant? The judicial officer appointed to attend to cases of truancy is receiving $500 for doing nothing. He has not had a case brought before him for six months, and all the while scores of truants are daily seen in our streets.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.-We find ourselves obliged to postpone the publication of several valuable articles for want of room.

THE DISTRICT SCHOOL AS IT WAS SCENERY SHOWING AND OTHER WRITINGS. BY WARREN BURTON, 1852. W. D. Ticknor, Boston.

THIS is a volume to be read. The author has a peculiar mind, but he is a man of genius. The District School as it was, is remarkable for the Daguerreotype pictures which it gives of an institution which has been the glory and is the hope of New England. Besides its life-like descriptions, it has the additional merit of presenting a view of the country customs, thoughts and feelings, as they were before the introduction of railroads had transformed our rural towns into the mere suburbs of cities. No American writer has produced a work more thoroughly characteristic of New England, or better fitted to give a just idea of the true elements of New England life.

The volume contains several other pieces, of which each one has peculiar excellencies. Among them, the longest is entitled Scenery Showing. It is a series of pictures-and they are as distinct as if on canvas-of what is most striking for beauty or sublimity in nature:

Mr. Burton has not had that circulating library popularity which inferior men sometimes possess, but in original powers manifested in a certain line, it would be difficult to refer to any of our writers who have surpassed him. Those who have not read his works, we advise to get this volume, and to give their first hour of leisure to its perusal. It is a book to be carried with one into the country, and to be read among the scenes which it describes.-Exchange Paper.

LECTURES Delivered before the American Institute of Instruction, Vol. for 1851. BOSTON: Ticknor, Reed & Fields.

66

" On

THE subjects of the lectures in the volume before us are as follows: "Teachers' Morals and Manners; "The Supervision of Schools;" "The Teacher in the Nineteenth Century;' Importance of Moral and Religious Education in a Republic; "The Manifestations of Education in Different Ages; the Present Condition and Wants of Common Schools; ""Methods of Teaching Spelling;" and "Physical Education." The series of volumes published annually by the Institute comprises a very valuable body of educational literature. The volume before us is the twelfth of the new series, and we may safely say that it is at least equal to any of its predecessors, if not the very best of them all. Part of the expense of publishing being defrayed by the Society, its cheapness places it within the reach of every teacher.

P..

PRIZE ESSAYS.

THE following Prizes for original Essays are offered by the Massachusetts State Teachers' Association:

To the members of the Association, for the best essay on "The Self-improvement of Teachers," a prize of fifteen dollars. To the female teachers of the State, for the best essay on "Moral and Religious Instruction in Schools," fifteen dollars. Each essay should be accompanied by a sealed envelope containing the name of the writer; but no envelope will be opened except those which accompany the successful productions. The essays must be forwarded to the Secretary, Charles J. Capen, Esq., of Dedham, on or before the first of October, 1852. The prizes will be awarded by an impartial committee; but no prize will be awarded to any production that is not deemed worthy of a prize. The successful essays will be regarded as the property of the Association.

Newburyport, Dec. 18, 1851.

W. H. WELLS, President.

PRIZE CIRCULAR.

Two prizes, one of ten dollars and another of five dollars, have been offered to the lady teachers of Norfolk County for the best essays on some educational subject: "The Management of Primary Schools" is recommended as one worthy of attention. The essays should be sent to the subscriber by the first of November, over a fictitious signature, accompanied by a sealed envelope containing the name of the author.

CHARLES J. CAPEN, Secretary Norfolk Co. Teachers' Association.

Dedham, June 18, 1852.

BROWN UNIVERSITY.

THE annual Commencement of Brown University will occur on the 14th of July. On Tuesday the 18th, at 11 A. M., Rev. G. W. Bethune, D. D., of Brooklyn, N. Y., will deliver the oration before the Rhode Island Alpha of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. The annual address before the Society of Missionary Inquiry will be delivered on Tuesday evening, by Rev. Mr. Kirk, of Boston.-Providence Journal.