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write with facility and accuracy. Let there be the right kind of practice, and any one will soon possess the ability.

The teacher should require every scholar, who can read and write, to produce a composition every week. He should see that proper subjects were selected, and that the scholars had suitable assistance. The compositions may be handed to the teacher, who should examine and correct them. He should so point out the defects, that the scholars would perceive and avoid them. After the compositions have been corrected, the teacher may allot a certain hour, or half day in a week, for reading them publicly to the school. He need not mention the writer's name, nor publicly the corrections he has made. This exercise, if judiciously conducted, may be made pleasing to the teacher, and of the greatest benefit to the scholars,

SECTION XVIII.

CONVENTION OF TEACHERS.

How shall teachers become better prepared for their profession? How can they be continually improving their minds and their systems of instruc

tion? And how shall every teacher receive the light which the more experienced are constantly throwing upon the subject of instruction? We know of no means so common to all, and so favourable, as county conventions of teachers. Heretofore there has been but very little communication between teachers. The improvements which one has made have not been made known to others; the incompetency of teachers, and the bad systems of instruction, have been concealed; and united efforts of teachers have not been made to elevate and honour their profession.

Other classes of men have had their conventions. Men of science, ministers, and statesmen, to ensure enlightened and united operations, appoint their conventions to redress wrongs, correct errors, and make known the improvements and able suggestions that may be discovered or proposed by any one of the parts. The wisdom and experience of these conventions not only enlighten the people and sit in judgment upon their errors, but produce throughout the whole country similarity of feeling, and harmony of effort. For the peace of the church, the advancement of science, and the prosperity of the country, such conventions are absolutely necessary. But are not conventions of teachers equally necessary for the improvement of our schools? Does not the difficult and responsible profession of teaching require all the light and knowledge that can be obtained on this subject? Does not the incompetency of teachers invite all the

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aid that can be furnished from those who are better qualified by experience, and. from other literary men? Certainly, every one will say; such assistance is highly important; it would afford that necessary aid which teachers now have no means of obtaining. Yet so great is the apathy of the people, that we seldom hear of a teachers' convention. And when their proceedings are made known we find that but few attended, and that but very little was done. The manner in which these conventions are announced and conducted, excites but little interest; and as yet, but a small number of teachers have been profited by them. But how shall teachers improve themselves if not by such conventions? Works on education have a very limited circulation. Not one teacher out of a hundred reads any thing on the subject; nor will they read before the living voice excites their attention. There are but few seminaries for educating teachers, and rarely a lecture delivered on schoolkeeping. Teachers are seldom qualified when they enter into the profession, and they have neither the assistance of teachers in the vicinity, nor intelligence from abroad, either from books, or the speaking lecturer. This should not be so. There

are means which teachers may use to prepare themselves for their profession, and for improving themselves while engaged in its duties. And I. know of none so advantageous to teachers, and that is attended with so little expense and within the reach of all, as frequent town and county con

ventions. If these are generally announced and faithfully attended, they will not only be highly interesting to teachers, but of the greatest benefit to our schools.

Town conventions of teachers may be held every month, and county conventions should be called every three months. They should be attended, not only by teachers, but by all the friends of education. Each individual should go prepared to contribute to their interest and usefulness, and with a hearty desire to promote the general cause of education. Each county association should have a correspondence with similar associations throughout the United States. By this communication all the improvements or changes which have been made may be made known. The light which has appeared in any one favoured spot may shine into. every part of the Union. The books which are published, either to be used in school or for the improvement of schools, may be made known, together with the examination which others have given them. The periodical works on education may be mentioned and examined. Notice of literary conventions may be given, and delegates appointed to attend them. Papers from the state or parent society may be read, and reports from the county or auxiliary associations made out and sent to the parent society.

It should be the object of these conventions and communications with other associations to discover the origin of the defects in the present