Association, to be held in August, 1879, at Philadelphia.

A MEMORIAL PATH.

It having been stated by Pres. Fay, of the Appalachian Mountain Club, that it was desirable to construct a path to the summit of Mt. Carrigain, the grandest of the mountains of New Hampshire, as yet remaining inaccessible to the tourist, and also a bridle path connecting the Saco and Pemigewasset valleys, to extend from Livermore to Greeley's in Waterville, a committee of seven, consisting of Messrs. Hagar, Lyon, Mowry, Carlton, Jones, Rounds, and Ruggles, was appointed to raise the sum of $150 to be expended under the direction of the council of the club in the construction of these paths, as a memorial of the very successful meeting of the Institute among the mountains.

A skeleton map especially adapted for the use of the blind, invented by M. Anagnos, of the Perkins Institute for the Blind, at South Boston, Mass., was exhibited by the president.

REPORT ON PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

The following report, especially of interest to teachers, examining committees, and educators generally, was unanimously adopted by the convention :

The committee to whom was referred President Bicknell's address at this meeting, and Propositions I, II, III, IV, V, and VI of his address in July, 1877, submit the following report:

The end of the public school is to bring every child, so far as possible, into the state in which the mind is able and is

inclined to make the best use of all its powers; in other words, to produce men and women. Thoroughly trained teachers and an educated supervision of all the schools are indispensable to the accomplishment of this end. As a means of securing these, the following propositions are submitted:

Prop. I. All instructors charged with the education of children and youth should be selected on account of excellence of character, special talents, adequate acquisitions, and known or presumed skill in teaching.

Prop. II. All candidates for the office of teacher should be examined by a State or county or district board of competent and skilful examiners, and upon passing a satisfactory examination before this board, should receive a certificate of their qualifications to teach. These certificates of qualification should correspond to the primary, grammar, and high school grades. No person should be eligible to the office of teacher who has not received a certificate from the board of examiners. School committees may appoint persons holding these certificates with or without further examination, as they may decide.

Prop. III. Teachers who shall give satisfactory evidence to the county and State examiners that they have the requisite moral character, talent, training, and experience, should receive a life certificate of their qualifications to teach. Prop IV. Teachers possessing life certificates should hold an advisory relation to local officials in regard to gradation, courses of study, promotions, general policy, and scope of school régime.

Prop. V. The school supervision of all grades should be in the hands of educated men and women, whose experience has been gained in the school-room, and who have made instruction a special study, with reference to its philosophy, means, and end.

Prop. VI. The county and State examiners should be selected on account of special fitness as educational experts, and of possessing large experience as practical educators, and should have the power of examining candidates and granting provisional and life certificates.

The committee recommend the adoption of these propositions by the Institute.

A. G. BOYDEN, Chairman.

The members of the Institute who were guests of the Fabyan, Crawford, Twin Mountain, White Mountain, and other houses, passed resolutions thanking the several proprietors for their uniform kindness and courtesy during the sessions of the Institute.

SOCIAL REUNION.

A social reunion was held in the Fabyan House parlor, participated in by at least a thousand persons. After music by the orchestra, an operatic selection by Miss McMahon, of Chelsea, Mass., and reading by Miss Howell, of Lowell, Mass., and Prof. R. G. Hibbard, of Middletown, Conn., President Bicknell addressed the meeting. He thanked the Institute for the hearty co-operation and assistance of the associate officers and members in the management of his charge. After commenting on its success, and the results attained, he paid a fitting compliment to Manager J. A. Dodge, of the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad, for the efficient management of transportation by which the Institute was enabled to be held in the White Mountain district.

Following Mr. Bicknell's remarks, there were addresses by G. T. Fletcher, of Maine, E. E. White, president of Purdue University, Indiana, W. A. Mowry, of Rhode Island, and D. B. Hagar, of Massachusetts, all of whom complimented the president and secretary on their efficiency.

Following the addresses came the inauguration of Isaac N. Carleton, principal of the Connecticut State

Normal School, as president, who, on receiving the staff of honor, thanked the Institute for the honor conferred, pledging, with their support, his utmost endeavor to make the future Institutes as successful as the past.

LETTER FROM DR. MINER.

The following letter from Rev. A. A. Miner, D. D., of Boston, published in "The Journal of Education," will give an impression of an interested listener concerning this great meeting.

To the Editor of the Journal:

MY DEAR SIR,-Having enjoyed the privileges of a quiet listener throughout most of the exercises of the forty-ninth annual session of the above institution, held last week at Fabyan's, in the White Mountains, I feel moved to say a word or two respecting it.

In the first place I desire most heartily to congratulate yourself, and your respective associates, upon the unprecedented success of the enterprise. Educators of marked ability, in unequalled numbers, from all parts of the country, and representing every phase of the great subject, took full possession of the mountain region, taxing the hospitality and resources of all accessible points to the utmost, and holding the almost undivided attention of the throng for four full days, from Tuesday morning to twelve o'clock on Friday night. This was accomplished partly by the railway facilities of the neighborhood, partly by the generosity, promptitude, and despatch of the several landlords, and partly by the great skill with which the convention itself was handled.

Then the session was conspicuous for the ability of many of its papers, for the elevation of aim which characterized its proceedings, for the well-considered character of the leading views presented, and for the strong moral drift of the exercises as a whole. It was a matter for profound gratitude, for example, to be permitted to listen to the paper of Mr.

Mowry, of Providence, R. I., on “Political Education in our Schools," setting forth the necessity of an acquaintance with the framework of our government, and with the character and sacrifices of the noble men by which the government itself was established.

The essay on the "Education of Labor," by President White, of Purdue University, Indiana, was one of those strong discussions of a most vital topic which can hardly receive too earnest, too careful consideration.

But let it not for a moment be assumed that the mention of these is in the slightest degree a discrimination against any of the others. While all were excellent, these seemed to possess special value, from their strong patriotism and moral flavor. Could they be listened to by the whole country, the pulse of the national heart would be perceptibly improved and the tone of the public morals consciously elevated.

Indeed, the thought that seemed to combine all other thoughts, was that all true teaching tends to pass over into character. The condition of our country ought to emphasize such a proposition, and give it the utmost possible weight. The fields of politics, business, and reform all reveal our weakness in this respect, and show to the teacher the transcendent aim of his calling. Nothing can more authoritatively challenge the attention of the statesman, preacher, teacher, and reformer than the claim of our youth for mature and finished work at their hands.

In this direction the influence of the recent session of the Institute has been most valuable, and no man has contributed so much to this result, as well as to the general success of the occasion, as yourself. Long be it remembered, and long be remembered our pleasant tarry at Fabyan's!

Yours truly,

A. A. MINER.