the tolerably clear supernatant water into the filter and again pour hot water upon the precipitate in the beaker. Repeat this process of washing by decantation, some eight or ten times; then wash out the whole of the precipitate from the beaker into the filter, by means of the wash-bottle, and continue to pour hot water upon the contents of the filter, until the last traces of chloride of ammonium have been removed. When the last drops of wash-water have drained away, cover the funnels with paper to protect the precipitates from dust, and set them aside in a moderately warm place. Transfer the dried precipitate from the filters to a porcelain crucible of known weight, burn the filters upon the cover of the crucible until the last portions of carbon are destroyed, add the ashes to the precipitate in the crucible, cover the latter, and heat it strongly for eight or ten minutes over a Bunsen lamp. In burning the filters, it is well, towards the close, to press down the unburned carbon against the hot porcelain by means of a stiff wire. After the crucible has been allowed to become cold, weigh it with its contents. This weight, minus the original weight of the crucible and that of the filter ash (for which an allowance of 0.3 per cent of the weight of the paper may be made), will give the weight of the sesquioxide of iron, whence the weight of iron may be calculated by the following proportion: Starting with 3 grammes of metallic iron, Mr. Pearson obtained 4,282 grms. of Fe2 03(= 2,9974 grms. Fe), or in terms of per cents, 3:2,9974 100 99,91 per cent. [To be continued.] THE ABOLITION OF THE DISTRICT SYSTEM. THE recent law of the State abolishing the school district excites considerable comment in this section of the Commonwealth, and in some localities a bitterness against the measure accompanies it which no amount of argument will allay. It is no marvel that in some of our towns where local natural hindrances, such as lakes, hills, etc., prevent desirable concentration, a feeling of opposition should be prevalent; but it is astonishing to see so much of it in sections where consolidations of small districts into graded schools appears to any unbiassed mind the very thing needful for an improved state of education in the community. Inveteracy of custom operates as a powerful barrier against progress in this behalf, nor is its entire subsidence to be expected during the present generation. The new law would meet a better reception in many of our towns were it not that the active opposition of the remote dwellers is aided indirectly, but essentially, by the eminent conservatism of many influential citizens, who, having no young children to be educated, do not interest themselves in a matter which they conceive belongs wholly to others who have, and consequently remain passive rather than active verbs in this jangling lesson of human analysis. I say passive, and yet, when a small majority in favor of the law seek to render it effective by liberal appropriations for new buildings and modern educational appliances, their votes are oftener recorded with the malcontents than with the friends of progress. A dollar or two more of prospective draft on some plethoric purses is often potent enough to array their owners against any measure of public good in which they are not directly and personally concerned. But it should be remarked that this aversion of many of our moneyed men to co-operate in the good work of reform sometimes finds, perhaps justly, its apology in the injudicious outlay of some of our larger manufacturing towns for school buildings which rival in architectural finish and equipments the wealthiest cities of the commonwealth. In some cases of this description, the employés of large manufacturing establishments, who are entirely willing to vote for expenditures which others must sustain, combine with the zealous advocates of a better public education to secure more expensive accommodations for it than are really necessary or warrantable. I am a sincere advocate of everything needful for the thorough development of mind, including a sufficiency for purposes purely æsthetic. But it is quite possible that the matter may be overdone, and costly architecture be carried by a spirit of emulation so far as to entail needless burdens on a community. When a $25,000 school-house, with cherry or maple furniture, will answer every useful purpose, it is folly to double the expense for a more ostentatious edifice, with equipments of mahogany or black walnut; and this, too, less for the sake of aiding the schools, than from ambition to rival a sister town which has made a similar outlay. It is the same fault which is seen in some religious societies, whose love of display or unwillingness to be outdone by neighboring parishes prompts them to erect larger and costlier churches than they need or can afford, and thus saddle themselvs with a debt which, Sinbad-like, they carry long and with vexation. For the sake of union of all hearts in promoting a great good, these things ought not so to be. Better act on the maxim, thousands for the necessary, not a dollar for the extravagant. Surely it is greatly desirable that, in a matter so important to the prosperity of our people, such measures be adopted as shall awaken the laudable pride, and secure the hearty good-will, of the whole community. So far as the town where I live is concerned, we abolished the district system four years ago, with the intention of establishing three graded schools, one in each of the business centres, and a High School to crown the whole and complete the arrangement. Our population does not legally oblige us to the last part of this programme; but so good an opportunity was afforded by the offer of the Trustees of Williams Academy here, of their building, premises, and fund in aid of the measure, that it was accepted, and a union of High School and Academy effected. But so large was the opposing minority to the abolition of the districts that the whole plan has not yet been fully carried out. The erection of one fine school-house, however, two years since, with modern improvements, has blunted already the edge of dissatisfaction in one section, the children in the remotest portions preferring to walk two miles to attend school in the new building rather than fill the rickety old barrack at their own doors. The opposition gun is effectually spiked in that quarter. A second house, also for two schools, is to be constructed the present year in another manufacturing centre, to be followed, we trust, by a third in the main village. Then it is expected that our school system will be complete in its organization of three primary, three intermediate schools, and the Academic High School. The latter has been recently furnished with the best philosophic apparatus of any institution of its grade in the western section of the State, and the outfit is already returning its value with interest in the increased profiting of its pupils. STOCKBRIDGE, MASS. TO ARNOLD. ONE of Arnold's pupils, Thomas Burbridge, who wrote, with Arthur Hugh Clough, a little volume of charming poems called "Ambarvalia," printed in 1849, and afterward suppressed, addressed a sonnet to his master, which is worthy of being reproduced: "Yes, noble Arnold, thou didst well to die! Needed but this that the dark earth should hide And Truth, that sat in drought, dares to rejoice, Harper's Magazine. THE SNOW-DROP. The snow-drop is the herald of the flowers, To the expectant host. Editor's Department. EDITORIAL ARRANGEMENTS. Ir was our intention at the beginning of the year, to make arrangements to secure for the Teacher such articles as would meet the wants of all classes of its numerous readers. We have not yet succeeded in doing what we intended. It is much more difficult to obtain good articles relating to elementary instruction, than articles relating to other departments of education. And, if the make-up of other educational journals is any criterion, this difficulty is not confined to our locality. Our present arrangements will furnish the readers of the Teacher with able articles upon classical subjects, from month to month. The High School teachers manifest a commendable interest in whatever relates to their department, and are ready to contribute to the pages of the Teacher whatever may be desired. Grammar School teachers, to some extent, manifest the same interest, but the wants of their department are much more easily met in regard to the upper classes of their schools than the lower. Primary School teachers, we fear, have yet some cause to complain of neglect. Again would we invite the army of teachers in the lower classes of the Grammar Schools, and in the Primary Schools, to be not only readers of our journal but contributors to its pages. We know they are ingenious enough to devise new methods of instructing; enthusiastic enough to awaken new life in their scholars; wise enough to find the best means of controlling them, and influencing them for good. Surprising results in these directions are often obtained. Let us lay them before all teachers, that we may help each other in the good and great work. No article on elementary inour waste-basket, or ever been And here let us add, it is not If our pages seem too heavily laden with matter relating to more advanced education, none can regret it more than we do. The remedy is with the teachers themselves. struction has ever found its way into laid over from one month to another. merely carefully prepared articles we want, but any statements of fact, any suggestions, or even questions to be answered. |