of the nation is the education of its people. Any neglect of this imperils its very existence. The foundations of a free republic are the intelligence and virtue of its citizens. While, therefore, towns, cities, and States are spending millions to prepare the future citizen for the responsibilities he is to assume, will the national government demur at spending a few thousands to aid them in this all-important work?

There never was a time in the history of the country, when the influence of the national government was more needed in this direction than now; never a time when it could accomplish so much. Education must be an important element in that reconstruction which is necessary to make the States really one. New States are growing up, as yet wholly under the control of the national government, what shall be their educational systems? The tide of immigration sets in upon both coasts. The old world is pouring out its surplus population upon us. What but education can assimilate these differing peoples, and make them one with us in upholding the institutions of civil and religious liberty?

This is no time for Congress to hold back. The first act of the new Tennessee Legislature was to abolish the school system which was working so well, and accomplishing so much in that State. Will not the abolition of the Bureau of Education be a step in the same direction, and give moral aid and comfort to the enemies of universal education? Let not the good cause be thus wounded in the house of its friends. Rather let this Bureau be more firmly established, more generously supported, and made more vigorously to subserve the interests of the nation.

If the present commissioner is not the right man for the place, somewhere in the country the right man can be found. Mr. Barnard's qualifications were generally recognized. There was certainly no man who had labored more earnestly in the educational field, who had so thorough a knowledge of educational institutions and systems. He has had great difficulties to contend with, and, it may be, has not accomplished all he desired to accomplish, or all that was expected of him. We believe he has endeavored faithfully to discharge the duties of his office, and we will leave the question of his success to be decided by those who are in possession of all the facts. But the question in regard to the continuance of this department is entirely independent of the present administration of its affairs, and is to be decided, not by what it has done or is now doing, but by what it can and will do.

DEAR FRIENDS:

TO DELINQUENT SUBSCRIBERS.

You will please excuse me, if I address a few words to you personally. I have for some time visited you monthly, and given you the best I had to give. Every visit has been a matter of serious importance, and has been the occasion of much expense to myself. I have paid large sums to Rice, Kendall & Co., Water street, Boston, for material to enable me to make myself presentable, and large sums, also, to A. Mudge & Son, School Street, for the very

handsome manner in which they have fitted that material to my form, and made it instinct with my spirit.

It cuts me to the heart that I still owe these worthy gentlemen for material and labor. You promised me that you would give me a stipulated sum annually, if I would visit you monthly. I have performed my part of the contract; but I am sorry to say that you have not performed yours. Had you, I should now be able to look these gentlemen in the face with the proud consciousness that I had done my duty to them as they to me.

I have thus

I have no resource but to appeal to you to deal justly with me. far led an honorable life, meeting promptly all my engagements. Let not my fair fame be tarnished. Give me what is lawfully my own. Trusting in your honor, I have assumed liabilities which must be met.

Two hundred and seventeen of you owe me $1.50 each, a small sum to you individually, but a large one to me. That you are thus indebted, I attribute solely to your forgetfulness. I have no hard feelings towards you, as I am confident the sum due will be promptly remitted. I would suggest that you also remit $1.50 additional, for the current year.

Sixty-eight of you owe me $3.00 each; thirty-eight of you, $4.50 each; seventeen of you, $6.00 each; two of you, $7.50 each, and fourteen of you, $9.00 each. Now what to say to you, I hardly know. You think me very foolish to allow you to get so much in debt. I think so too. But to tell the truth, my confidence in teachers has been very great. I have been loath to believe there was one who did not mean to deal honestly with me, and the very thought of expressing any distrust by ceasing to visit you has brought a blush to my cheeks.

I beg you now to be fair and honest. Show me that my confidence in you has not been misplaced. Remit by return mail the amount of the accompanying bill, and gladden the heart of your old friend.

Your devoted servant,

THE MASSACHUSETTS TEACHER.

MEETING OF CLASSICAL AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS.

THE third Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Association of Classical and High School Teachers will be held in Boston, in the Hall of the English High School-house, Bedford street, on Friday and Saturday, February 25th and 26th, 1870, commencing at 10.30 A. M.

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. The pronunciation of Greek.

2. Relations of Classical Education to English Style and Literature.

3. To what extent, and in what way, ought instruction in derivation in languages to be given?

4. How far should the translation of a language conform to the original? 5. Points of difference between Latin and Greek.

6. Special claims of Greek as a study.

7. On the right interpretation of some grammatical symbols in Greek and Latin.

8. The effect upon the Preparatory Schools of the new requirements for admission to Harvard in Mathematics.

9. How much time ought to be given by those fitting for College to the study of Mathematics?

10. Ought Physics to be taught to those fitting for College?

A full attendance is requested. Essays taking not more than fifteen or twenty minutes in the reading will be presented by prominent educators on most of the topics. It is hoped also that each teacher will prepare himself to speak on some of the topics to be discussed.

S. H. TAYLOR, President.

W. F. BRADBURY, Rec. Secretary.

CORRECTION. - Mr. Gilman H. Tucker desires it stated that there was an error in his "Fireside Reading" in his advertisement last month. In the item, "A Glance Backward," the date should be 1868 instead of 1869. The same correction must be made in "The Statement of the Boston Masters."

INTELLIGENCE.

CHRISTOPHER G. LANGDELL has been confirmed as Dane Professor of Law in Harvard University.

EDWARD PLINY SEAVER has been confirmed as Assistant Professor of Mathematics in the same university.

GEORGE R. CHASE has been elected Principal of the Nantucket High School. WILLIAM B. ALLEN, Superintendent of Schools in Beverly, has been elected Master of the Franklin Grammar School, Somerville.

LEWIS F. DUPEE, Principal of the Derby Academy, Hingham, succeeds Mr. Allen in Beverly.

JOHN T. GIBSON, recently principal of the Exeter High School, has been appointed Superintendent of Schools in Peru, Ill.

J. A. GILETT, formerly of the Cambridge High School, has been appointed Professor of Mathematics and Physics in the High Schools of New York. Salary, $3,500.

THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION of the Massachusetts Legislature consists of Senators CLARK of Middlesex and MONROE of Norfolk, and Representatives PUTNAM of Boston, MILLS of Williamstown, BELL of Ipswich, MoORE of WARREN, and EDDY of Franklin.

The SCHOOL FOR DEAF MUTES, established by the City of Boston, at No. 11 Pemberton square, is in successful operation. There are about thirty scholars. Miss SARAH FULLER is principal, and Misses M. F. TRUE and E. L. BARTON are assistants. Salary of principal, $1,000; of assistants, $800.

EVENING HIGH SCHOOL. - The City of Boston has opened this winter an evening High School under the direction of Messrs. ANDERSON and WOOLSON of the English High School. It commenced with about one hundred and twenty-five pupils, from fifteen to thirty years of age. The studies are arithmetic, geometry, algebra, book-keeping, grammar, English literature, French, drawing, and natural philosophy. The greatest interest is manifested.

A MUSEUM OF ART. - A committee of the American Social Science Association, representatives of Harvard University, the Institute of Technology, Boston Athenæum, and Public Library, and other gentlemen, have had under consideration the subject of establishing a Museum of Art in Boston. The project has met with great favor. President Eliot, of Harvard University, President Rogers, of the Institute of Technology, John A. Lowell, Benjamin S. Rotch, Martin Brimmer, Otis Norcross, Samuel Eliot, William Endicott, jr., W. W. Greenough, F. E. Parker, H. P. Kidder, J. T. Bradlee, G. B. Emerson, and Colonel Perkins, have petitioned for an act of incorporation for the above object. This obtained, the City of Boston will be invited to give the lot of land on which the Coliseum stood as a site for the building to be erected, and measures will be at once taken to carry out the project. The works of art in possession of the institutions named above will probably be removed to the new building, and form the nucleus of the proposed collection.

MECHANICAL DRAWING. The Board of Education having been instructed by the Legislature to consider the expediency of making provision by law for giving free instruction to men, women, and children in mechanical drawing, the subject has been referred to a committee, consisting of D. H. Mason, John D. Philbrick, G. G. Hubbard, and Joseph White. They have issued a circular, asking for observations on the following topics:

1. The advantages which might be expected to result from the contemplated instruction in mechanical or industrial drawing.

2. The course and methods of instruction appropriate for the objects in view.

3. The models, casts, patterns, and other apparatus, necessary to be supplied.

4. The organization and supervision of the proposed drawing schools. 5. The best means of promoting among the people an interest in the subject of art education.

6. Any other remarks relating to the subject, not embraced in the foregoing topics.

Gov. CLAFLIN'S ADDRESS is an interesting and valuable State paper, business-like, full of wise suggestions. We give the portion devoted to Education:

The people of the State will ever feel a deep interest in the cause of education. It concerns every citizen; and he should rejoice to share the responsibility of the trust. In its prosperity is the prosperity of the State.

If the character of the public instruction is high, then will that great multitude which go forth annually from our public schools, to engage in the ac

tive duties of life, be fitted for the demands made upon them in this stirring and progressive age.

Every parent should feel that in the Common School System he can find that education for his child which will fit him, not only to discharge the daily duties of life, but also to enter into the higher walks of learning, if he desires to do so.

It must not be said of us, that we are falling behind other States in our methods of instruction, in the adaptation of our buildings, or any other means or instruments of education.

Though a great advance has been made in the last twenty-five years, still there is much room for improvement.

Our instructors must be more liberally paid, so that they may feel more encouragement to prepare themselves for the duties of their profession. Let them understand that their efforts to become successful teachers are fully appreciated and compensated by the community, and then there will be no further complaint of inefficiency on their part. The Normal Schools are doing much to elevate the standard of instruction, which was the main purpose of their establishment; but yet they can do very little towards supplying the great number of trained teachers that are required. Of the seven or eight thousand teachers in our public schools, probably not over one thousand have been trained in the Normal Schools. Several of the cities and some of the towns have established Training Schools, which are quite successful in aiding young persons in preparing to become teachers.

A large number of pupils leave the academies of the State annually, who for a longer or shorter period, are employed as teachers in our common schools. They would be much better prepared, if, before leaving school, they could have a course of training in the specific work of instruction, which is really an art to be learned.

The interests of education would be greatly promoted by a moderate appropriation from the School Fund to those academies which would establish training classes under suitable instructors, and such as have received the approbation of the Board of Education.

-

I find that there are in the State 270,000 persons between the ages of five and fifteen years. Of this number, 247,000 attend school a part of the year, the average attendance in winter being 200,000, — showing a slight increase over former years.

The amount expended for instruction is $3,123,886, an increase over last year of $273,181; making an average of $1,085, or an increase of about 95 cents over last year, for each child in the State. No better evidence can be given of the readiness of the people to place our schools on the highest basis, than the steady increase of the grants for their support from year to year. The best friends of education were, fearful years ago, that the largest amount had been reached that could be raised by popular vote, but they have been surprised by an annual average increase of nearly $300,000 for the four or five past years. In addition to the amount raised for instruction the last year, there have been expended in the erection and repair of school-houses, $1,295,314. In the year 1845, my honored predecessor, Governor Briggs, estimated