Resident Editor's Department.

We have been asked repeatedly why we do not call more frequently the attention of our readers to the best articles, book notices, or advertisements published in our journal. We give the reasons in plain language. Every schoolmaster knows that the call "Attention!" loses its efficacy upon children by being repeated too frequently. Adults, who are but "children of a larger growth," do not form an exception. Again, our readers are, almost exclusively, teachers, - for our endeavors to promote and elevate "HOME EDUCATION" have secured us hardly more than a hundred subscribers. Although teachers share the same wants in general, they seldom agree in particular or special cases. There have been, and always will be, differences of opinion, caused by education or disposition, sex or age, locality or taste; and an article prized highly by one is, perhaps, considered "trash" by another. No periodical, written for thousands, can supply all the wants of all its subscribers. Each reader claims for himself the privilege to read what he pleases, and to like what comes nearest to his conception of excellence, irrespective of editorial hints and suggestions. The third and last reason is the questionable propriety. Newspapers are read for temporary information or amusement, by persons of various occupations. Every department occupies a certain place in the paper, and, whenever the reader's attention is called to an advertisement, the public knows the origin of the friendly call. Our publication is devoted to education exclusively, and every article admitted, is considered by its writer and the special editor, worthy of a careful perusal. To call the attention of our readers to some of such contributions would imply that we considered the other articles of less worth; besides, a short editorial item is more likely to be overlooked than an article filling a page or In our editorial department, we endeavor to give the "best" we can offer. The best Intelligence given would often be "better," if some of our readers would furnish us occasionally with news from our State. The Book Notices contain the opinions of one who looks more at the design of a book than its cover; cares more about living thoughts than typographical errors; and tries to give, in a few outlines, the impressions produced in perusing it. The advertisements claim, and receive, a due share of attention, and prove to be useful to our readers as well as to those publishing houses which make them their medium. We know teachers who, by a very moderate salary, and aided only by two or three educational journals, have collected a choice library for themselves, and assisted school committees in making their selection of school books. American school books compare very favorably with similar publications in other countries, and this is due to the enterprise of our publishing houses, which enterprise involves an amount of foresight, care, and even temporary losses, of which readers generally have no conception. A mere passing through the premises of some of the leading school-book firms in Philadelphia, New York, or Boston, would fill the minds of most of our readers with astonish

more.

ment; and a short visit to the premises where sewing machines, philosophical instruments, school furniture, or furnaces are sold, awakens, generally, an interest in these implements and establishments unknown before. Experience has proved to us that a few lines of laudatory (attention-calling) phrases are less efficacious than pages full of advertised, solid testimony.

AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTION.—Mr. H. of H. writes us as follows: :- "Is there no one in Massachusetts sufficiently conversant with the subject to edit, in a creditable manner, the educational writings of Horace Mann? Certainly there must be ; and, if the matter is not already in agitation, why not start it by mentioning it in the Teacher? I possess many of his writings, but in many shapes, from articles scissored from the daily paper, to the volumes of Barnard's Journal. An edition of his writings to which shall be prefixed a biography would be extremely welcome to me, and would, I think, be hailed with delight by all educators. I would like to see his statue in front of the State House, when I next visit Boston; but, before that, let us have a more enduring monument in this edition of his works of which I speak."

WE send this number a week earlier than usual to our subscribers. The reason

for this deviation will be obvious to some of our friends. Our August issue will be published about the middle of July, and will contain such programmes and announcements of Teacher's Meetings, as we shall receive. The American Institute of Instruction will hold its meeting in Boston.

INTELLIGENCE.

PERSONAL.-S. G. Goodrich, widely known as Peter Parley, died, in New York city, May 9th, aged sixty-seven. The whole number of his literary productions is more than one hundred and seventy, including a variety of educational juvenile, and miscellaneous works. He was, at one time, a member of the Massachusetts Senate; and, during the administration of President Fillmore, held the office of United States Consul at Paris. His excellent qualities of mind and heart had rendered him the object of general esteem. - Mr. R. H. Clarke, Principal of the Rochester Academy, has been engaged to take charge of the High School at Reading. Governor Briggs has declined the appointment to the chancellorship of the Madison University, at Hamilton, N. Y. Clarke Gayton Pickman, who died in Boston on May 11th, has bequeathed his large and valuable library to Harvard College. - In the Wade will case, which has been on trial at Lowell, a few weeks ago, the jury returned a verdict sustaining the will, which had been contested on the ground of alleged insanity of the testator. Munificent donations are thus secured to the Female Medical College and Tufts' College. - Rev. Theodore Parker died at Florence, in Italy, on May 10th. However widely he differed in doctrinal convictions from many around him, he is acknowledged to have gained a very high rank as a theologian, a scholar, a man, a philanthropist, and an educator. According to a statement in the Boston Traveller, he has bequeathed his books to the city of Boston, to be deposited in the Public Library. This collection consists of more than 30,000 volumes, many of which were selected, by Mr. Parker, in

Europe, in years past. It is one of the most valuable private libraries in the country; covers a wide range of subjects, and includes works in more than sixty different languages. The works are generally in the best editions, and some of them are very old.

MASSACHUSETTS.

A

The citizens of Plymouth voted, at their last town-meeting, "that all the public schools shall be kept five whole days each week, instead of four whole days and two half days; and that the High School shall have one session only each day." They also elected Mr. Charles Burton Superintendent of Public Schools, (salary $700); and appropriated $10,000 for schools. The last legislature granted $22,000 to the Wilbraham Academy, the payment being contingent upon a subscription to the same object to the amount of $30,000. Isaac Rich of Boston, and Lee Claflin of Hopkinton, having subscribed the required amount, the Executive Council has passed a warrant for the payment of the legislative appropriation. The subscription of $30,000 is to be used in the erection of a boarding house. The annual examination at Dartmouth College will commence on July 16th, and continue through the week. On the 26th, the usual commencement exercises will be delivered. We learn that the Catholics in Boston and vicinity have raised upwards of $11,000, for the erection of a Catholic schoolhouse at the North End. Father Wiget, who caused the recent religious difficulties in several of our public schools, is at the head of the movement. large portion of the money has been obtained from Catholic servant girls. P. R., a teacher in G., was fined $10 and costs, for beating one of his pupils with his ruler and fists. Mr. Alvan Clark, of Cambridge, Mass., is about to erect new buildings in that city, to be occupied for the manufacture of telescopes, in which art he stands unrivalled on this side of the Atlantic. An observatory, for astronomical purposes, will be connected with the new establishment. Messrs. Lowell Mason, William B. Bradbury, and G. F. Root, will hold Normal Musical Institutes at North Reading, commencing July 11th, and at Chicago, commencing September 12th; each term to continue six weeks. The exercises will, in a very general manner, be divided into four departments: the art of teaching; the practice of music for the class, the choir, and the people; cultivation of the voice; and harmony, and musical composition. A Ladies' Medical Academy has been established in Boston. Its objects are: First, To promote a more extensive interest in the cause of female medical education, by giving an opportunity to all ladies with a taste for these studies to acquire the necessary information and training, free of charge. Second, To open rooms in a central location, where the poor could at all times get free medical advice, medicine, and attendance in certain cases. Lastly, To procure the services of really competent and experienced teachers. These objects have been accomplished, during the first term, at a very moderate cost; many services having been rendered gratuitously; and five ladies have received the degree of M. D.

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MAINE.The Maine Teacher copies an article from the Bethel Courier, headed Superintendent of Common Schools," from which we take the following passa

ges:

"Our legislature may abolish the office of Superintendent. They may call it expensive. So is our State Prison. Our legislature will not wince at spending a hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of taking care of a few rogues, but, when

the question comes up, how shall we furnish instruction in the cheapest and most effectual manner for the poorest child in the State? men appear to be affected with a strange desire to use economy. But education cannot be cheated. A man or State may be niggard in regard to the education of their children, but they only cheat themselves.

"Opposition will show itself against the best man in the .State. Ignorance and knowledge will always be at war with each other. Agassiz, who refused the tempting offer of a king, to go back to Europe, is held up to ridicule in his adopted State for attempting to illustrate some point of Natural History in a Teachers' Institute, and Horace Mann was in constant warfare, though no man in America ever gave greater impulse to our common school system.

The citizens of Bangor are about to erect a gymnasium for the accommodation of the youth of both sexes. —— Monson Academy was burned on April 7th.”

VERMONT.-The late D. K. Smith, Esq., of Barre, headed his will by a bequest of $600 to J. S. Spaulding, and $600 to Barre Academy. After other bequests to individuals and societies, he willed the balance of his property, estimated at about $5,000, one-half to J. S. Spaulding, and one-half to Barre Academy. This bequest is an honor to the sound judgment of the donor, a testimony to the long and faithful services of a brother teacher, and a welcome aid to a deserving institution.

RHODE ISLAND. - The Editor of the R. I. Schoolmaster concludes a very able article on Primary School Teachers, as follows: "Here then is the remedy. It is easily told we fear, not so easily effected. Pay the teacher of the primary school

Make it honorable to teach Visit it. Then teachers will teachers will be found in that

as much as, or more than, the teachers of other grades. a primary school. Call it the highest grade as it is. have to instruct the little children. Then the best grade of schools. Then all the grades will be better. Then our whole system will be speedily perfected." The Friends' Boarding School, in Providence, has recently erected two large and well furnished gymnasia, one for each department. There is also a gymnasium for the pupils of the High School; and even the corporation of Brown University will soon erect a building for the physical exercise of the students.

PENNSYLVANIA. - At a convention of the Directors of the Common Schools of York County, held May 7th, Dr. A. R. Blair was re-elected as County Superintendent of Common Schools for three years, with an annual salary of $1,000.

INDIANA. The boys in a District School in Union County demanded of the teacher that he should "stand treat" on New Years' day. He refused. They then cut a hole in the ice, and ducked him. He sued them, and each boy was fined five dollars.

NEW JERSEY. The following is an abstract from the annual Report of the State Superintendent of the Public Schools, presented to the Legislature a few weeks ago: "The school system of New Jersey embraces the Normal and Model Schools at Trenton; the Farnum Preparatory School, at Beverly; and 1,690 Public Schools established in the various cities and townships of the State. The Normal School is reported to be more prosperous than ever before, and the number of pupils greater, being 140 at the last term; and 216 have been sent out for ser

vice as teachers. In the Model School, the average attendance is 215. The whole number of pupils registered was 131,748; average attendance, 65,475. Total amount of money raised, $550,732 45. The School Fund, January 1, was 441,769, being an increase of $10,474.

IOWA. An amendment to the school law has been passed by the Legislature, which refers the choice of school books to the local authorities. The selection was made formerly by the State Board of Education. Another amendment appropriates a sum, not exceeding fifty dollars, annually, for a Teachers' Institute in any county in which at least thirty teachers desire to assemble for such purpose.

MICHIGAN. - The Normal School building, which has been rebuilt since the fire in October last, was re-dedicated, with appropriate services, on the tenth of April. The summer term opened on the day of the dedication, with a large body of students.

OHIO. THE OHIO EDUCATIONAL MONTHLY successor to the Ohio Journal of Education, is a highly interesting periodical. The thirty-two pages of its May issue are filled with valuable and original matter. The publisher offers liberal inducements to clubs. We take the following remarks from an article headed, "Our School Accounts Posted":

If we look at the State as a whole, and at the general expression of popular opinion in regard to school matters, we see nothing which should discourage any who are not constitutionally faint-hearted. It is true that our Library Law has been repealed, but the causes which led to this action were shown, in our last number, not to be prophetic of further mutilations of our school law. The bill to abolish the office of School Commissioner was voted down by ten to one; and the various other measures which were introduced for the purpose of crippling our school operations, met a similar fate. Excepting the Library Repeal, not a single act was passed which the friends of education can regret. The law authorizing Boards of Education to condemn sites for schoolhouses, is one of high importance and value. There never has been a time, when the indications of popular interest were more decided than at present. Notwithstanding the severity of the financial pressure, in all parts of the State, fine schoolhouses are in progress of erection, and teachers of the highest qualifications are in demand. Our Normal Schools are largely attended, and Teachers' Institutes are popular and prosperous.

We are aware that there are localities in which educational movements are experiencing some hindrances. Opposition has become incorporated and determined. This is true, so far as we are informed, only in certain of our smaller cities. But, even in these cases, the opposition is not to what are termed common schools, but to high schools, and the office of Superintendent. We are decidedly in favor of high departments in our graded schools, and for more reasons than we can now take time to state. We believe them worth more than they cost; but it must be acknowledged that they sometimes cost enough to justify a little grumbling. We have known high schools of thirty pupils to cost more than three common schools of two hundred pupils. A good superintendent costs as much as four common teachers. Not appreciating the importance of the high school and superintendent, many have urged that they be dispensed with. But, thus far, no serious evils have resulted from this movement. Not a high school, so far as we know, has been given up; not a superintendent dismissed. Should money matters become more easy, we shall soon cease to hear of these matters. Our schools cost the people four millions of dollars annually, and for this, and for other purposes, the burden of taxation, during these hard times, is severely felt."

"It is our opinion that a chief cause for discouragement in regard to educational interests, is found in the fact that our State Teachers' Association has almost en