gradual; that they should be elected for a term of years, and that, in any one year, but a portion of the Committee should retire from office. Such a plan has already been adopted in the city of Boston, and your Committee venture to express the hope that the time may not be far distant when it shall prevail throughout the State."

"It is not enough to constitute an efficient school supervisor, that, while acquiring his education, he taught three or four district schools, and learned just enough of the profession to have a contempt for it all the rest of his life, and to pity the stupidity of those who, as he thinks, have not force or fire enough to rise to some higher occupation. This, we are aware, is often called experience in school-keeping. It bears about the same relation to that kind of experience which we need in school supervisors, that the practice of a pettifogging lawyer, in a police court, does to the practice of a Webster or a Mason,-that the experience of a country justice, who has presided over a few trials in cases of assault and battery, does to the experience of a Marshall or a Story."

'Lawyers are admitted to the bar after an examination before the Court, physicians are allowed to practise after an examination before a competent medical faculty, and clergymen are ordained by an ecclesiastical council. In like manner should teachers be examined and approved for their work by those who have had the longest experience and the highest success in the profession to which they propose to devote themselves.

"It would seem, however, quite important that such examinations should have reference to two distinct points;-1st, the literary and scientific qualifications of the candidate; and 2d, his ability to impart instruction and govern a school. A certificate of qualification, so far as mere attainments are concerned, should be given at any time after passing a satisfactory examination in the branches which the candidate proposes to teach. After a period of successful teaching, it would seem desirable that another certificate should be granted, if the success of the individual should justify it, and that these certificates should be regarded as a passport to full professional standing.

"It would seem that a course like this would do much to guard our schools from abuses to which they must be constantly exposed under the present loose and irresponsible system. But, while much may be done to secure a higher standard of professional attainment, it should be borne in mind that our own profession, like all others, will always be infested with quacks. Absolute perfection it would be too much to expect, but the evils which at present exist should stimulate us to unwearied effort to remove them.

INTELLIGENCE AND MISCELLANY.

MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF EDUCATION.-This Board consists of eight members appointed by the Governor and Council, and of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor ex officio. To secure regularity and stability of educational progress, and to remove the Board from the region of political and sectarian warfare, the members by appointment are chosen for eight years, one only being changed in regular course each year. During the last year, however, through a singular concurrence of events, there have been three appointments. Though made by a "Know Nothing Governor and Council, all must concede that the selections have been made with great wisdom, and with impartiality in respect to sect and party. It has been very gratifying to the teachers of the State, that two eminent members of their own profession have been chosen :-Ariel Parish, Esq., Principal of the Springfield High School, in place of the Rev. Emerson Davis, D. D., of Westfield, whose term of office had expired; and Professor Cor

nelius C. Felton, of the University at Cambridge, in place of George B. Emerson, Esq., who resigned in anticipation of his visit to Europe. More recently, the Rev. Alonzo H. Quint, of West Roxbury, a young man, but one whose reputation is far in advance of his years, has been appointed in place of the Hon. George S. Boutwell, elected Secretary of the Board.

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION.-It has been decided to hold the next annual meeting in Springfield, Mass., in the month of August next. From the beauty of the spot, the intelligence and cultivation of its citizens, and its convenience of access, the selection must be regarded as a very happy one. Preparations are already making to secure for the meeting a high degree of intellectual interest. We are happy to state that a new volume of the Transactions of the Institute is in the press of Messis. Ticknor & Fields.

"How empty learning, and how vain is art,

But as it mends the life, and guides the heart!"-Young.

TOWN ASSOCIATIONS.-In some parts of the State great interest is felt in the subject of town associations for the advancement of education. The last number of the "Teacher" reported the decided and earnest action of the Barnstable County Association upon this subject. A letter received from that County soon after the meeting of the Association shows that their zeal did not content itself with mere votes and resolves:-"We are forming a Town Association in We have held a preliminary meeting, and shall hold our second meeting to-morrow night. I trust a good work is begun here. I have talked with the friends of education in two or three towns, and they are desirous of doing something. The Directors of the County Association will meet this afternoon to adopt measures to bring the subject before the people in every town."

The teachers in Barre have been holding weekly meetings this winter for the discussion of subjects connected with the business of teaching. Wednesday, January 9th, was devoted to a town convention upon education, which was fully attended notwithstanding the cold and snow drifts, and with deep interest.

In Ashby the people have connected, this winter, with their Lyceum lectures, various exercises for their own more direct improvement, such as singing, declamation by the boys and young men, the reading by young ladies of a weekly paper of contributed articles in prose and poetry, discussion, and an exercise in which any one may propose to any other one present any question in science, literature, or history, with the obligation upon the latter of investigating it, and answering it according to the best of his ability at the next meeting. These exercises have been found to be alike interesting and profitable. With them the Lyceum is no longer to the attendants a place for mere passive listening, or chatting with one's neighbors, but a scene of varied, sharp, and original action of the intellect, where as "iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

We are always glad to see, in our papers, such notices as the following, which we copy from a late number of the Taunton Whig:-"The Teachers' Association of this town will meet at the High School Room, on Saturday, the 5th inst., at 2 o'clock, P. M. The Association will be addressed by Mr. Ruggles, Principal of the High School, after which there will be a discussion. Teachers and all others interested, are invited to attend."

ILLUSTRATIONS OF RULES IN ARITHMETIC.-Addition." Did you ever know so mean a man? Why, he does not even amount to a sun in Addition. For reckon him all up, from bottom to top, or top to bottom, (it

makes no difference where you begin,) and there is nothing to set down, and nothing to carry.”

Subtraction." I happened in a school-room one day, while a class of very small boys and girls were reciting a lesson in Arithmetic. It was about their first lesson.

"Five from five leaves how many?' asked the teacher, of a little girl of some six years old.' After a moment's reflection, she answered: "Five.'

"How do you make that out?' said the teacher.

"Holding her little hands out toward him, she said:

"Here are five fingers on my right hand, and here are five on the other. Now, if I take the five fingers on my left hand away from the five on my right hand, won't five remain?'

The teacher was, as we say in this region,' stumped,' and was obliged to surrender at discretion.""-Knickerbocker.

Interest.-Richard Brinsley Sheridan, who was distinguished alike for eloquence, wit, and thriftlessness, once replied to a tailor, who asked him for at least the interest on his bill, "It is not my interest to pay the principal, nor my principle to pay the interest."

A man who had made a fortune by industry and close economy, in a retail business, at length retired from trade, and used to loan his money on interest. One day, in midsummer, a friend happened to say to him: "How pleasant it is to have such long, bright days!" Why, ye-e-s," replied he, "but these long days the interest comes in so slow!"

66

APPOINTMENTS.-Mr. Henry Chase, of Claremont, N. H., a graduate of Dartmouth College in the year 1850, and for some time an assistant librarian in the Smithsonian Institute, (associated here with Prof. Jewett, and leaving with him,) has recently been appointed Principal of the High School in Concord. We are happy to welcome him to the corps of Massachusetts teachers.

The School Committee of Dorchester, on the 9th ult., unanimously elected Mr. Lemuel C. Grosvenor, of South Hingham, Principal of the Mather Grammar School, and Mr. P. B. Merritt, of Hingham, Principal of the New Washington School.

A DILEMMA OF THREE HORNS.-The good people of Salem have had, as in Boston, three High Schools, a Latin and an English High School for boys, and a High School for girls. Thinking this dispersion of strength, money, and interest, to be injudicious, they have resolved to incorporate them into one, and have been erecting a spacious building for their reception. But they have had three excellent teachers as Principals of their three schools. Which of the three shall they select to preside over the new school? In appointing any one, how can they satisfy the friends of the other two? In this dilemma, or more etymologically trilemma, to extricate themselves from difficulty and avoid all suspicion of favoritism, they have resorted to the expedient often adopted by political conventions. They "have dropped the three candidates," and have invited that excellent teacher, Mr. Jacob Batchelder, Principal of the Lynn High School, to occupy the new position. If it was necessary in their election to look beyond Salem, we know not where they could have made a better choice. And if other towns are desirous of procuring for similar situations teachers of long experience, large attainment, and well-proved reputation, we know not where they should now look sooner than to Salem.

Mr. Batchelder is expected to enter upon the duties of his new office early in the spring.

"The most original spelling we have ever seen is the following. It transcends phonetics: 80 you be-a tub. 80 oh! pea-a top. Be 80-bat.See 80-cat. Pea 80-pat. Are 80-rat. See a bee-cab. Be you double tea-butt. Be a double ell-ball."

DIRECTORS AND LOCAL COMMITTEE.-The Directors of the Massachusetts Teachers' Association held two meetings in December, on the 15th and the 22d, for the appointment of Editors of the "Teacher," and to make provision for its publication in accordance with the wishes of the Association, as expressed at their annual meeting. The Local and Financial Committee, Mr. Smith of Cambridge, upon whose resignation Mr. Capen of Boston was substituted, Mr. Kneeland of Roxbury, and Messrs. Allen and Gage of Boston,-have met frequently, and deserve many thanks from the Association for much zeal manifested and labor performed in its behalf, and (what ought always to be synonymous) for the cause of education.

THE "TEACHER."-A correspondent writes:-"I am very glad an effort is making to improve the "Teacher." If the right course is taken, I do not see why it cannot be made an integral and indispensable part of our system, so useful and valuable that every teacher will take it who does not wish to be behind the times. This can be done if teachers will only be willing to use it as a medium for the exchange of views and opinions, and the free communication of information. Every other profession has such a medium. Why should not we?"

THE Principal of an Institution in New Jersey writes ::- -"I bail with pleasure the improvements that have been made in your valuable Journal, and sincerely hope that all friends of popular instruction will give it that support which it so justly merits."

A friend from Cincinnati writes that they hope to make up for us there a subscription list of at least twenty. Shall we not be stimulated and encouraged to work at home by this voice from the West? Let us keep in mind the old fable of the teamster who invoked the aid of Hercules.

RESPONSE FROM HORACE MANN.-We have been cheered by the following, with his subscription, from this eminent leader in educational progress:" ANTIOCH COLLEGE, Yellow Springs, O., January 19th, 1856.I thank the person, whoever he is, who sent me the above Prospectus. I am still with the Common School Teachers in heart and soul. My confidence in their usefulness is not shaken; my wishes for their welfare are undiminished. Success to the great cause; success to those who sustain it, is the earnest wish of HORACE MANN."

HASTE NOT-REST NOT.
TRANSLATED FROM GOETHE.

WITHOUT haste! without rest!
Bind the motto to thy breast!

Bear it with thee as a spell;

Storm or sunshine, guard it well!

Heed not flowers that round thee bloom,

Bear it onward to the tomb!

Haste not! let no thoughtless deed
Mar fore'er the spirit's speed;
Ponder well and know the right;
Onward, then, with all thy might.
Haste not-years can ne'er atone
For one reckless action done!

EDITORIAL POSTSCRIPT.

OUR readers will find much interesting and valuable matter, in part eminently practical, in the full and authentic reports of addresses and remarks made at the late Annual Meeting at Lowell, which we are enabled to present in this number. A sketch of the remarks of one gentleman, unfortunately, reached us too late for insertion this month. Since types are not air (though they often convey much that is airy,) but solid metal, and so refuse to be compressed, these reports must, of course, limit the space which we can appropriate to other departments. But we adopt the motto expressed above in the beautiful and inspiriting lines from Goethe; and we hope that our readers will do the same.

It will be seen that several of our articles have express reference to the annual town and district meetings, which are now so near at hand. These it seemed indispensable to insert in the present number. Else they would fall behind their proper season; and the sage Portia's punning precept has especial application to periodicals:

"How many things by season season'd are

To their right praise and true perfection!"

Will not our friends take especial pains, by lending their copies of the "Teacher" and in other ways, to bring these articles to the notice of those to whom they are more particularly addressed? The editors of newspapers, who are commonly warm friends of education, would in most cases, if their attention were drawn to the subject, cheerfully render their aid, and very valuable aid, either by copying from the " Teacher," or, still better, by writing original articles.

An important suggestion in respect to the circulation of the "Teacher" will be found on page 61.

PRIZE ESSAYS.-The prizes offered by the Massachusetts Teachers' Association are evidently producing an excellent effect in leading to thought and its expression with the pen. In 1853, six essays only were presented as competitors for the prizes; in 1851, this number was doubled; in 1855, it was increased to fifteen. Of the last, the thirteen to which prizes could not be awarded are in the hands of Mr. Coolidge, our publisher, and will be