The Portland gazette., 1819-08-31
PAYABLE YEARLY.

the merits of the system; and, whatever
may be the merits Of those lectures
(aquestion not necessary here 10 be enter
ed upon) We hope the further improvement
of our schools will be the result. With
this view the following outline is submitted.
4 school room. adapted 10 this mode OF
instruction. is an cblong square, the mas
ter's desk is at one end. the forms are par
eliel with the ends, and facing the desk.
! The forms are 80 constructed, that an area
OF six feet breadth is left between them and
the walls, on both sides and one end OF the
room Semicircles Of four feet radius are
marked round the area OF the room, the
wall making their base.
Each form contains ten or twelve boys
| who are considered section OF the school.
monitor is attached to each section whose
duty is, 10 guide the pupils in the pursuit
OF their studies, report their conduct, and
hear their exercises, under the direction of
their master. A monitor general, to each
y
branch Of study is appointed weekly, whose
du:y IS, to suPrrin;end when his respective
branch Is in exercise. A " monitor gener-
al OF order" IS appointed weekly, whose
business il 10 preserve order among the
monitors OF sections and their pupils. Each
branch ofinslructlon has its specif fic time Of
exercise. Every section Of the school is in
exercise al the same time, but each section
proceeding under the direction Of its Inoni-
tor, is unconnroted with the rest of the
school. Reading and spelling are taught in
the semicircles, OF $ drafts" as they are
termed. Fori tbs purpose, the monitor Of
each section takes his station on his respec-
tive draft, al Tie point from which The arc is
described, with bis back 10 the wall, while
his pupils ae place. on the area, facing
toward him In this situarioa, although
one boy IN each section is reading at tie
same time, they occasion no disturbance 10
each other ; and it has been found after a
llltle practice, that no scholar will notice
wha, is going on in any part Of the school
excepting in his own section. The pupils
are taught writing upon states, from large
letters on board, onlil they acquire free
use OF their hnSers; after which, they
learn on paper with consequent, facility.
When they can write the alphabet withoul
copy, they pursue the study of spelling,
by writing the lesson on their states. Tbc
boy at the head of each form, with an au-
dible voice dictates the lesson, spelling each
word and allowing sufficient time for it to
be written. Arithmetic is taught on a
principle of Classification similsr to that
practised in reading lessons made use OF
in arithmetic are very peculiar, and our
present limits will not admit their descrip-
tioD.
There is general emulation among the
scholars, which influence every exercise.
Each individual strives no less to distin-
guish himself in orderly conduct, than in the
correct performance of his lesson. The
principle excitement is the confinuclreIard
Of the nleriiorious. Tickets OF nominal val
ue, from one mill 70 two cents, are given to
the pro6cients and monitors at the close Of
each school lime. The monitors who dis
,inguish themselves in fidelity, receive the
higher tickets. AT the close of every month
the tickets, are called in and paid off with
considerable .formality, in books, trinkets.
and small articles of clothing. Punish
ments are made mostly in ne gative rewards.
Every boy, who has been disorderiy, is fn-
ed the number Of tickets annexed to his Of
fence but in case Of inability TO pay, he is
detained after school.
The whole system is founded on tri,-
ciaie Of order, in which, the scholars pursue
q course of Diutuat instruction The mas.
ter gives particular instruction TO the teHth
Of the highest class, and superintends the
instruction Cf the whole. We would here
observe, that, in school OF this kind, the
master should have perfect command Of
his own passions. he should unite firm
NESS with miidnrss should strictly pan
ish every little Incident Of disorder, and at
the same time convince the pupil Of the
.easonab.sness Ut eseTy taiDg required.