The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-08-19
From the Boston Traveller.
AMERICAN LYCEUM.-No.

Plan. This institution commences will
town or village Lyceums. Upon these it.
Immediate and final success must depend
For it looks TO the social principles of oul
natures, acting in daily intercourse, for sue
cess Its design is to throw a good and @
constant influence over all classes and ages
of the community. To render the social
and family circles, the table and Preside
schools for mutual improvement To fur
nish topics for conversation to neighborhoods
and villages.
Besides the mutual, intellectual and So
clal entertainment and Improvement of the
members OF Lyceum, prominent object
is TO advance the interests of schools within
the circle ofits influence. To furnish teach
ers with books, apparatus, and other facili-
ties Tor improving each other, and by that
means OF improving their schools to furnish
an opportunity to eldest pupils to receive
such instruction and to witness such illus
tratlons as cannot so conveniently be intro
duced into schools for daily instruction :
to furnish schools with juvenile libraries,
and such other sources for instruction and
encouragement, as may come within their
means.
A Town Lyceum, then, is voluntary as
soclatlon tor the mutual improvement of its
members and the improvement of popular
education generally within its district.
10 effect these objects they hold weekly,
or other stated meetings, for reading, con-
versatIon, discussing or Illustrating any sub
Ject of science, or other branch of useful
knowledge. Many town Lyceums have
cabinets, consisting of apparatus, and col
lections of Natural History, and some have
erected buildings for their accommodation,
furnishing to all classes and sections of the
town, and especially to teachers, with some
of their eldest pupils and other young per-
sons, place of resort, for intellectual and
social enjoyment, as well as useful instruc-
ton.
A County Lyceum is a beard of Dele
gates, consisting of one or more from each
town society, who meet semi-annually, and
adopt measures to did tl-o ~GG'--t--.---I g.
ward the interests of the several branches
which they represent. A County Lyceum
has in its power to act with great efficiency
and in various ways, to promote both indvid-
ual and mutual improvement, and the i'm
provement of schools.
The Infant School System Of. Instruction,
and T'olCn and County Maps, are subjects
which make immediate and urgent calls for
the organization of County or District Ly-
ceums.
State Lyceums are intended to be organ
lied from representations appointed by the
several County Lyceums, and to act as
Boards of education, and to adopt any and
every measure which may be thought ex-
pedient for advancing the great interest OF
popular education. 1t is their design to
learn the state, defects, and wants ofschools,
and whether any thing and what can be
done to remove their defects and supply
their wants. In several states, some steps
have already been taken, to organize Ly-
ceums or Boards Of education, that an i'm
proved and more uniform system of common
school instruction may be introduced.
A National Lyceum might be easily or
ganized from several State Lyceums, and
in such way as to furnish the whole sys
tenn with channels of communications with
q set Of veins and arteries, to circulate in
teligeRce, and to promote intellectual, mora
and political health, among all classes, ant
to the utmost eXtremities of our Republic.
No. 4.
Prospects. Every day brings fresh ant
animating proof that an impulse in favor o
the improvements contemplated by the Ly
ceum, is extended throughout the Union.-
COMMUNICATIONS nave beeH TeCelNcu upOI
the subject from nearly all the states ant
from the personal information from numer
GUS individuals from almost every section
of the country, it is confidently believed tina
the intelligent classes generally throughou
the community are ready to take some di
rect and definite steps with a particula
view of leading eventually to the formation
of a National Lyceum.
Numerous circumstances, it is thought
suggest the present time as pecularl,
favorable for instituting train ofmeasure
which may result in the establishment of al
institution whose peculiar and prominen
object shall be the advancement of popula
education, and which will secure this objec
by furnishing inducements, means and ia
cilites to all classes, and all sections of tn,
community, to engage in the great and goo
work of mutual and self improvement, whicl
shall furnish our republic with common
fountain, and channels of communication
to circulate intelligence, life and vigor, Il
every member, and the utmost extremities
The following are among the circum
stances whichurge to measures, at this time
for eventually organizing National Insti
tute or Lyceum, viz:
/. A general interest upon the subjec
and a strong desire on the part of numerous
individuals in every section Of the countr,
to give their influence and their efforts t
improve common education, and to concen
trate and combine their influence an
efforts for some given definite object.
=. a system of measures which will b
most favorable for the advancement of popu
lar education, and the general diffusion q