Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-05-05
EDUCATION.

ton. The address is written with much ab,-
~, and traces IN clear colors the difficultie.
IN the progress of education, which have hith
erto impeded its success in New York. The
members Of the Convention contend. that
whatever defects exist in thercommon .cbonls
ought not to be imputed to the Constituted
authorities of the State; but rather to the a .
Pathy OF the people, and their neglect or the
advantages presented. They enumerate the
grand sources Of deficiency in education by
common schools, as follows:
The poverty Of qualification in the teach
ers, with their frequent change.
| fho short space in the year during which
the schools are generally taught
| Inc great number of scholars, with vari-
cry o. studies assigned to one teacher.
| Ihe absence Of mental cultivation.
Ihey say, ''thc Monitsrial System, with
some restriction s. modiica tiops would great.
y multiply the advantages Of instruction: and
that the system of indsctive education the
deveiopement OF the mental faculties, 50 sue
cessfuliy introduced in infant schools, proper
y applied, would tighten many an hour oitbe
schoolbsy's ilksome labor, in committing to
memory words to him unintelligible, & rule.
whose principles he seeks in vain to cempre
send' while faculties which may be dormant
forever under the present system, would be
arawn forth into joyous and useful action"
Alas! Tor our youth; Pestallozzi and Fellen-
oourS, the benefactors OF the school-be have
lived almost In vain.-They have smoothed
tue rugged ascent Of science for the yeutbful
subjects of European despots. " lille the chill
dren OF this favored land, are still condemned
10 the drudgery of learning. like parrots, or
net learning at all. The case with which the
iua'ments Of the natural science. might be
impaired by specimens and illustrations from
the vast cabinet and laboratory of Nature,
renders their entire neglect in our common
schools, STILL moro to be deplored; and the
Convention earnestly desire and recommend
their Immediate introduction. There is anc-
,her SUBJECT OF great Importance which has
been brought before the Convention. The
necessity OF lnstructingyouth in the principles
OF our Government, and the duties efcitizcns.
The value Of such knowledge to those who
are by their right Of suffra ge, their own lecis
iaters and rulers, is apparent to the slightest
glance; and yet, how few of our children how
lew OF their teachers have any portion Of such
inteliisence' What calamities may be the
result OF such ignorance! There is, howev-
er, too much reason to fear, that even if the
teachers were willing and competent to intro
once such improvements into the System the
people themselves would DC found opposed 10
any plan, however plausible, if it were recent
or novel The change. therefore, must be eff
iected by convincing the people ofits necess-
y ne GO this, fact, Must be brought to their
consideration.
| The address is concluded with a recon-
inendatien for the formation of general Ly-
ceum, with subordinate branches, in every
town; through which and by which nforma
ton may be gathered from and conmunica.
ted te every portion Of the State They also
recommend another meeting in May next,
every State IN the Union, are invited to at
tend In conformity with this recommends
ton, the Convention, at its close, resolved il
self into State Lyceum, with Constitu-
tion.-Pha Ing.
A BATTLE OF ANTs.-A correspondent of
the Magazine of Natural History writes the
following conmunicatiop:--'I was waking
IN the garden before breakfast, when nv at
tention was attracted by an unusual ASSEM-
| blage of ants in the gravel walk;-the sps-
cies, ] believe, was that of which Huber. in
his 'Hstory Of Ants" has given a represen.
ton, and is called by him, "Formica ftssca. F"
On closer examination found that they
were lighting, they were collected in group.
oil forty OF fifty; running rapidly about, and
then stopping and pulling each other with
their mandibles. The field of battle did not
extend ever surface of more than three feet
square, and there probably FIVE or six groups
all eagerly contending with each other After
watching them with much attention for a.
bout half an hour, was called to breakfast;
and on returning, after lapse Of twenty mi.
nates, the battle was still raging How long
the conflict lasted | am unable to saw: for
when | first saw them they evidently had
been some time engaged in their deadly game,
and | was compelled TO leave them before
the battle was over. however visited the
spot again, about one o'clock, and they were
busiy employed in removing their slain COM
rades. counted about thirty dead ants on
the field; more, probably had fallen. as doubt
less many had been removed before my re-
turn. In one small spot, of no more than an
inch square, seven dead ants were extended
Their courage is very extraordinary; for in
several instances with such fury and obstina-
icy had these little warriors contended that
1.-TWO might be perceived lockedin each others
embraces, having died in this their last NOR
tai struggle"
4 Remarkable Eeho.-In the Cathedral of
Girgenti, in Sicily. the slightest whisper is
borne with perfect distnctness from the great
western door to the cornice behind the high
laltar, distance Of $50 feet BY a most un-
lucky coincidence, the precise focus of diver
sence at the former station was chosen for
the place of the confessional. Secrets never
intended for the public ear thus became known
!, 10 the dismay Of the confessors and the scam