Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-01-20
From the Chicago Democrat.
COMMON SCHOOLS.


E taken hold Of this subject with an ear
E nes,ness unparalleled, considering thu
short time that it has been settled. 4
call has been made for convention o
individuals friendly to the interests o
primary schools at Detroit on the stl
of January pror. Among the fore
most in making this praiseworthy cal
are Gov. Mason and G. B. Eastman
A. B., superintendent of one of TIT
public schools in Detroit, gentleman
Of uncommon literary requirement
and une who would be an honor t.
some Of those numerous Professorship.
which it will be necessary ere long t.
establish in that state, in complianc.
with the college law of the late session
of its legislature. The following ar.
given out as subjects for discussion a
the convention.
| LIST. The necessity and importance
Of general education as safeguard o
liberty, and as conducive especially
to the stability of republican from o.
government.
| Cd. The influence of the practical
spirit of the age upon good education
and upon the proper development Of
the mind.
Sd. The influence Of periodical lit.
erature and the political press, in form
ing the taste, the tone of the feeling
and the general character OF the Anne.
rican people.
4th. The best method of improving
the character of primary schools, and
enlarging, by additional branches, the
field Of elementary instruction.
5th. Would the interest of general
education be promoted by legislative
action, adequate to the entire support
Of common schools?
9Th. In what way can the most eff
fcient system, of inspecting common
school teachers, be secured?
7th. Is it expedent or practicable
to have entire uniformity in the class
books for common school, or acade-
mics?
sth. Have the late attempts to SIM
plify the books used in elementary in
struction, been productive of any great
advantage, or not?
9th. Theutlity ofmodelsi in mechan-
les, and of dcmonstrative apparatus for
common schools.
10th. The benefit oflibraries in COM
mon schools.
18th. The influence Of studies too
generally upon the minds ofthe young.
18th. The bestconstruction of school
houses, with reference to size, internal
arrangement, warmth and vetiation.
18th. Vocal music as branch of
common education.
18th. In what way can the study of
English grammar be made more con-
ducve than it is, to the end of speak
ing and writing the English language
with propriety?'
18th. Thesystem CONSTRUCTION pur-
sued at the Rensselaer, Institution, re-
curing the pupils lecture in rotation
before their classes.
10th. The Importance Of higher
standard Of female education. The
capacity of females for acquiring the
higher branches of science, and the adj
vantage to them Of the staedy of ma
thematics'
18th. To what extent can the mont
torial method Of instruction, he incor-
poratcd in the common system?
18th. How far ought the catecheti-
cal from Of instruction to be introdu-
ced into school books?
10th. Is the method of communion
ting instruction by lectures, adapted
to develope and exercise the mental
powers?
Goth. The best method of teaching
the common branches of education.
2lst. Ought the principle of emula-
ton to be appealed to OF fostered, as
an incentive to proficiency and good
behavior in school?
22d. How far can an appeal to a
sense Of honor, and to the moral senti-
ments, be used as substitute for cor
poreal punishment, in the government
Of youth?
esd. How far ought the theory of
our republican from Of government,
and the history of its administration
to be made the subject Of study in
school?
cath. The comparative efficacy Of
the classics and the natural sciences, in
'e wslining the mind.
moral discipline ofschools
'ole 10 ochhe best method of correcting
ara cnoeavo sitions, and Of impressing