Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-09-12

TO HIS ExcFLLrScy TuE GoyERNOR OF
AND rur MrnBERs OF THE LE0IsLArURE

AND ruE MrnBrGs OF THE LE0IsLATukk
OF THAT SrATf.
Fellow Cnizcns:
Z" Al the ninth animal meeting of the Anne
r,can I.yceum, held IN the city of New '0rk
on the Sd, 4ih aud 9th of May 1889. The '"l
having resolutions, proposed by Professor
Brooks of Massachusetts, were m''nrrIy
lconsdcrrd and unanimously adopted w.
\ .Rcsoirrd, That it is expcdrnt 10 h"'d
/ National Convention for bnc week ~ thc
:. Hall of lndependencc" at Philadelphia, be-
oiuninp on the 22i Of November next at 10
o'clock A. NJ, for the purpose OF discussing
1.-The various topics connected with clementn
nv education in The United States.
" ResoireA That . committee Of five be
nopoin,cd 10 request the Governor land, II IN
session, the Lcgislaturc) of each state IN ih"
Union 10 invite the friends Of education III
their state 10 attend the Convention" (COPy
Of Recorts) :,
The undersigned, having been appointed
Ia form the committee, do now IN obedience
10 their instructions respectfully address You
on this paramount subject.
The American Lyceum. in taking mea'
surcs TO carry into effect the above rcsol'i'
tons, expresses its deep anxiety Tor the pro-
or physical, intellectual and moral culture
OF every child in the United States. u rs
asceriancd that as many as nineteen ont o'
twenty children, who receive instruction.
| receive it ~ the common schools. lhese
| schools therefore must be with US the nope
Of civilization, liberty and vlrtne. 10 elevate
| them so as to meet the wants oi our rcpuD'ic
Iis the high aud single ann oi The Convention
| parics IN politics and sccts in religion will
not Tor a moment be recognized IN any form.
/ No power will be vested IN The assembly
II viii be, we trust, n company OF philanthro'
pisls, patriots aud Christians coming together
in the spirit Of an expansive bcnevolcnce, TO
consult for The highest good "i lhc rising
generation; and whose deliberations and
results, when published To the country, wi'l
bring the urea, cause Of Education smulta
ncously before the several states IN form
for enlightened definite and successful ac.
ton, As subservcnt to thus humane and
patriotic object we would suggest few
among the many topics which will demand
the consideration Of the meeting: VIZ.
II How many children are there IN cacli sta'c
| who, according TO tho laws of that state,
should be under instruction. How many Of
| This number are found in the schools? What
/ is the condition Of the common schools in
| each stale? What is the organization OF the
school system? What branches OF knowl.
| edpo should be taught IN onr common schools:
| What should be The character OF our common
school books? How may school apparatus
and school Libraries be made most useful p
In what branches should instruction be given
orally, and in what degree? What should
be tho qualifications of teachers? Arc nor
nal schools Tor scminaries for the preparation
ofteachersi desirable? On what plan shonld
they be established? Is a central normal
school for the Union desirable Should II
be under the direction Of Congress or So
cie,y of citizens? What connection should
the common schools have with academies
colleges and universities? What models
for school-houscs are best? Will a" Board
of Education" establish by each state, af-
ford the best supervision and secure the
highest Improvement of the schools? How
can ilncrant teachers and lecturers best sup
ply destitute places? Is national system
of instruction desirable How should q
school fund be applied? In what part Of
each state has the greatest progress been
made in elementary education! How may
II school statistics, which must be the basis OF
II legislation, be most easily collected? What
/ features Of the systems now IN operation III
Holland, Germany, Prussia, France and Grca,
Britain, may be most useiully adopted III this
country?
H FELLOW CITIZENS: The discussion OF
these and kindred topics will probably elicit
u mass of information the Importance OF
which cannot be easily overstatcd. We
would therefore urge those, who shall attend
the Convention, TO como prepared Tor making
known the valuable facts they can gathcr.-
Believing that all the talent of country
should be so tempted forth, by judicious cul'
ture, as to bring il into profitable and harmo-
nious action; that it is important to the pub
lie good as well as to private happiness that
we should receive the requisite supply Of
useful information; and that each faculty
which the Creator has implanted in childhood
should be developed in its natural order, pro-
per time and due proportion, we invite you 10
secure the attendance Of delegates from
your state prepared TO promote this first duty
Of our republic-THE EDUCATION OF OUR
YOUTH. Believing that our country must
/ look to intelligence as its defence and TO vir-
tue as its life blood and that the plan now
II proposed, originating in the most enlightened
| views Of freedom and humanity, will be the
Il first in series of means for securing the
greatest good to future generations, not only
among US but to our sister republics, the Ly-
ccum desires to bring into focus all the
| light which can be collected in our land
Some OF the most distinguished gentlemen in
several states have promised TO be present {;
and we would suggest the cxpcdicncy Of in
vi,ing the members of Congress (who will be
on their way to Washington about the time
of the cetlue) TO join the Convention.
With the most heartfelt good wishes for
the success Of every eifor, for the benefit of
the young both in your state and throughout
the Union, We are
! Your friends and fellow citizens,
THgoDoRE FRELrNGnUYsEN, Of N. Jersey.
CHARLES BRooKs, of Massachusetts,.
JOBN GRiscOM, Of Pennsylvania.
Henry r. SCHooLCRAFT, Of Michigan.
THEODORE DwIGmT, Jun, Of New York.
.Nfp York, J,ne, 1889.
s.. We respectfully invite each Editor
of newspaper in the United States to give
his patrons the opportunity of reading the
above circular; and to- add this postscript as
recording our sincercst thanks for his friend
y CO operation.