True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1845-09-10
CIRCULAR
OF
Spring Hill Academy.
NEAR MOBILE.

n gagged in some of the best institutions
in the West and South, opened on the 10th
January last, an Academy for boys. The
second session began on the 10th July.
Of the health Of Spring Hill, but little
need be said: it is noted, not for compare
tive, but for absolute health, and is consi-
dered, in many respects, as place admi-
raby adapted for Literary Institutions.
The following branches will be taught:
Reading; Writing; Arithmetic; Geography
with projection Of Maps; English Gram
mer; Book Keeping; Natural History; Civ
il History, ancient and modern: Mytholo-
gy; Rhetoric, including composition and
defamation: Algebra; Geometry; Survey
ing; Navigation; Elements of Astronomy;
Natural, Mental and Moral Philosophy:
Political Economy; the French, Spanish,
Latin, and Greek Languages; and Anato-
my, as taughtin schools.
The undersigned would recommend
his Academy to public patronage by an
organization samewhat peculiar. 1t will
be his endeavor to combine in practice, all
that he has found by long experience, and
by attentive observation on the different
systems of teaching best calculated to ex-
cite an ardor for study in the youthful
mind, and TO facilitate its progress.
A very common defect in schools, par
ticularly in those of higher grade, is the
undue time and attention paid by teachers
10 the more advanced pupils, to the great
neglect ofthe younger ones. Parents are
therefore often obliged to withdraw their
children, after they have lost their time,
and what is far worse, contract bad habits,
and dislike for study, and to place them
in schools of less pretentiOns, where indeed
more attention may be paid by the teacher;
but the danger is incurred ofplacing them
in inexperienced and incompetent hands.
Hence tits, that we see so few youths who
have attained to the age of IA, possessed of
more than a third of the requirements
which could have been made under proper
management. 1t is lamentabe TO think
how many years of childhood and early
youth are frequently lost at school, to say
expense incurred in the meantime. Let 1t
not be said that much must not be expect
ed from pupils from the age Off or s TO IA
or 10. Even the infant mind is capable Of
wonderful progress, as must be admitted
by every one who will observe the readi-
ness with which an infant acquire langu-
age from its nurse or little playmate.
But that the progress of young pupils
may be proportionate to their capacity, the
art of the teacher must be employed to
make them love school; they must be kept
busy during school hours; they must not
be set aside for hours at time to prepare
lesson, but they must be frequently cal
led for recitation.
In order then to give due time and at
tention to all, TO awaken and keep up
spirit of emulation, and to increase the ad-
vantageS, and facilitate many of the exer-
ciseS of the Academy, none will be receiv-
ed who is above Is years of age, or who
can not be conveniently clasSed. 1t rs east
ly foreseen that this regulation may retard
the increase ofpupils and render the school
less profitable, but 1t will be attended with
less labor for the Teacher, more justice to
the Pupils, and eventually with more
credit to the Academy. a
As all knowledge is only desirable
so far as it can be made useful, great care
will be taken to give every branch that is
studied, practical turn, and TO show its
connection with the business of life. The
Pupils will be frequently required to write
letters in the different languages they may
be studying, and to compose on subjects
connected with their actual studies: and as
additional means Of acquiring practical
knowledge of foreign language, the stu
dents will be restricted, at stated times, to
the exclusive use Of it on the playground,
and in the family or social circle; they will
also frequently attend CONVERSATION clas-
ses and perform dialogues or short plays
in the languages which they wish TO learn
TO speak.
Great care will be taken TO inculcate
habits Of cleanliness, propriety of dress,
gentility Of manners, and correct moral de-
pertinent Il will be the constant endea-
vor Of the Principal and his Assistants, to
make the children confded 10 their care,
personally comfouably-to make them
feel, as far as possible, that they are living
in the house of the friends of their parents,
and not in public school; and that they
are with those who take an interest in all
that pertain 10 their present happiness, and
future success in after life.
The year will be divided into 2 Sessions.
The first Session commencing Except IN
the ensuing year, on the tenth Of Janua-
", and ending on the fifteenth Of June
a. n