Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-01-27
From hq Proridsnce JQ"rnol.
Rhode Island Institute Ol
instruction.

Instruction.
The third annual meeting of the Rhode L.
hpd Institute of Instruction took place IN the
State House on Friday evening, Jan. 2ist.--
Mr.. y. Bishop, Corresponding Secretary, call
ed the meeting TO order and stated us object
Mr.. Tour,ellot, one of the Vice Presidents, ar
irving. took the chair. Mcssrs. Ganmell,
Barnard and Austin were appointed commit
tee TO nominate officers for the ensuing year.
The Treasurer presented his report, and MIR.
e.. T. Keith was appointed "a committee to All
dit accounts.
/ The records of the last annual meeting were
read. Mr.. Farnum presented the report OF the
. Executive Committee, which was read and re-
ceiycd: and il was voted that il be printed I'M
der the direction Of rhe Executive Commttee.
Prof Gamncll remarked that people are ready
enough TO acknowledge the importance OF good
education, but they are not 81 ready To give
their attention and efforts Ia promote 1t. "A
lecture ON comets, and other entertainments,
more or less similar, are greater attractions Than
meetings of this character.
The Rev. Mr.. Vail, of Westerly, not being
able TO attend, communicated cheering ac-
count of the cause of education i'll this quarter.
One thousand dollars have been recently raised
for the establishment oi library.
| Mr.. Updike illustrated the progress OF etu-
cation in this State. lie could speak from an
extensi.e observation. lie knew the" District
School as IL icos'' in Rhode Island. lie had
known some of its teachers, men who were enl-
ploved without the slightest regard to their
qualifications As educators. He had known
those employed in the sacred office OF teacher
for the very reason that they were unfit for any
ShI
and feeble in body and mind To earn their bread
in the ordinary way, and hence, were employ
ed to teach school lie had known man, an
instructor of youth, whesc word upon oath was
not respected in ono of our civil courts Such
teachers. he rejoiccd to say, could not now be
found in our schools. 4 different policy pre-
walls. Teaching is now regarded as profess
sion. second 10 none in importance. Those
who enter it have TO undergo rgcd cxamina-
ton. They must have good knowledge of
the branches in which they are to instruct
They must possess a good moral Character
They must adopt improved modes of instruc-
ton and discipline. They must devote their
time and efforts to their schools. The people
of Rhode Island no longer seek the cheapest,
but the best men, to train and instruct their
children.
Mr.. Sission, of North Providence, gave j
statement IF facts, which prove the pro-
gress of education il his vicinity. A few
years since, and only one school house was
owned by the district, and that was general
Office for the transaction of town business and
for various meetings. The schools were kept
in dirty, inconycnicnt, i-arranged and badly
situated rooms Some of them were molestcd
with the eternal clattcr of machinery, and
some were regaled with the music of IN Irish
wake. The only virtue of these rooms was
Ctcapncss. The miserable, niggardly policy
prevailed which makes men bow implicitly Ia
the " almighty dollar" and slight the laws
of the Almighty Maker. A change has taken
place Pawtucket now has school houses and
schools which need no encomum from him.
The people are justly proud Of them and
could not be induced to rctracc their steps. A
slight exception exists. A little portion of one
district, taking fright q. tho idea of taxes. had
withdrawn from the rest, and formed itself in
to an independent district, To enjoy its OWL
| gI0ru Mr. 3 concluded with the sentiment
that a school is worth what it costs. Poor ar
ticles are cheap; good ones bring and cos
money. Education must be paid for, or IT Is
nothing worth.
Il The Commissioner of Public Schools stated
some interesting facts connected with school IL
brarics The first district library, established
since his official connection with the State, was
at Portsmouth. More than $50 had been real
lied by this library by letting the books out al
one cent piece. Some progress has been
made in II other places for the establishment
of Libraries. More than 5000 books have al
ready been purchased and are in circulation
and provision has been made for the purchase
of 5000 more. These books are read and arC
exerting an untold influence on the character o
the rising generation. Great credit is due
those gentlemen who have cXertcd themselves
to difiilse the blessings Of good books through
the community.
II Mr.. Bishop, Superintendent ofPublic School,
!. in Providence, briefly states the change which
has been wrought in the character and condl-
tion of the schools within eight years. TIL,
number of school houses, belonging To the city
| had increased from 3 to 2l, and the number OF
scholars in attendance from 100 to 5000, and
the number of teachers from % to IS.
Adjourned to Tuesday evening, 25th inst
in Westminster Hall, at : o'clock.
Il FoREIGN VIEWS OF AMERICAN MATTERS
The London Times has some speculation.
upon our Mexican relations, and their consc
quenccs. 1t says:
Il The caus, which is identified with the true
| principles Of Government IN America and tho
sound and honorable portion of the institutions
of the | nion is represented by lis old and elo
| quent defender, Mr.. Clay. 1t is melancholy tc
! think that few hundred votes of an ignorant
! populace given for different name would have
saved Mexico from invasion. blood-shcd. and
| spoliaiion, and the United States from the bur
| den and disgrace of this war. For so little was
!. this contest provoked or called for by any ma
tional cause, that it cannot be doubted that il
Mr. Clay had been President of the United
States in the room of Mr.. Polk. no such oc
currence would ever have taken place. Moth
ing can be more obvious and certain than tha,
this war is as much the result of Mr.. Polk.
own choice and will, as he himself is in his
office the choice and will of the Democratic
party. We apprchend on the other
hand, that the personal dignity of Mr. Clay
the truth and wisdom of his principles, and ever
the experience of the last few months will no,
prevail with the majority of the American people
unless any unforeseen rcverses or an indefnit,
prolOngation of these hostilities should exaspcr
ate them against the party with which the wal
originated. So that in reality the election for
the next Presidency is quite as likely to be de.
cldcd on some Mexican fields Of battle. or in
some Mexican conference ON the ppliminaric.