The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-02
The National school Cow ention In Phils-
deiphla.
H. n

deiI,hia.
From the Philsd siphx Ledger, Aug 70
TWAS determined that the order OF business shall
be the statement by the delegates Of the condition
OF the common schools in the various States.
Thomas Allen Clarke, Of Louisiana, made a
statement of the condition of common schools in
that State. The system of common schools has
been lately erected. Under the old method, seve-
raj colleges were founded, which have received
nearly half a million of dollars in donations from
the State. These institutions have failed; only
one college now Is IN exisence-the Metho list
College at Jackson. In 1871, the citizens of the
Second Municipality of New Orleans commenced
a movement which has led TO great improvements
Now there are public schools in each municipality,
supported II public expense, 10 which children are
admitted free. The number OF schools and scholars
has greatly increased In 1871 there were only
seventy. five scholars In the Second Muncipf lily Of
New Orleans; ROW there are three thousand,
and fifteen hundred n the First Municipality, be-
sides large number Of pupils in the Third NUM-
cipality. The University in New Orleans is in
tiouIishing condition. The public school system
has been adopted throughout the State, though
not extremely successful. The system is managed
in It's general details by superintendent of COM
mon schools.
American Institute of Instruction. 1t was not
Massachusetts association alone, but general one.
II was founded twenty-one years ago, by delegates
from sixteen States. Ii meets annu ally, and dlsse
inmates information by means of lectures, adj
dresses, debates, &c, which are published in
twenty volumes of the Transactions of the lnsti-
tute.
Mr. Green, of Massachusetts,, one of the assist.
ants OF the secretary Of the Board of Education,
gave sketch of the duties of the Sc assistants"
They visit first the children, and endeavor to ope-
rate upon their minds, to become friendly with
them, and encourage them. They go as friends of
education, as friends of the teacher, TO aid and
counsel him in his work. Meetings of teachers
are called by these officers; some are held for two
or three days. The object is to give useful hints
TO the teachers; TO instruct them in the best
of teaching, and to smooth their labors Another
duty of the assistants is call meetings of the
people; TO counsel with them, and discuss the SUBJ
ject of education, its means and modes. Efforts
have also been made TO grade the schools into pri
mary, intermediate, and high schools. Difficulties
are in the way, in consequence of the plan of
parating school districts-a system which is over
come III some instances, and which is gradually
yielding. The parents furnish the school books TO
the children, except where poverty prevents, when
they are found at the expense of the town.
Samuel Newbury, of Michigan, said that they
had established in hat State "unon Schools"
in which there were four departments, ranging
from primary education to that suitable for young
men about 10 enter colege-a State normal school
has been projected, and will be in operation in
about year. The State University is now in a
healthy state. Although the school system has
fair prospects, there ale about fifty thousand chill
dren In the State who do not attend any schools.
Though this is large number, Michigan is in
much better condition in this respect than most Of
the Western States.
DIR. Cutter, formerly of New Hampshire, said
that in that State all the schools free; managed
by committees as in Massachusetts, and supported
by taxation. In 1910, the proportion of persons
who could not read and write, was one TO one
thousand. The general system is managed by
county superintendents There are county inst-
tutes Of teachers, holding two sessions yearly.
| The institutes attended by board of instruc-
| ton. The cause Of education in New Hampshire
is onward. and they lind it necessary to increase
the value of the staple they export TO other States,
namely, the men and women they raise and send
| out.
Governor Haines, of New Jersey, detailed the
school system in that State. There are education
al institutes and societies in several OF the coun-
| ties. They attract considerable interest. Appro-
priatiops made by the towns for the support of
| schools. There are no free schools through the
State though several towns and dis riots have Pc
titoned the Legislature several times for permission
! To raise taxes for the support of free schools.
John Griscom, Of New Jersey, said there are
three hundred children in the public schools at Bur
lngton city. In the outer districts of the county,
affairs are managed effectively schools are kept
! up only while the public appropriation lasts The
| people will not tax themselves to support the
| schools.
]. w. Buckley, of Albany, N. Y, said that ia the
State Of New York, in the country portions, free
schools had not been universally established
though the subject was greatly agitated In the
school districts, school libraries have been estab
lshed in eleven thousand districts There has
! been difficulty about the books suitable for tn,
children. Publishers have published books, il Il
ue under the title Of "school libraries" but they
entirely unsuitable for juvenile hands, which hav,
been Tevamped. II is believed that proper book
for school libraries have yet to be written. Teach
ers institutes are held in various counties, but III,
means OF support are so restricted as TO be nearly
useless.
Joseph Mexican, of New York, stated that in the
country, free schools have been kept open from Sc
ven 10 nine months in The year. In the cities they
are open the entire year, with the exception Of the
/ usual vacations He detailed particulars in reia.
ton TO the free schools ia the city OF New York.
! During the evening session several other inter
esting statements were made in relation 10 the &c.
neral subject OF education. The convention meets
/ again this morning.
! SECOND DAY.
! The order Of the day being the articles OF asso
! chiffon creating the Convention "The American
/ Association for the Advancement of Education,
! the report Of the committee on that subject was
taken up, Bishop Potter, the chairman Of the com
mitce, expleined the general design Of the society
| The constitution was then taken up, and discuss
ed by sections by many members, and finally agreed
| upon.
The archives are to be kept ia Philadelphia.
General meetings are TO be held three even
iDes during the annual session Of the association
10 discuss subjects, and hear reports and commani
cations.
At one of these general meetings, reports in brie
are 10 be made by the.chairmen Of the several sec
tcns, Of the proceedings therein.
Jno. kinsbuy, Of X ]. by special request, gave
account Of the proposed reorganization Of Brown
University, X l. He said that IN most colleges tn,
course has lasted for four IL often followed
that the degrees were honors acquired by time anc
not by attainments. An objection TO the course o
studies has generally been that they separated the
| literary from scientific institutions, and from the
| sympalhies q the people, by waat Of connection
| with the common schools. IL Is proposed a. a re-
medy, by Brown University, 10 make the bash
broader, TO appoint greater number Of Professors
and bring the advantages Of science and lteratur,
before the pupils. Another Improvement which Il
proposed s, that the students shall not be allowec
TO study TO a greater extent than their capacities
! will allow, thus in some cases extending the tim,
Of study according to individual ability. An ohiec
ton sometimes made, that science and classical Ii
erature cannot be intermipgled without injury, ha
already been answered by the experiments made IL
the course OF instruction IN many collegiate nsti
| tuiOna.
The object is not TO lower the standard Of classi
cal Learning, but TO make IL higher than ever Thu
students will not all wish TO prosecute the classca
studies, but those who do viii find the course tho
| rough. The four Years' course IS 20 be done away