New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-28
IMPROVED COMMON SCHOOLS.

The following pointed suggestions form the pith OF
an address delivered by H. l.. STUART of this City be-
fore the New jersey State Teachers Association at its
late meeting in jersey City. Mr. STUART sad:
come before you because Of my sympathy and in
terest in your laboIs; because believe tnat at this
moment the State OF New.Jersey occupies position
eninently calculated to make her le,der 10 those
practical educational reforms which the spirit and ne
cessitiss of the age demand, and which inevitably
must come. i have visited your Normal School,
standing the highway between the two great metro
pOtan cities Of the continent and have no heslta.
ton making the assertion that in all the elements OF
vitality and hopeful promise, the New-Jersey State
Normal School is equal to in the great work OF
making intelligent, earnest efficient teachers. An
effort s just now being made to develop and organize
improved school system for the State OF New.Jer
sey to be placed under the direction Of State Board
of Eduosiion. Your Legislature will have this
subject. before it during its coming session,
others preliminary to it, ' that gives your
State the prominence to which have alluded. On the
subject of this proposed organization of your school
system, would throw out u few hints and make few
suggestions. My experience has been mere immedsts
ly confined to the City of NewYork; and IN regard to
what is called school system there, will simply re-
mark that it has been question very difficult to
decide in whoee interests chiefly the schools of the
City Of New-York are conducted. Ostepsibly, they
are supposed to be designed for the education of the
children who attend them and for their benefit But
closer examination would lead TO the Impression that
they especially designed TO encourage the art OF
textbook making and tO benefit class OF small and
generally po,-house politicians who must have some
thing in t1e shape of office with ashow opatronsge for
contracting needy friends, whose and daughters
are the material from which teachers by hundreds
mprovsed and crowded upOn the schools, without pos
sessing the first idea of their dates, approsch
to the capacity and high moral consciousness
essential 10 proper training and education Of children
In organizing q school system for the State Of New
jersey, in the outset would charge you 10 beware Of
yfi AM oh.,xa tat
at. Your first consideration should begin with laying
the foundation VI your educational structure in a
primary school organization adapted TO the capacity
ard wants all clssses Of children. This ia the point
where all school systems have failed; and here You
should expend earnest thought ana begin by securing
at whatever cost Of time trouble and money, the best
teachers-those persons possessed of harmonious
organization, who are natural edacators-snch women
yOu would choose 10 be the mothers OF or TO take
charge of your children-thus throwing around
the httle child from the outset Of ITS school life,
the most attractive and harmonious Influences,
and frum the star. laying the foundation broad
and deep OF intelligent and wisely. directed culture,
and q hesltby ana generous man and woman. A
jndicous and thorough system Of physical train
ing which should include the chanting, singy and in
classes of the various sounds that undere yocazs-
,ion TO ecler'ly develop and strengthen the or
gsns OF srtcusfion should eLter into the initial and
preliminary consideration of an effective primary
eourse Of instruction. Appeal to the with
SIC and intere sting natural objects Let the mind
attention, 80 that the Little child will be continually
making pleasing discoveries, apparently on its own
account as older people are supposed TO do. Present
directly the fewest facts for memorzatiop and those
few so as TO arouse the observing and reflective
faculties, always bearing in mind that the power 10
express what We know gracefully and well lies q. the
foundation Of any course Of instruction that will be
Likely TO meet requirements OF this practical and |
stirring age. The want CT defniteness in what we |
knowthe almost entire absence Of the application of
prm eple TO practice In our prevailing methods OF eda-
cation-make us as people, much ess effective than
we need Dc under wiser arrangement. This wiser
arrangement hope TO zee inangurated in the New
jersey School system that is 70 be. In addition TO the
Primary School organization TO which have alluded
would urge upon you 10 make special provision for
seribe practical ed ucaton of every daughter in the
State. You must educate your girls, thoroughly and
practically 90 that they take care Of Themselves
understand the principles and practice of household
n ar agement, in which I would include q practical
knowledgsof Of accounts and Of everyday business sf
fairs with instruction in the principles Of mechanics
ITu.fys,ed by such lsbor-.aviog devices a srs
adapted 10 the household II lately remark ed by
NJ Greeley. that the man womsn who could In.
vent really usefdl and efficient Washing.machine,
that should cbeapy, quickly and certainly perform ts
sppropriote Office m the laundry would Be entitled 70
the hrst p ace IN womsns gratitude. In making the
wardrobe aud washing our dirty linen he two Of the
grest burdens that have in all ages made woman q do
n estc frunge. In pour State Normal School,
course OF practical instruction 10 given " every grsdu
ate n the principles Of mechanics, Illustrated oy tho
leviDg.msehine and other machinery and models, ia
eludrg me various parts Of the American wasch, so
sr snged 10 give complete idea Of the method Of
me chi meal tin -ke-piLg about which next TO nothing
10 taught or known in schools At Elmirs, N. Y.
IN tse ulique and noble educational ipstuton known