New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-04-12

the moot important era 10 the progress OF educs'
ton. The idea 10 so important a. to justify FUR
thes illustration.
NEW SYSTEM OF PRIMARY INSTRUCTION
co,,vspsndeaos Of Tho N. Y. Tribune. am.
OswEso, N. Y, March 80, lSol.
The annual examinations of the Public Schools OF
Osweso closed this week. Having attended portion OF
chem for the purpose of observing the workings OF
pew system of primary instruction winch bas oeen In
use here during the past year. affords me pleasure 70
communicate through your columns oref DESCRIPTION
of the pecularites of this system, and Of It's successful
operations here.
The schools are divided Primary, Junior Senior,
and High. with twelve Primaries, four Juniors, two
Seniors, and one High School. The number Of pupils
registered us attending ali Of them during the year -
about 4, Oo0 The entire amount OF money expended
BY the Board Of Education tor teachers wages, salary
OF Superintendent, repairs OF scboohouses, library ap-
raratus and all other expenses, is about S29,O0O
year. making the average cost of the education Of each
pupil registered about 81 Is.
The Primary Schools are divided into three classes,
called A, b. and c.. Each class occupies separate
rom aid remains under the charge OF one teacher Tor
yea. On entering school the children are placed In
the class the end OF the ht year these are exam
ned and promoted 10 the u cisss, where they remain
another ear, when they again examined, and pro-
noted 10 the class At the close VI the third year
another examination takes place, when those W no are
ouahfed are promoted from the cass 10 the Junior
School.
These Primary Schools attracting much attention
from educators i'll different parts Of our country on &C
Count OF the new system of instruction which is carried
On. IN them. 1t is Systematic course Of graduated
"Objsct Lessons" q plan similar 10 that OF the
" Home aid Colonial Training SshoOls' of London.
In addition 70 teaching the children 10 read, which 10
well done they taugh, form, tue elementar, steps
Of geometry, by comparing, msching, drawing, and
learning tie OF pieces of wood cut In shape OF
squAree combs, trianes, circles. cylinders, cubes,
Sc. They learn sac by measuring with q rule, or
ta,e lines drawn ON the blackboard, sticks Strings,
length and width Of the They are fins, required
10 measure eli objects with the eye, then apply the rule
% deter upe the accuracy Of the eye-uneasnrement
Each school is provided with pair Of scales and
weights The pupils are required to lift and guess at
tie weight OF books, small bas OF pebbics seans shot,
Cubes vi lead ADD iron AID then 70 weigh them. The
ACCURACY With which those thus trained viii Judge Of
tie weight VI objects is astonishing.
The children ure taught the first ideas Of Number in
xasses Of twenty thirty, By each handling and count
hn beans and pebbles adding subtracting, multiply
iag ana dividing with them. Ttese objects are NJ.
ranged on a shelf across one side of The room.
Color is Taught by means of wonteds, colored cards
ard other objects by matching tho-e tust are alike
and l.s ming their nsmes TBey also show how other
co.os may be produced by mixing The three primary
Opes-red, yellow, and blue.
They ar. taught to pns out, name, and tell the use
Of the principal parts of the human cody us step pre-
taratory to the know ledge OF Ptys'oogy. they are
taught the tint ideas If geography by learning TO Oh
serve tud describe The location OF objects III and about
tie scboo-room, proceeding gradually to the streets
end principal buildings Of the city, and thence 70 the
towns Of tae country.
Animals birds fish, reptiles and insects, or coored
cures Of them, are shown and the children LED 70
observe their differences while tue teacher gradually
sdds descriptions Of heir habis thus enkiDding love
for the study Of nature. A knowledge Of plants snd
flowers is taught in the same manner.
Lii important that the principles Of this elementary
training in these different depar Of knowledge,
be und, rstood These several Lessons are introduced
FOR the purpose Of teaching the children ~ see, odsoe
and ik for mental velopment The idea Of imparing
iusructon on these several subjecs secondary con-
sderrtion hence very little mpo lance Ia placed on
the ability Of the children TO uemorne words repeat
tables &c. but great deal training them TO ObserDe
md descr,be thus calling and developing their own
20 rers in a natural way.
Tie plsn of instruct N IL show the object, and re-
uurs tne children tell everything that they can learn
tlout it by seeing snd feeling 1t; then 70 gradually
Had them by questions aud descriptions 70 more COM
pIete knowledge Of the object titan be learned by
merely seeing and bsndhng IL. by this process the
powers of the chllds mind developed 30 that the
soouitiop of knowledge becomes habit which affords
Il pleasure.
One peed not long Observe the effect Of this kind Of
training upon the children 10 decide npon is superiority
over the common practice Of filing the memory win
words, without knowledge OF things IL begins
Just where Mature begins teach the child, with Things
going from them TO words as the symbolic Of thiNssi
whereas our common modes Of teaching reverse Ma
lures plan, and attempt 70 teach knowledge
Of things chiefly through the medium OF
words. Any one may readily determine the relative
nsri,e Of The two systems by recalling how much more
complete their own is Of those objects which
shey have seeu than it Is Of what the have only read
tbDut
Some idea Of the appreciation Of these primary
scnoos by the parents OF The children attending them,
may be formed from tbe fact many have requested
thai tier children might remain IN the primary schools
smother year, thai they may receive more thorough
course OF object training. To meet tits demand the
same system Of training is 70 be extended into the
junior schools In order 20 obtain teachers qualified for
carrying out the plan thoroughly training teacher has
been engaged from the Hone and Colonial Training
School" come here and take charge of a model
training school 70 be opened this Spring This 10 al
important step in the right direction and indicates the
nobe enterprise Of The Board Of Education Of this city,
The existence of only tco small uriyais school in