New-York tribune., 1874-11-19
NOTES ON EDUCATION.

The reading at Harvard this year was 30 far
below the average only four OF the ten prizes were
awarded The only first prze-s25-was taken by Mr'
c. ii. Ylnton
Tho trustees of Amherst Agricultural Col
lege have shortened the Winter vacation and made tho
Summer longer thus closing the collegiate year on
the S0th OF june
The San Francisco Bulletin curlOusly enough
proposes that the University Of California shall create
q department Of navigation. and place competent
naval instructor at the head of 1t.
1t is the opinion Of The Hartford Post that
ill-arranged and -yentilated schoolbuildings ana
wrongly y-managed homes and not excessive study are
the chief causes OF the breaking down OF health In school
children. To these evils The Post adds the TOO early
pushing forward of city children into society,"
The Sophomore Class is the largest OF the
undergraduate classes Harvard 1t has 2Os members
The College has present in all It's schools and depart
ments 96 students The cost OF tuition Tor an under
graduate is $50 year and 1t is said that some OF the
poorer and competent scholars ada 10 then rc
sources by coaching their associates.
It is reported that the NewYOrk State De-
pattment of Education will send out circular OF
advice and instruction to town clerks, trustees ana
other officers having duties to perform IN the matter oi
compulsory education. This circular will call their at
tenon to the act and their duties under It, and VIII give
the construction OF the department. upon such o''
of the law as seem TO be involved IN doubt
Sir John Lubbock in recent address ex-
pressed the opinion that the great fault OF the Enghsh
system of education the neglect OF science lu
classical studies there too much OF the grammar
and too little Of the literature but to abandon the stuu
of the latter would be fatal mistake. Some few years
hence it would be deemed incredible that boy should
be allowed to pass through any good school ana
yet be entirely ignorant of any one branch OF natura
science. That nation, he argued, would have an I'M
mense advantage In the struggle for existence which
first gave its children education in which literature
mathematics and natural science should each have Its
proper place.
Bows under Is years of age having the wr1t-
ten consent OF their sparents guardians will be
ceiyed into the proposed EewYork Nautical School on
tho following conditions: 1s They must be OF sound
constitutions 2i They must eviuce some aptitude or in
clnation for sea-fe. When pupil has passed sue
cessfny through the prescribed term from eighteen
months to two years, he will be awarded certificate
hearing his rating aud general character, which VIII
always insure him employment On leaving the school,
efforts will be made obtain for the boys holding GER
Gcates positions board the best ships out OF New
| York.
Tn his lecture on Educational Problems"
Senator Carl schuz says that the first principle OF all
education should be to learn how to learn" He adds
that TO cOnne children TO the printed answers in the
books il vicious course, designed to promote human
stupidity In short time" he says, " tho pupil VIII
fail to remember what mental and moral philosophy
are What can be taught in the school is necessarily
little and II cannot be effectively done by mere memor
iypchc most useful education is not what others have
| thought but what we can think for ourselves" Mr.
scurz urges liberal provision for the establishment OF
school Libraries, even with the aid OF the State.
At q county institute in Pennsylvania last
week. one speaker declared that pupils should under no
circumstances be allowed to draw their interenccs ex
| clusiyoly from the Textbook. "Teachers." he said
should the book textbook and nothing rnore
and from this textbook should select our texts and
make our deductions No book has been prepared
with the design OF taking up lesson after lesson and sub
ct after subject these arc arranged on tho printed
page The wise and judicious instructor viii not hest
tate TO step forth freed from the trammes or the book
and select lessons adapted to the wants OF the pupils
under his care he has to omit skip 50 pages in so
doing"
Those women who intend to present them
selves the Harvard examinations next June, must
send notice of that intention to the Secretary of the
Women's Education Association, Boston, before April
l. 1875 The fee for the preliminary examination will be-
including certificate si5. Young women In narrow cir
eumsauces will be aided by the Association III meeting
the cost such examinations If an applicant Is uer
a. her application must be accompanied by the Wftleh
approya of her parent or guardian. pamphlet con
books will BE- sent by the Secretary OF the Association
Mrs Charles g. Loriug, No. Mount Vernon place, BoS
ton on receipt Of 25 cents.
The atlantic mentions favorably method
OF instruction for young girls which IS in force In Paris
school conducted BY ". Remy. This gentleman meets
his classes but once week. and then for SESSION OF
only two hours This weekly recitation Is nothing more
or less than careful examination OF the pupils III the
lessons OF the previous week. but 1t proves so exhaust
i've that the pupils obliged to devote rom three to
five ours each day, with the aid OF parent governcsS,
or tutor to their preparation Each girl Is nvarlaDy
occompanied to rectatons by either goyerness or
narent IT ia indeed quito common to see both parents
present busy engaged in writing the answers to the
questions propounded, to be aerward compared win
Tho dau0htcris 1Hc Atlantic comments upon the Wis
dom OF this method IN relation to health ana adds hat
the CRYING evil OF our tods of instruction Is undouDt
cdly overcrowding OF the mind" Ii asks " Why can
not parcnts cOntentcd II child under ten years or
age be taught absolutely nothing but reading, writing
and smelling I" and declares that during the period
from ten TO twelve # elementary arithmetic aud ge0erd-
pv Inc added il Is all that most children are capable OF
manoqinr IL would be far better to pr0ong the time
devoted 70 each study, giving portion In advance
and one IN review than distract the mind with more
branches"