Year: 1869




It is a conceded fact we are all stu
dents; that we are learning, or should
learn something every day Of our lives.
And hence. it must be admitted that
the world is q school. We are either
advancing or receding, progressing or
retrOgrading; and it has been truth
fully said, that an important lesson
can be learned from the fool, and that
is not to be fool. And one Of equal
truth and equal importance can be
learned from the ignOramus. There
fore common schools YEA, and we
might say too common, almost, have
been established throughout our entire
country, so that the poor can share
with the rich, and none can proclaim
that they are treated with perfect in
difference, for our talented men and
best educated have sprang from the
most 0biect circumstances imagin-
able. All this has been doIie for en-
lightenment and the evasion of ignO-
rance, and to give to every family an
education or armOriaI for theirrelative
protection and relative safety.


The school room Is q drill room
where thousands Of young cadets ap-
pear for instruction, to prepare for the
warfares and battlts of life; and the
lessons there learned, the Instruction
there received, will either rebound in
future happiness and success, or future
degradation and vice. VIII either
make citizens of note and usefulness,
or citizens OF nOtOriety and sagaciOus-
ness; and hence how important it is
that every individual wearing the
garb Of teacher should be skillful as
well as a good tacticiGn.


We avered that the school room was
drill room; admitting this to be
true, we come to the second point, the
location and cOnveniences Of a school
room. And as TO location there can
not be too much importance attached,
for upon this depends health, and adj
vaneement in studies. Every school
building should be so situated and
constructed as to have free circulation
and ventilation Of air throughout its
interior, and this ventilation should
be from the top, for as the pure ami
mating and viyifying air penetTates
the erevices in the walls, there should
be room made for the abnOxious and
rancid air to pass out, otherwise ii
will produce stupOr and dulneSs, both
on part of pupils and teachers. Again,
every school room should contain
maps, charts, and a good blackboard.
These will act as an incentive, to slim
ulate children to action, to invigOTate
them to press forward and make them
more regular in attendance, for pune
tuality should be taught as well as in
dustry. No teacher can teach success
fully without the necessary apparatus


Again, every school house shOUlG
have water near by, for it is an &C
knOwledged fact, the farther It's car.
ried the more will be used.


The yard should be fenced so that II
could be kept clean and neat, fOl
cleanliness and neatness should bC
taught as we'll as the arts and sciences
Shade trees should be planted. These
things can be accomplished by a co
operation and uniting Of the parent
at littleeXpense.


A word to the teacher and I an
done: His work Is complex and a.
abstract as the minds he has to cOntrO
and govern hence he should under
stand human nature, without whicl
a thousand apd one vexatiOns vii
inundate his soul, and he will leave
the school room with neuralgic pain.
which no cephalic pills can ever ale
viate. He should be q live man, evel
ready to discharge his duties, both IL
school room and teachers institutes
for these we consider as an oasis anC
refreshing spots for for the weary
traveller as he journeys on in the dis
charge Of his every day duty.


s. w. MCGREW, NJ. d.


London, June 4, 1859.