Year: 1878

more time and attention are devoted TO in
struction in these branches in the lower
grades than TO others of far more importance.
such as arithmetic, English and geography"


1t is proposed in the Chicago board of
education to reduce the school expenses Of
the city by requiring principals to devote
twO-thirds of their time TO the instruction.
of classes, and by shortening the general
school year one week and the high school
year two weeks.


The Seniors at Amherst have been per-
mi;ted to choose general OPTIONAL for q
third study next term; each may select his
work in any department ofthe whole course.
That study having the most adherents has
proved TO be the constitutional history of the
United States, as taught by Professor Morse.


An 'Old Schoolmaster," writing in the
National Journal of Rducation, wisely says:
Never whip or resort to any severe punish
ment till the day after the offense was
committed. By SO doing you will generally
avoid punishment at all You may lind you
were mistaken in the pupil the act, or the
intent. Iou will be able to reflect and act
calmly and justly. Put yourself in your
pupils place. Remember children are not
vipers or devils, and most of their trouble
some pranks are the outcome, not of malicious
premeditation, but of fun-cOmparatiyely
innOcent-combined with thoughtlessness
not unreasonable when their youth and
inexperience are considered. Reformation
can generally be brought about in a better
way than by scolding and fiogging.r


The Cincinnati normal school is to be
united with the university under the name
of the normal college of the university of
Cincinnati. All theoretical instruction in
the normal college Is to be given by the pro.
fees in he ify nd to 9 md
there will be professor of pedagogics in the
university, who will be nominated by the
board of education, and whose salary will
be fixed and paid by said board. The prac
tice department is to be located in a house
to be erected for the purpose by the board of
education, to consist of no less than ten
rooms, which will be known as the normal
school of Cincinnati, and OF which the pro-
fessor Of pedagogics in the university will be
principal, without additional salary. There
will be German firstassistant of the normal
school, who will, without additional compen-
sation, give the instruction in German peda-
gogics in the university.


About 30 of the leading men of Oxford
and Cambridge, says the National Journal OF
Education, have expressed wish to meet
their American brethren this summer in a
conference upon matters of scholarship and
education. Several prominent statesmen,
of both parties, and even more distinguished
as scholars, have evinced their wish To join
in sending an invitation to London to the
expected American visitors, if public affairs
shall hsply take peaceful turn. Among
these we are at liberty to mention Mr..
Forster and Mr.. Gladstone; and in letters
which arrived this week Lord Sandon, vice
president of her majesty's privy council,
expresses himself very favorably toward the
proposed meeting, and promises to give
careful consideration TO the means by which
the privy council committee can assist in an
invitation to the American scholars about to
visit England. The lord mayor of London
has written to like effect; and lastly, Lord
Beaconsfield, in letter TO DR.. Humphreys,
under date of March 5, states that The pro
posal for an invitation to a conference OF
scholars and literary men of England aud
America has already been laid before her
majestys government