ans of knowing whether it is now in exence, and hence have not included it in e roll of Normal States.

The experience of those communities in ich these schools have had a fair trial is all respects satisfactory. They have akened a new interest in popular educaon; they have raised the standard of alification; they have improved the ethods of instruction and discipline; they ve aroused a healthful emulation, by -nerating the true esprit de corps among achers; and they are gradually elevating eir calling to the rank and dignity of a arned profession.

The sole object of a Normal School is to ain the teacher to the principles and ractice of his difficult art. Their entire rganization and course of instruction must ave special reference to this end. They re not designed to be mere scholastic or terary institutions in the ordinary sense, ut professional seminaries, performing the ame office with reference to the art of eaching that schools of law, medicine, and ivinity do to their respective specialties.

Such institutions are the great want of our age and country. They ought to be multiplied so as to correspond in number and in influence to our increasing populaion and our expanding territorial domain. We must have, not the schoolmaster alone, but the intelligent, the skillful, the successful schoolmaster abroad in the land. The day is rapidly hastening when drones and imbeciles and ignoramuses will no longer be allowed to trifle with the most precious years of childhood, and peril the best interests of society by being allowed to occupy our school-houses, and prevent, instead of assist, the natural growth of the youthful mind of the nation.

Normal Schools are the potent agency by which the occupation of such teachers is to be destroyed, and through which intelligence, skill, energy, and devotion are to be installed into the places of power and influence in the school-houses of the land. It is somewhat surprising that, after the

Jong and

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these institutions have passed, both in Europe and America, they do not command more of the attention of the promoters of education in our country. The teachers of a nation in a great measure determine its character. And Normal Schools, when equal in number and power to the public wants, may be made to decide the character and qualifications of the teachers, and hence, through them, the national destiny. They constitute the legitimate head of a school system. No such system is complete without them, nor can it be truly efficient unless sustained by their life-giving influence.

We hope to be instrumental in popular izing these institutions. To be appreciated, they have only to be known. To be known, they must be made a topic of more frequent discussion in public journals and in educational conventions. It is not enough that the few which exist in the country should be left to propagate the doctrines upon which they are founded by the silent influence of their quiet example alone. We earnestly commend their claims to the consideration of those States where they have not had a trial. They need no indorsement in the communities where they already exist.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

F, as Edward Everett declares, the child

the philosopher at any subsequent period of his existence; if, as Professor Henry affirms, the character of the individual is in a great measure formed before the seventh year; if, as is asserted by a competent authority, a child may be taught during the first ten years of his existence to violate without remorse every law, human and divine, then it is impossible to over-estimate the importance of the primary school, and of early education.

The concurrent testimony of all whose opinions are entitled to respect upon this

that the most critical

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at the same time, the most precious portion of human life is comprised within the period measured by the first ten years. It is during this period that those habits are formed which go so far toward determining the future character. These early habits remain, when all vestiges of those which are acquired in later years are swept away. Hence, what infinite consequences depend upon the influences of the ome and the primary school, and with what anxious solicitude should the parent, should the teacher, should society watch over these momentous years! What patience, what skill, what affectionate interest, what undying devotion should guide

and control the action of the mother of a

family and the teacher of a primary school! We ask attention to a series of contributions upon this subject, the first of which will be found in the present number.

THAT SCHOOL SWINDLER AGAIN!

BOUT a year ago, in the columns of

AB

the EDUCATIONAL HERALD, a full account was given of the trial and conviction of the notorious rogue who had been doing a large business in swindling the proprietors of boarding-schools. We then promised our readers that this "Col. Merritt" would no more commit his depredations upon the well-earned money of teachers, and that, for a term of years, at least, he would reap the just "reward of Merit" in the State prison at Sing Sing. We were, however, destined to be disappointed, as will be learned from the following communication, which we copy from the correspondence of the N. Y. Daily Times.

MT. PLEASANT M SING SING, T Will you please infor the columns of your p

ous forger and scho Merritt," "alias "Col.

ker," "Stansbury," & escape from Sing Sing break through the wal but effected his escape don granted him by have known of many would seem that this the Executive has be never dreamed that sud this could occur. Mer rogue. The detective

large cities have been 1860, and his portrait o place in the "rogues' g phia. He was arreste Penn., in 1861, for for to make his escape aft finement. He operated vicinity of New York d 1860, and, to our certa ceeded in playing the upon a dozen or more p ing-schools. He again ance here in March, 186 his arrest for attemptin forged draft for $250.

trial in December follow sentenced to the peniten It was a clear case, as the act, and the jury scarcely leaving their no chance for any defen able counsel.

To show the extent operations, we copy from an excellent photographi ritt) which we received Mr. Franklin, Chief of Philadelphia. Speaking Franklin writes:

"He is almost ubiqu

been after him since the -now in New Hampsh Louis, Mo., next in Ma We obtained his picture Introduced himself there Col. Alex. H. Nelson (o Fusileers), son of Judge

oncord, he went to White River Junction, d swindled the proprietor of the young lies' seminary. Oct. 29, 1861, was at ork, Penn., and swindled them. Aug.

at Media, Penn.; swindled Mr. Gailey ere. Aug. 19, at Mr. Joy's school; got 5 from Mr. Moon. Swindled Rev. Mr. alat at Mechanicsburgh; also Bishop hittingham, St. Luke's Hall, near Baltiore; also Eden Hall, Tonesdale-wanted place a pupil there and pay in advance. ave a check for $200 and wanted the ange. Called on Mr. Wells, of Bucks ounty, as Robert Lawson, son of an emient wool-dealer. Pulled the wool over s eyes to the tune of $200. He has been nong the doctors and professors of our niversity as Charles Ives, brother of Dr. ves, of New Haven, Conn. Got from all 5,000 to $6,000. Is very fluent. Knows verybody and every thing, almost. Power f adaptation remarkable. His real name 5 Isaiah J. Porter; born and raised in ittle York, Penn. Sent to the House of tefuge here when a boy for setting fire to house. If he is still in custody please et me know, that measures may be adoptd for his removal here when you have one with him."

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This is the fellow whom Gov. Seymour let loose on the community on New Year's Day. We know not upon what pretence the pardon was based, for the matter was so adroitly and secretly managed, that it i more than three weeks after Merritt's es cape when we first learn of the fact. The authorities of Philadelphia, and a number of school teachers (including a clergyman in Connecticut, who was present at the trial and testified that Merritt had swindled him out of $150 by means of a forged draft), stood ready to rearrest Merritt at the expiration of his term of sentence. But Gov. Seymour has stolen a march on them, and Merritt is probably now plying his former vocation. He is, doubtless, connected with a gang of forgers and counterfeiters, and money was probably freely used in obtaining his release. A lawyer of this place was offered $500 for his assistance in the matter, but we are glad to record that the bribe was declined. will only add, that no greater outrage upon justice was ever committed than in this release of the criminal Merritt. Respectfully, yours,

We

BENJAMIN & PHELPS, Principals M. P. M. Academy.

THE report of Hon. F. W. Ricord, State Superintendent of Public Schools of New Jersey, for the past year, presents some interesting facts illustrative of the rapid progress of education in that State. We are Indebted to Mr. Ricord for the following summary of the report which has recently been presented to the legislature:

The increase of money expended during the year for the support of public schools is $10,000 more than the aggregate increase of the three years preceding.—The report speaks in the highest terms of township school-officers, who have, during the past year, manifested an unwonted degree of zeal in the discharge of their duties. Their returns are represented as very full and

ple are solicitous for their schools, and earnest in their efforts to elevate their character and increase their usefulness. A feeling prevails that the State ought to do something in aid of such districts as are poorly provided with the apparatus so essential to profitable instruction.

One hundred and thirteen additional schools have been opened and maintained during the year, and of the whole number in operation, 684 have been entirely free. The number of schools under the care of religious societies, and entitled, under the 12th section of the act, to a share of the public money, is comparatively small, being only 44. The amount apportioned to these schools was $7,456.13. These schools are

and are represented as very flourishing, and affording superior advantages for instruction.

The whole number of children in attendance at school is much larger than ever before reported, the increase being nearly 11,000. The average time that the schools have been kept open is nine months, and the average tuition per quarter $1.39.

The number of female teachers is continually increasing. Ten years ago, the number of male teachers was double that of the female. In the year 1862 the number of females was greater by four than that of males; and during the last year, the females exceeded the males by 256.

The sum of money raised and appropriated for educational purposes is greater, as already stated, than that reported last year. The increase is $43,142.59. The sources from which it has been obtained, and the purposes for which it has been used, may be shown as follows:

The report contains the decisions rendered by the State Superintendent during the last four years, and they are so arranged as to make a most valuable guide to township and district officers in the discharge of their various duties. The decisions, we understand, will accompany a new edition of the school laws now in press. They ought also to be published in a separate form, and distributed without delay throughout the State.

LARGE and convenient high-school buildings are being erected in Manchester and Concord, N. H.

THE friends of Waterville (Maine) College are making an earnest effort to raise $100,000 for its benefit.

TURKEY.-The Sta nal published at Co the following particu Schools in the Turkis derived, according to bureau of the Minist tion in Turkey:

At Constantinople a schools, 144; profess both sexes, 16,217. tion: general histo philosophy, the catec thology, geography, a physics, theology, eth guages-the Greek, Fr etc.

In Roumelia and th pelago schools, 1692 pupils of both sexes, Instruction: the Gr languages, and in ce metic, geometry, geog raphy, and the Frend guages.

In Anatolia and A professors, 903; pup 34,950. Subjects of in pel and the Psalms; lan Turkish, Chaldaic, S Armenian; history, ge manual labor. Total: fessors, 3,112; pupils (1 138,387.

In Constantinople suburbs, there are cou which 77 are Greek, w Protestant, 82 pupils; a pupils. The Greek s into two categories: 4 lodidactic," so termed mutual instruction ado 25 Hellenic schools or the principal subject of Greek language.-Engi ucation.

MR. W. J. PHIPPS, Schools, New Bedford, pointed Superintenden Lowell.

HON. JOHN D. PHILB popular Superintendent ton, has been appointed Massachusetts Board of

EDUCATION IN ОнIо.-The report of the hool Commissioner of Ohio explains fully y that State stands so uncompromising on the side of liberty and good govment. The number of schools taught the State during the last year was 661, of which 14,233 were common hools, open to all. The number of chilen enrolled in these common schools was 5,095. The whole number enrolled in hools of all classes was 750,413. It is teworthy that, during the year, 7,229 lored children received the benefits of e educational system. The total expenzures for educational purposes in the ate amounted to $2,409,613.

No State which boasts an educational stem so complete and thorough as this, n ever array itself on the side of a cause opposed to the best influences of Chrisan civilization, as that which Davis and s crew are striving to make successful. wenty years hence, when Kentucky, Tenessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and the her slave States shall have been enlightned by the same educational system as e Northern States now enjoy, they will e found as vehemently hostile as Ohio ad Massachusetts to whatever degrades he citizen or corrupts the State.

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THE last meeting of the Rhode Island Institute of Instruction, at Providence, was well attended, and the exercises were spirited and instructive. Hon. John D. Philbrick, of Boston, gave a lecture on self-education, which was full of thought and practical suggestions. Among the other exercises was an interesting discussion on "Object Teaching," and Prof. Tenney's lecture on Physical Geography, illustrated by the aid of Prof. Guyot's invaluable maps.

THE school system of New Orleans has been vastly improved under Federal rule. The schools have been organized under common regulations, doing away with former irregularities; the English language only is taught in the primary schools, instead of the French, as formerly; and other improvements equally important have been introduced, making the system vastly more efficient and far-reaching than ever before.

THE Massachusetts State Reform School has a nautical branch, from which, last year, sixty-two boys were shipped in the naval service, and forty-seven in the merchant service. The addition of similar departments to the Reform Schools of other States would prove a national advantage

THE old idea that the Nile took its rise mong the mountains has been verified by he discoveries of Speke and Grant; and The other old story, that those mountains, though almost under the equator, have heir summits covered with eternal snow, eems now to have been confirmed by the liscoveries of a Hanoverian traveler, Baron on Decken, who attended a late meeting of the Royal Geographical Society in London, and gave an account of his ascent of the peaks of Kilimanjaro and Kenia.

The former of these mountains, which is the highest peak in Africa, rises 20,000 Feet above the level of the sea, and the now-line descends below the level of a

en has himself ascended the hill about 14,000 feet, and made a careful examination of its geological features. He notices a very curious fact in insectology. The neighborhood of the hill is infested with an insect called the dondorovo, which attacks and kills horses and donkeys, but does not trouble other animals.

The inhabitants own no horses, and can not keep them in consequence of the destructive ravages of this insect. The Baron lost his donkeys within two days after entering the country, their death proceeding from the sting of the dondorovo. The Baron is now in England, arranging an outfit of an expedition to ascend one of the