DIVISION OF LABOR.

enerally conceded that our fathers did wisely in limittudies in our common schools to the few fundamental

It was wise in their times; and it may well be doubted he introduction of other branches in our times is prof more good than evil. Certainly the proper limit is scended; and those fundamental branches are crowded ☛ proper place: else why is it that, with all the modern ents in the means of education, we witness such gross es in those primary studies?

not appear that the human mind is more capable now as two centuries ago. It required time to act then; it cannot dispense with time in attaining to excellence epartment of study. It is in vain to expect school in the limited time of their school days, to attain to e even in the necessary branches, if their attention be erted to other studies. Teachers must have observed ual diminution of the school days of their pupils. ys leap suddenly into young men, no longer to submit rs and governors;" and their girls with equal facility at" at "sweet sixteen." What they have to do therebe done quickly, if at all, for a large portion of their Teachers need to know all the modern improvements profession, and to apply vigorously such labor-saving ts as are accessible to them. We might expect how, even under these discouragements, with the higher ions of teachers, and the increased facilities for impartuction, the regular attendants upon school should be I in the fundamental and some additional studies.

e led to conclude not only that too many studies are to divide the attention of scholars, but also that perteaching is not yet generally attained. Is there as

F LABOR.

our fathers did wisely in limit
chools to the few fundamental
nes; and it may well be doubted
- branches in our times is pro-
Certainly the proper limit is
amental branches are crowded
is it that, with all the modem
ucation, we witness such gross
Lies?

man mind is more capable now
It required time to act then;
ime in attaining to excellence
t is in vain to expect school
heir school days, to attain t
branches, if their attention be
Teachers must have observed
school days of their pupils
ung men, no longer to submit
their girls with equal facility
What they have to do there
ll, for a large portion of their
all the modern improvements
vigorously such labor-saving
We might expect how
ouragements, with the higher
increased facilities for impart
dants upon school should be
some additional studies.
y that too many studies are
f scholars, but also that per
erally attained. Is there as

em.

practice were different, better res Though the monotony should be te should not be allowed to stand in the But it is believed that a teacher wh his work, would experience no such of such a teacher is the rapid improv while he can behold that, he will not

This principle is especially applic writing. Great skill in writing and not much dependent upon accurate ki studies. Writing is to a great degr skill in it must be acquired by pra under the direction of a skilful and f in that department only, must be m teachers, whose attention is mainly de different subjects.

Writing is very justly esteemed branches of common school educatio tance is perhaps increasing from ye ordinary business demand a fair, legi correspondence induced by cheap pos elegant hand; and the prolific br requires ability to seize and record t they fly.

The fact that some of our recent re-writing to render them worth prese to our schools than to the political pa to responsible station.

Evidently something more efficien increasing demand upon our schools, of writing, but in all departments; a and can be so easily adopted, as the education to its particular teachers? est order of schools have ever been and we are persuaded that, where it would be equally advantageous in ou

thus much, we proceed, professionally, to notice the
entioned as above.

e in an age of progress. Scarcely a week passes
new luminary in science or art rises above our horizon.
s teems with new books, and every new book teems
thoughts, and every new thought gives a fresh impetus
ogress of the age. Prof. Grimes, for instance, it is
reported, has discovered a new definition to a straight
is forthwith to write a Geometry, to be followed by a
ies of mathematical works, to be followed by countless
puffs, to be followed by an army of agents, to be
by countless petitions of teachers in favor of the intro-
these works into schools, and finally to be followed
ountless complaints of these very teachers, and the
on of the more recent works of Prof. Higgins, who
d that the old definition of a straight line is better
nes's, and has made great improvements in the mode of
he division of Decimal Fractions. And so the world is
g. Every subject almost has a treatise written upon
a man is ignorant in these times, it is because he will
he books.

all the works published during the last half century,
one will compare, for originality and depth of thought,
of Zedekiah Crane on Axe-handles. The author,

many years been a practical teacher, and being a - celebrated Ichabod Crane, is admirably qualified to the task of reducing to a system so crooked a thing -handle. It is not too much to say, that he has met e success. The most difficult and irregular curves is in the thing, have been clearly defined and named, s produced a work which will find access into every every civilized community. Read his lucid discussion end of the axe-handle, page 219:

What is the name of the curve D? (Referring to a

we get

, professionally, to notice the

Scarcely a week passes
or art rises above our horizon.
, and every new book teems
thought gives a fresh impetus
f. Grimes, for instance, it is
a new definition to a straight
eometry, to be followed by a
s, to be followed by countless
y an army of agents, to be
teachers in favor of the intro-
ls, and finally to be followed
hese very teachers, and the
works of Prof. Higgins, who
a of a straight line is better
improvements in the mode of
actions. And so the world is
t has a treatise written upor
e times, it is because he will

luring the last half century,
The author,
inality and depth of thought,
Axe-handles.

actical teacher, and being a
ne, is admirably qualified to
system so crooked a thing
uch to say, that he has met
fficult and irregular curves
clearly defined and named,
will find access into every
Read his lucid discussion
re 219:-

urve D? (Referring to s

agents; to make easy and agreeab wood-chopping; and, in general, t mankind. Indeed it is difficult to co ignorant as they were of scientific chop wood.

Allow me to urge every friend circulation of this excellent treatise. Published by the firm of Snubbs &

P. S.-This treatise is to be follow the Hoe-handle, the Shovel, and of forming an invaluable library for any agricultural pursuits. Indeed the when a book shall be written on eve these books introduced into our scho that will be for teachers!

BRICKS.

PASSING along a somewhat worn s a few days since, I amused myself w the different aspects and conditions o daily swept by the ceaseless tread of There they lay in hopeless helplessn side: the dark and vitrified, the r the pale and soft, supporters, by da misery, the want, the pride, the crim across their faces. Some appeared hard and downtrodden situation. have endured the rain, the snow, th sun, for perhaps a quarter of a centu contacts have only become the smoo

e is a worn and wasting creature, subject to the s of wind, and storm, and frost, which relax and conpowers of body, and at length break them. Like is trodden under foot thoughtlessly, and endures pas

times, like the hard brick, he becomes polished, but not by the usage he receives; sometimes, like the soft is eaten up by care, and literally "worn hollow" by the of the world over his body and spirit. Friends desert

elations sink into the grave, and he misses the support ed blood. Riches crumble beneath his grasp like the f the Dead Sea, and bitter dust alone remains. The f hope hardly holds bottom, and his prospects are in gloom.

then? Are bricks of no use? and is man a useless an imputation upon creative wisdom? Far otherwise. be, in the "good time coming," he will be, "a perfect not occupying his present lowly position, but crowning ret of virtue, or built into some wall of unassailable eauty, worthy the admiration of passing seraphs, ll, as they recall the lowly elements of his original wonder at the cunning hand that has wrought such results. OMEGA.

DING IN SCHOOLS AND AT THE FIRESIDE.

hought must have occurred to one in the least degree with the mechanical, humdrum method of teaching in our common schools and academies, that a reform is vely called for. It is the office of the school to teach the meaning of the punctuation marks, the proper is and intonations, the distinct enunciation and correct s of words, and the blending of all these into a clear,

of the s

capacity

extensi

ive

fection