tion to the wholes of which they are parts, until the relation has been established by the teacher.

2d. The method requires the teacher to do the work that belongs to the student.

The application of the Analytic method requires the teacher to assign lessons for study, by the use of topics made out according to the following rules:

1st. The objects and subjects to be presented for study, should be of such a kind as are adapted to call into exercise the powers of the mind in accordance with the time and order of the development of these powers. 2d. The first topics assigned should be those that lead the pupil to study for Elementary knowledge.

3d. The first topic in any study should require the pupil to search for a general knowledge of the object or subject of study.

4th. The minor topics should present the parts of objects in a natural order, and of subjects in a logical order, and require the pupil to study for particular knowledge.

5th. The topics should lead the pupil to exhaust the subject.

Language is not to be considered the primary source of knowledge, but the mind is to be made conscious of having the ideas and thoughts to be expressed by the language used, before the language is employed. This is done by actually bringing into the presence of the mind the object of study.

It is the duty of the teacher to excite the minds of his pupils to such mental activity as will lead to the state called Education, by bringing into their presence, in a right manner, the thing to be studied, and by guiding them to a knowledge of the facts and truths he would have them know. All lessons are to be taught orally by the teacher, in such a manner that he will do nothing except furnish an occasion for knowledge.

The pupil should acquire the knowledge by his own mental activity. The lesson thus taught will furnish for the pupil topics properly arranged for study, and a knowledge of the topics sufficient to enable him to continue to study them intelligently and profitably.

Text-books may be put into the hands of the pupils to be used as ref. erence books. As text-books are sometimes used, they take away the possibility of independent mental activity on the part of both teacher and pupil.

The pupil having prepared his lesson, is to recite before the class upon the topic or topics, assigned at the time by the teacher.

He is to develop, without questions by the teacher, the topics assigned him, illustrating carefully the ideas and thoughts he expresses in words, before the expressions are made, observing to follow the same Analytic method in recitation that was observed by the teacher in assigning the topics, and by himself in studying them.

Both the teacher and the class are to observe carefully the pupil reciting, with reference to his knowledge, and his mode of teaching or reciting.

After the pupil has completed his recitation, the teacher and pupils may make criticisms, for the purpose of correcting mistakes, and for calling attention to new truth.

The pupil should be permitted, and even required, to use his active powers in obtaining knowledge, as well as his passive powers in receiv ing it.

The teacher should be constantly aware of the nature of his work, and of the end to be secured, and of the relation the means he employs holds to that end.

Successful teaching implies the existence of a course of study that is adapted to the wants of the mind as its powers are developed. It requires the employment of the right method in applying this course, and the presence of a teacher who understands the philosophy of his work.

The teacher must be supplied with all external means necessary for his teaching, and with the cordial sympathy of all in authority over him, and then he can so apply his philosophical method as to obtain a better and higher result than the schools have yet known.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.

AT BRIDGEWATER, MASS.

THE NORMAL SCHOOL AT BRIDGEWATER went into operation on the 9th of September, 1840, with 28 pupils. Up to August, 1846, pupils were received for two terms, which were not necessarily successive. Since that time they have been required to remain three successive terms of fourteen weeks each. In 1855, the period of attendance at all the State Normal Schools was fixed at one year and a half. This school receives both male and female pupils.

The following communication from Prof. Marshall Conant, the present Principal, sets forth the existing regulations respecting the admission of pupils, course of study, and other particulars.

Males must be at least seventeen years of age, and females at least sixteen.

Each candidate for membership is required to present a certificate of good MORAL CHARACTER, from some responsible person; and must pass a satisfactory examination in the common branches, viz., Reading, Spelling, Defining, Arithmetic, Writing, Grammar and Geography.

There is also required of the candidate a pledge to remain in the institution three consecutive terms, and faithfully to observe all its rules and regulations. If, however, the candidate is found to be qualified to enter advanced classes, his connection with the institution may be for a less time; but not less than one year.

The school year is divided into two terms: one beginning on the third Wednesday of March, and continuing 19 weeks; the other on the third Wednesday of September, and continuing 21 weeks. Annual session of the school, 40 weeks.

Pupils are received at the commencement of each term.

All candidates for admission are required to present themselves at the school room at 9 o'clock, A. M., of the first day of the term; for only in very special cases is any one entitled to an examination for admission after that day.

Tuition is gratuitous to those who design to become Teachers in the Public Schools of the State. To those from other States, who do not become Teachers in this, a fee of $10 per term is charged for tuition; and the same also to those who enter the institution for the purpose of qualifying themselves to teach in Private Schools. A like amount for tuition is expected to be paid by those who fail to fulfill an expressed design to teach in the Public Schools of the State.

The State appropriates $1000 a year for each of the Normal Schools, to aid those of its own students who find it difficult to meet the expense of attending one of those institutions without assistance. This aid is not granted during the first thirteen weeks of the course. Afterward, applicants for aid may expect to receive it as follows: those who reside not over twenty miles from the school, 50 cts. per week; those residing between 20 and 30 miles, 81; and those over 30 miles, $1,50 per week. If, how ever, the number of applicants in any term should be greater than to allow of these rates of distribution from the regular appropriation for the term, that amount will be distributed in the proportion of these rates.

Board is usually $2,50 per week; exclusive of fuel and lights. And $1,50 is required of every student, at the middle of each term, to meet incidental expenses.

It is also expected that every student will furnish himself with a copy of Lippincott's Gazetteer, and with one or two other smaller works; the whole expense of which may amount to $7,00. All other text-books are furnished to the students free of charge.

The following table exhibits the course of studies pursued in the school, during the required time of connection with it, viz., one year and a half.

The pupils are divided into three classes; the Junior, Middle, and Senior.

The studies for the First Term, or Junior Class, stand upon the left of the table, next to the column of Hours, &c.; those for the Second Term, or Middle Class, occupy the next column to the right; those for the Third Term, or Senior Class, are placed upon the extreme right.

The table shows at a glance what are the particular studies for any part of the course, together with the days and hours of recitation.

The arrangements of the school are such that, besides pursuing this course of studies, the pupils are employed at times in giving instruction. This affords the principal and his assistants the opportunity of rendering the pupils more efficient aid in the application of principles, and the illustration of methods.

A course of lectures on Physical Geography is annually given in the school, in the month of December, by Prof Guyot; also a course on Chemistry, by some other professor.

TABLE.-Plan of Study and Instruction in the State Normal School, at Bridgewater, Mass.

There have been 1035 pupils, viz., 424 males and 611 females, connected with the school since its opening; of which number, 706 have completed the course of study.

These are the hours for the Summer Term, those for the Winter Term are a half bour eariser

In 1861 the Legislature appropriated the sum of $4,500 to the enlargement and repairs of the building. By this means the building originally 63 feet long by 41 feet wide, and two stories high, was enlarged by the addition of two wings, each 38 feet long and 24 feet wide, projecting from the center of the main edifice, and of the same height. Upon the lower floor are four convenient recitation rooms, two rooms, one for philosophical and the other for chemical apparatus, one room for mineralogical and geological specimens, and two anterooms for the pupils. In the second story, the whole of the original structure is devoted to a common school-room, which is 62 feet long by 40 feet wide, with a large recitation room opening from it into one of the wings, and a large library and reading room into the other wing.

By a subsequent appropriation new furniture has been supplied, the warming and ventilation of the entire building improved, and the grounds graded and securely inclosed.

The Visitors of this school in their report for 1865 report the following statistics:

Number admitted since September 9, 1840, to September, 1865,.

.1,499

46

of graduates to September, 1865,.

956

in attendance in 1864-65,.
graduated in 1865,.

122

22

The course of study now embraces four terms or two years. The Principal expresses a desire for additional assistance "that the quality of our teaching may be improved by reducing the amount, for which the teacher could make more thorough preparation."