AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION.

The Thirty-Second Annual Meeting of the AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION will be held in BRATTLEBORO', VT., at the TOWN HALL, on the 21st, 22d, and 23d days of August.

The Board of Directors will meet on the 21st, at 11 o'clock, A. M.

The Public Exercises will be as follows:

Wednesday, August 21st.

At 2 1-2 o'clock, P. M., the meeting will be organized for the transaction of business. The usual addresses of welcome having been made, the President will deliver his Annual Address; after which the following subject will be discussed:

How many hours a day ought Pupils to be confined in School; and should they be required to prepare lessons at home?

At 8 o'clock, P. M., a Lecture by Hon. ANSON SMYTH, State Commissioner of Schools of Ohio.

Thursday, August 22d.

At 9 o'clock, A. M., a discussion. ifications of Primary School Teachers.

Subject: The Proper Qual

At 11 o'clock, A. M., a Lecture by H. E Sawyer, Esq., Principal of High School, Concord, N. H.

At 2 1-2 o'clock, P. M., a Lecture by Lewis B. Monroe, Esq. Subject: The Human Voice.

At 3 1-2 o'clock, P. M., a Discussion. Subject: Methods of Teaching Elocution and Reading.

At 8 o'clock, P. M., a Lecture by Calvin Pease, D. D., President of Vermont University.

Friday, August 23d.

At 9 o'clock, A. M., a Discussion. Subject:

Universal Education the Great Safeguard of a Republican Government.

At 11 o'clock, A. M. a Lecture by T. D. Adams, Esq., Principal High School, Newton, Mass.

At 2 1-2 o'clock, P. M., a Lecture by Prof. Edward North, of Hamilton College, N. Y. Subject: The Tuition of Amusements. At 8 o'clock, P. M., Addresses by Representatives of the Several States.

Ladies attending the meeting, will be welcomed to the hospitali ties of the citizens of Brattleboro'. Those who purpose to be present will greatly oblige the Committee of Reception, and will avoid personal inconvenience, by sending their names, as early as possible, to Mr. Hiram Orcutt, West Brattleboro', Vt., or to the Secretary, West Newton, Mass.

It is expected that the usual reduction of farcs, on the several Railroads, will be made, of which due notice will be given in the newspapers.

West Newton, June 12, 1861.

WM. E. SHELDON,

Recording Secretary.

VERMONT

SCHOOL JOURNAL AND FAMILY VISITOR.

VOLUME III.

JULY, 1861.

NUMBER VIII.

WHAT SHALL WE EAT?-No. I.

Brightly shone the morning sun o'er the old red farmhouse in the valley by the mill. The house, though old, was substantial, and its out-houses and other belongings evinced wealth and comfort. A new barn was in process of erection back of the house and a little to the left, where the hill sheltered it from the bleak west winds. "Father" had made all his calculations to set it just across the way, where it would have quite spoiled the view of the beautiful stream, the broad rich fields, and the distant village, that lay like a picture in front of the old house. Lizzie came home from the Seminary, and plead so hard that the site might be changed, her father could not resist her. So on this bright June morning she looked forth upon as fair a prospect as ever gladdened a New England home. The lilacs and the old locust trees in the yard were in full bloom, and from the hill-side to the right, just across the stream, the wind brought the sweet fragrance of the apple blossoms.

But

"Lizzie," calls her mother from the kitchen, and in a moment she is busy preparing the edibles of a farmhouse breakfast table. "Put on the cold meat and beans, Lizzie, and don't let this ham burn, while I go and strain the milk." Presently mother returns and resumes her place at the stove, saying," Bring the eggs, Lizzie; then get the apple sauce and the fried cakes, and see if the Johnny cakes' are most done, and bring up the butter."

Little Charley, the youngest of eight, a puny, sickly child of eighteen months, who has followed mother and sister from kitchen to pantry, and pantry to cellar, and back

again, whining and begging for attention, now roars lusti ly and Lizzie, in the kindness of her heart, stops to pick up, and soothe the little fellow, and at the same time, says, "I wish you'd go out with Charley, mother. It is so beautiful, a little walk would make you feel young again. I can finish the breakfast." "O, no, you can't! The potatoes need to be mashed now, and the table is'nt more 'n half set. If we both hurry, we shall be behind time."

"Mother, why must we have so much for breakfast? At the Seminary we had only coffee or chocolate, and bread and butter, and crackers or rolls. I'm sure I felt better than I do when I eat of such a variety. Besides, I think almost every one at the table eats too much. It fairly makes me sick, to see that Mr. Morse who works on the barn, gorge down his food." "I think you are right, Lizzie, but I don't see any way to effect a change. The men would look blank enough, to see such a table as you had at the Seminary, and Father wouldn't like it at all. I know he'd be ashamed, for he prides himself on setting a good table. But I remember when I visited sister Ellen in Boston last summer, I couldn't but think theirs a more rational way of living than ours. The table was always neat and plentifully supplied, but they seemed to eat to live, instead of living to eat. Ellen, who is six years my senior, certainly looked five years younger, and her three city-bred children looked healthier and happier than any of ours."

Lizzie looked at the pale, careworn face of her dear mother, thought of the thousand such breakfasts she had prepared with one or two little ones clinging to her gar ments, and did not wonder that aunt Ellen looked fairer and younger. Meantime breakfast was hurried on the table, “the men" called, the younger children hastily washed and combed, and all sat down. "Father" asked the blessing, the good things were distributed with little ceremony, and nearly all commenced eating as though the great business of life was before them.

"More of the beans, Mr. Morse?" said Mr. Hurney, after he had disposed of two plates full, which two plates had followed one well filled with ham, eggs and potatoes. "A very few. I'm most ashamed, but, as I tell my wife, I wish she'd come and learn of Mrs. Hurney how to cook." "I should like to have your wife call, certainly,” said Mrs. Hurney, “though I have no idea I could teach her anything. Is she pretty well now?"

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Oh, no! she's miserable like, can just drag round she says. Another cup, if you please, Mrs. Hurney. I don't feel well this morning, have a terrible headache. A little more apple sauce and another doughnut. I guess your good coffee 'll cure it. Somehow I feel sick half the time. I had an awful spell a vomiting, last night.

Lizzie thought, no wonder that he had awful spells, or that his wife was "miserable like," or his family povertystricken. M. E. L.

He

DO THEY TEACH FOR MONEY. Messrs. Editors :-Your correspondent, "E. C. 2d,” in his criticisms upon my article in the May No. of the Journal, reminds me of Whately's logical fallacy, the ignoratio elenchi, or the species called "shifting ground." He comes to the defence of the self-educated teacher and with much earnestness and propriety advocates his cause. claims for him "who educates himself by his own money, carned by his own brain," much credit. He is quite sure that earning this money by teaching, and spending it in learning something more, is not only commendable but highly beneficial, as a means of imparting both professional knowledge and practical ability. And still further, my friend has discovered the important fact that this perseverance in seeking wisdom for himself, evinces that genuine earnestness which is one of the most important elements in the true teacher's character.

Now this is all very well; is the simple truth on this subject. If" E. C. 2d" has erred in anything, it is in not

placing emphasis enough on the importance of that selfreliance and efficiency which are gained by earnest selfapplication. Poverty has done more to develop practical human ability, than all other agencies. In all departments of life, our ablest men and women have been made so by the stern discipline of "straightened circumstances." And that teacher who has fitted himself for his important sphere of action by study and teaching, is undoubtedly more efficient than he would be, if trained in any other school. How pleasant it is for opponents to agree on a point of such vital importance! But be not deceived, kind reader. There is sophistry in this reasoning. "E. C. 2d" has "shifted his ground," and spent all his strength, to prove what I never denied, viz: that the teacher may properly be employed in practical school keeping, while he is perfecting himself in his professional knowledge. By reference to my article on this subject, it will be ob served that I commenced by this quotation from Porter's life of Gen. Jackson.-" In the vocation of teaching, he earned the money which supported him while he studied Law." It was not the student of Teaching that I complained of because I found him in the school-room, but the stu dent of Law, who is there, not because he loves the business and designs to pursue it, but because he wants the money with which to support himself while he studies another profession in which all his interest is absorbed. I was speaking of the Lawyer and the Physician, he only of the Teacher. I complain that the position of teacher is assumed by men who belong to another sphere, and who have little or no interest in their business; he is pleading the cause of the student who is struggling to fit himself for the profession of teaching and has a deep interest in all that pertains to his calling. do "great injustice to the teacher?" commendation and if struggling with dificulties, he has my hearty sympathy. But the students of law and medicine who are in the business of teaching only to earn

How, then, can I He has my highest