State Teachers' Association. THE association held its thirteenth annual meeting at Whitewater, commencing August 1st and continuing in session four days, Rev. W. C. WHITFORD, Principal of Milton Academy, presided. Lectures were delivered by, Rev. W. ALEXANDER, on " Study." Rev. W. C. WHITFORD, on "The Intellectual Culture of Work." Rev. G. ANDERSON, on Utility in Education.” Rev. J. MCNAMARA, on "School Discipline." • Senator T. O. HowE, on " The necessity of a more Extensive Educa tion for the Welfare of the State." Prof. E. SEARING, on " Educational Fallacies," and Prof. E. H. MERRILL, on" The End of Learning." The following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That the Association do earnestly urge upon all teachers of reading, greater attention to the culture of the voice, and in order to secure this, it is recommended that the spelling of a portion of the words of each lesson by using the phonetic elements instead of the letters, be made a frequent exercise in all our schools. Resolved, That the hearty thanks of the Wisconsin Teachers' Association are hereby tendered Senator Howe, for his profound and eloquent address. Resolved, That the executive Committee be and hereby are requested to procure the publication of Senator Howe's address in a neat pamphlet form, if it can be obtained, and to take such steps as shall secure its general circulation, and said committee are hereby authorized to use, for this purpose, such part of the money in the treasury of the Association, as they may deem proper. WHEREAS, Normal Schools are an essential part of every system of Public Instruction, and WHEREAS, the Legislature of this State, at its last session, did, with singular wisdom, make liberal provision for their support, therefore, Resolved, 1. That a system of Normal Schools for the training of teachers is an indispensable necessity to the progress of education in this State. 2. That the experience of other countries, as well as our own, proves that Normal Schools cannot be engrafted upon or made subordinate departments of other institutions of learning. 3. That several Normal Schoools, properly located in different parts of the State, and each maintained at moderate expense, would be more efficient and economical than one State Normal School, however liberally supported. 4. That our Normal Schools should be organized and conducted with special reference to the training of teachers for the Public Schools of the State, and as a means to this end there shall be established, in connection with each Normal School, one Model School, in which all teachers may put in practice the knowledge gained by them through study, Resolved, That this Association memorialize the Legislature to pass an act requiring School Districts to fence their School House Lots and put them in good order. WHEREAS, No provision is made by law for the support of County Institutes, and, whereas, in such Institutes are to be found the only means for normal instruction for the current year, therefore be it Resolved, That this Association request the Board of Normal Regents, if it has the power, to devote ten per cent. of the income of the Normal Fund for the current year, to the support of Normal Institutes in as many counties as they may deem practicable. Resolved, That we acknowledge our dependence upon God, our Father, for all our mercies and blessings, and that we recognize with grateful hearts his preserving and protecting care in bringing us together again in this our thirteenth annual meeting. Resolved, That, in common with all classes of our fellow citizens, we deeply mourn the death of our late beloved President, Abraham Lincoln; that we recognize in his assassination the crowning perfidy and guilt of a rebellion the most wanton, wicked and cause less the world ever saw; and that we will labor with renewed zeal and energy to so extend schools that we shall secure the universal education of our people, and thus prevent the recurrence of so disastrous a revolt against good government, liberty and law. Resolved, That we believe it to be the imperative duty of our Legislature to take immediate and liberal measures to provide for the maintenance and education of the destitute children in our state, made orphans in our great national struggle. Resolved, That the sincere thanks of the members of this Association are hereby tendered to the citizens of Whitewater for the generous hospitality and thoughtful courtesy shown us during our stay in their beautiful village, and that we will carry with us to our several homes, and long retain pleasant memories of this meeting. Also, to the Rev's. W. Alexander, G. Anderson and J. McNamara, and Prof.'s E. Searing and E. H. Merrill, for the interesting and valuable lectures and addresses delivered by them: Also to the Mil. & Pr. du C., Chi. &. N. W., Chi. & Mil., and Racine & Miss. Railroads, for free return passes from this meeting; Also to the officers of the Association for the prompt, impartial, and efficient manner in which they have discharged the duties pertaining to their responsible positions. The attendance of teachers and citizens was large, and the discussions were profitable. The Teachers' Association is a powerful agency in advancing our educational interests. Among its members are found the teachers of ability and experience, and the resolutions passed by them are deserving of attention and consideration. TEACHER'S INSTITUES. Teacher's Institutes have been held in thirty-one counties during the past year. County Superintendents are required by section 92 of the School Code, "to organize and conduct at least one institute for the instruction of teachers in each year." There is reason to believe that this provision of law has been disregarded in about one-half the counties.-From State Superintendent's Report. 252. Wisconsin Educational Intelligence. During the past year there According to the State Superintendent's Report there are 11,948 more scholars reported as attending public schools this year than last. The whole number of members is 66 per cent. of the whole number over 4 and under 20 years of age in the State. The number less than 4 years of age, who have been registered, is 1,The number over 20 years of age, who have attended school, is 1,523. The average length of time the public schools have been kept during the past year is 14 days more than it was last year, and more than it has ever been except in 1860. The average number of days the past year was 134. The number of teachers employed in public schools was 7,532. has been an increase of 518 male teachers. ers is at present greater than the supply. possessing limited attainments are employed, not because the people are indifferent to their qualifications, but because the school houses would be unoccupied unless these were employed. There have been granted the past year 59 certificates of the first grade, 195 of the second grade, and 6,828 of the third grade. There has been an increase in the monthly wages paid to teachers during the past year. The average wages of male teachers was $36,45, an increase of $4,06. The average wages of female teachers was $22,24, an increase of $2,81, over the year preceding. There has been raised by tax for school purposes $2,70 for each child over 4 and under 20 years of age, and $4,07 for each child registered as a member of public schools. The number of school houses is 4,338, accommodating 241,595 pupils. There are 517 school houses without black-boards, and 3,943 without clocks. The number of children of school age in the State is 335,582, and the amount of public money apportioned to each pupil is 46 cents. BOOK NOTICES. MITCHELL'S GEOGRAPHIES.-First Lessons in Geography, Primary Geography and New Intermediate Geography, Published by E. H. Butler & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. The Maps are copper-plate engravings, and are brought down to the present date. These books are beautifully illustrated with engravings of men, buildings and natural scenery peculiar to the different countries. One great error common to most Intermediate Geographies, is remedied in this; but few Map questions are given, and those of principal importance. The mind of the scholar should not be burdened with too many names of unimportant places, rivers, &c., as it is apt to crowd out what is of more importance. An error common to Primary Geographies is partially remedied. We refer to the use of words.in description, they should be more simple. We find from experience that the use of too difficult words in Primary Books is a serious defect. MITCHELL'S Geographies are being widely circulated in this State. MONTEITH'S Physical and Intermediate Geography, in two parts, has just been issued in New York, by A. S. BARNES & Co. We have received a copy, and are highly pleased with the book, and the new method of teaching Geography. In no way can children be taught abstract principles so well as by comparison with common things. The Ancients understood this method of teaching and used it successfully. This work is intended for the use of teachers and pupils. In Part the First geography is treated as a science, written and illustrated on the plan of object teaching. In Part the Second we have local and civil geography, containing many maps, emarkable for their clearness, an improved system of map exercises, with a pronouncing vocabulary of geographical names. Mr. JAMES MONTEITH, the author, is favorably known as the writer and compiler of a series of school ‚geographies and a History of the United States. NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW-Published quarterly by Ticknor & Fields, Boston, at $6 per annum. $1:50 for a single number. The January number of this excellent Quarterly Review has reached us. It is still edited by Prof. James Russell Lowell and Charles Eliot Norton, Esq., whose names are a tower of strength in the literary world, and are a sufficient recommendation of the excellency of the work. The contributors to its columns are the best the country affords, and the publishers spare neither time nor expense in making it the leading Review of the country, which it has been for more than half a century. The article on "Climatic Influences as bearing upon Secession and Reconstruction," is the most sensible exposition of the causes of the rebellion that we remember to have read. "Our Financial Future" is an article of great practical utility at the present time. The book is printed upon paper of first quality. The print is so clear that it almost speaks, as you look upon it; it is really a treat to read it. ATLANTIC MONTHLY.-Published by Ticknor & Fields, Boston, at $4:00 per year. We are in receipt of the January and February numbers of this periodical. We have read this Magazine with great interest and profit since it started, more than eight years ago; our interest is still unabated. If there is a change in the Magazine, it is for the better. Harriet Beecher Stowe still continues "The Chimney Corner." Whatever she may be in practice she shows herself to be well skilled in the theory of house-keeping. Her articles are interesting to all. It would be hard to find a better corps of contributors than the **Atlantic" has: among them are Agassiz, Dio Lewis, T. W. Higginson, Longfellow, Whittier, Bayard Taylor, J. T. Trowbridge, Donald G. Mitchell, and. Gail Hamilton. Those who read it one year seldom fail to read it for a longer time. OUR YOUNG FOLKS.--A monthly periodical for children, published by Ticknor & Fields, Boston, $2:00 per annum. Although this Magazine has been published but little more than a year, it. has attained a large circulation and is justly acknowledged the best Magazine for children in existence. It has far surpassed our expectations. We littlethought that the staid old maids and mothers of young men and women could enter so heartily into the interests of the young and so well adapt their con-versation to them as they have. We would call the attention of teachers to the advertisement of this periodical and would urge upon them the propriety of their acting as agents in their respective schools to secure subscribers, for in no way can we better protect the young from the evil influences of the streetsand saloons than by furnishing them with something attractive, amusing, and healthy (if you will allow the word) to read in their leisure hours. EVERY SATURDAY.-Published by Ticknor & Fields, Boston, $5:00 per year.Single numbers 10 cents. On the sixth of January, Messrs. Ticknor & Fields, commenced the publication of this new paper, which contains selections from the best foreign publi cations. Some of the best literature of the day is lost to American readers,. owing to the difficulty and expense of obtaining foreign periodicals. As a remedy, the Publishers have undertaken to publish this new journal, and the public thank them for it. We like it extremely and know of no better recommendation of it, than, that it is published by the above gentlemen. DEMOREST'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE, $3:00 per annum and premium. This "Mirror of Fashion," contains fashion plates and patterns sufficient to suit the most fastidious. It is what every lady should have, if she wishes to know what to wear and how to wear it. The reading matter is well selected. We were well! pleased with an article in the February number, entitled, "Talks with Wo men," by Jennie June. THE colored: children in Newport and Providence, Rhode Island,, are admitted,, by a recent vote of the school committee, to the. public schools.. GREATNESS.-The truly illustrious are they who do not court the praise of the world, but perform the actions which deserve it. |