the Principal, is aided by Mr. A. A. SMITH and two male and four female teach ers. Address the Principal at Austinburg, Ashtabula county. Duff's Mercantile College, Pittsburgh, Pa.-The Catalogue and Circular of this Institution, which was established in 1840, contains the names of 330 students who attended between the 1st of March, 1853, and the first of July, 1854; of these, 50 were from Ohio. The Classical and Mathematical Department numbered 83. The Circular contains a recommendation of the Principal's system of Book keeping, signed by some 200 Merchants, Bankers, Lawyers and Accountants, who have been pupils in the Institution. For information, address P. DUFF, Pittsburgh, Pa. PUBLIC SCHOOLS.-The Regulations of the Public Schools of Steubenville have been published in pamphlet form. The schools opened on the 17th of July, under the supervision of Mr. W. J. SAGE, A. B. Sixteen Teachers and Assistants are employed. A High School is to be commenced on the 1st of Nov. Mr. T. F. MCGREW is President, and Mr. ALEX. CONN, Secretary of the Board of Education. London, Madison co.-The schools commenced their year on the 25th of August, under the supervision of Mr. W. P. GIBSON, who is aided by Mrs. Gibson, Miss C. Chandler, and Mrs. E. W. Cozzens. The Circular issued by the Board of Education shows that they have taken hold of the enterprise in earnest. New Richmond, Clermont co.-From the annual report of the Board of Education we gather the following statistics: number of youth enumerated, 504, No. enrolled 419, withdrawn during the year 163, average daily attendance 196. The salaries of Teachers amounted to $1,125, and the whole expense for the year was $1,416 35. Beside Mr. L. H. SMITH, the Superintendent, six female Teachers are employed. The town enumerated 104 colored youth, for whom a school was opened in April last. Selections. Velocity of the Wind.-Prof. Stoddard, of Miami University, in a lecture upon the hurricane in Brandon, Knox county, Ohio, stated that in one town a grove of oak trees was almost entirely blown down. The trunk of one of these was about three feet in diameter. Assuming, however, its diameter to be but two and a half feet, a force of 147,000 pounds would be required to break it. The surface of the tree exposed to the action of the wind was about one thousand feet, which would give a pressure, by the wind, of about 147 pounds per square foot, or a velocity of not less than 171 miles per hour, which is nearly one-fourth the initial velocity of a cannon ball. Allowing the height of the hurricane or whirlwind to have been sixty feet, the whole force exerted at one time along its track was equal to more than half the steam power of the globe. The best Recommendation.-A youth, seeking employment, went to one of our large cities, and, on inquiring at a certain counting-room if they wished a clerk, was told that they did not. On mentioning the recommendations he had, one of which was from a highly respectable citizen, the merchant desired to see them. In turning over his carpet-bag to find his letters, a book rolled out on the floor. "What book is that ?" said the merchant. "It is the Bible, sir," was the reply. "And what are you going to do with that book in New York ?" The lad looked seriously into the merchant's face, and replied, "I promised my mother I would read it every day, and I shall do it," and burst into tears. The merchant immediately engaged his services. All Sorts of Minds.-There is a strong disposition in men of opposite minds to despise each other. A grave man can not conceive what is the use of wit in society; a person who takes a strong common sense view of the subject, is for pushing out by the head and shoulders an ingenious theorist, who catches at the slightest and faintest analogies, and another man, who scents the ridiculous from afar, will hold no commerce with him who tests exquisitely the fine feelings of the heart, and is alive to nothing else; whereas talent is talent, and mind is mind, in all its branches. Wit gives to life one of its best flavors, common sense leads to immediate action, and gives society its daily motion; large and compre hensive views, its annual rotation; ridicule chastises folly and impudence, and keeps men in their proper sphere; subtlety seizes hold of the fine threads of truth; analogy darts away in the most sublime discoveries; feeling paints all the exquisite passions of man's soul, and rewards him by a thousand inward visit. ations for the sorrows that come from without. God made it all! It is all good! We must despise no sort of talent; they have all their separate duties and uses; all, the happiness of man for their object; they all improve, exalt, and gladden life.-SIDNEY SMITH. Editors' Cable. The Twenty-fifth Annual Report of the Trustees and Visitors of the Common Schools of Cincinnati, for the year ending June 30th, is just received: the statistics of this, the largest system of Free Schools in the State, are always interesting and important. The receipts of the Board were $190,142 63; the sum paid for tuition was $83,495 64; for other expenses $19,056 08-making the entire expense of the schools for the year $102,551 72. The number of white youth enumerated last fall was 38,446; enrolled during the year, 16,809; average attendance, 9,617. The number of Teachers employed is 206, of whom 52 are males, and 154 females. The average cost of tuition in all the schools, is $8.68 per each scholar in actual attendance, and, including all expenses, $10.68 per scholar. The salaries of Teachers have been raised during the year, and now vary from $240, (the lowest paid to a female assistant,) to $1,500, the salary of the Principals of the two High Schools. The salary of the Principals of the 14 Districts is $1,020, that of their Assistants $780; and of female Principals, $504. The Report of Mr. A. J. RICKOFF, the Superintendent, is suggestive and interesting: we shall hope to quote from it, and from the remarks of the Board, at a future time. In regard to the results of truancy and irregular attendance, Mr. Rickoff makes this statement: "It costs this city as much per annum to provide for two hundred children in the House of Refuge, as it does to instruct three thousand children in our common schools." PERIODICALS.-The Pa. School Journal entered on its third volume in July: this is the largest and one of the best papers of the kind. It is published at $1,00 per year, by Hon. T. H. BURROWES, Lancaster, Pa. The N. Y. Teacher commences its third volume this month: it is conducted by a corps of twelve Editors. One dollar, sent to T. H. BOWEN, Albany, N. Y., will secure it for a year. The Elevator, a Family Educational Journal, is published monthly in quarto form, by Jos. B. BURLEIGH and B. BROWN WILLIAMS, Baltimore, Md., at $1,00 per year. Items. Mr. JAMES JOHONNOT, of Syracuse, N. Y., the Agent of the N. Y. State Teachers' Association, has entered upon his labors: several Teachers' Institutes will be attended under his direction this Fall. He is to receive $1,000 and his expenses. Mr. C. R. COBURN, late of Binghampton, N. Y., has removed to Towanda, Pa. having been appointed Prof. of Mathematics and Principal of the Normal School in Susquehanna Collegiate Institute in that place. Mr. T. H. BowEN, late a Professor in the N. Y. State Normal School, has accepted a place as clerk in the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, at Albany. Mr. THOMAS H. HERDMAN, late a Teacher in Muskingum co., is employed as Teacher of Mathematics and Natural Science, in the Female Seminary at Antrim, Guernsey county. Mr. D. F. De WOLF, formerly of Norwalk, and late of Kenosha, Wis., has taken the supervision of the schools of Tiffin City, at a salary of $1,000. Mr. J. R. BURGETT, late of Utica, has been appointed Superintendent of the schools of Hamilton, at a salary of $800. Mr. R. E. PETTIT is employed as Superintendent of the schools of West Liberty, Logan county. Mr. JOHN FULTON, late of Scotland, has been appointed Principal Teacher, in the same schools, at a salary of $550. Mr. CHARLES KINGSBURY has taken charge of the Public Schools of Ironton, at a salary of $1,000. Mr. C. S. ROYCE is teaching Phonetics to a class in the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, at Hiram, Portage county. Mr. H. W. PERSING, late of Pickaway co., has been employed in Clyde, Sandusky county. Mr. M. J. OATMAN, late Principal of the Public Schools of Elyria, is employed in the Schools of Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. J. R. KINGERY, late of Gallia co, is employed to superintend the Union Schools of Bainbridge, Ross county. Mr. J. J. SADLER, late of Middlebury, has taken charge of a school in Roots town, Portage county. At the close of the last school year, the salaries of the Teachers in the Public Schools of Columbus were raised 20 per cent.: the Principal of the High School now receives $900; the Principals of Grammar Schools, $780; and the female Teachers of Primary and Secondary schools, $300. Bound volumes of the Journal of Education can be purchased, and subscriptions for the current volume will be received, at the following places: Payne and Wheaton's Bookstore, Dayton, W. B. Fairchild's Bookstore, Xenia, Randall, Aston & Long's Bookstore, Columbus, S. H. Burr & Co's Bookstore, Columbus, To Correspondents, Patrons, etc. As the Agent is absent from home so large a part of the time, it is impossible for him to reply to all the communications received, as promptly as he would wish; and he has been compelled to adopt the following rule: When letters are received from Teachers or Boards of Education, if he has any positive information which can be of service, it will be communicated as promptly as pos sible; if not, he may wait a week, (that is, till his return from the next Institute,) hoping by that time to receive such intelligence. It often happens that the name of a person wishing a situation is sent to three or four places where Teachers are wanted, before his letter receives a reply. It is hoped that these explanations will satisfy any who may hereafter be impatient of what they may think too great a delay. It is our intention to do the very best in our power; but when it is stated that the average number of letters received, during more than half the year, is from thirty to fifty per week, and from December to May, over one hundred per week, and that a large number of these require answers beside other labor, it is hoped that our friends will feel that we are entitled to some indulgence. Those who wish the direction of the Journal changed, must be careful to name the Post office, county and State to which it has been sent, as well as that to which they wish it directed, or their requests can not receive attention. Requests to change the direction, should be forwarded as soon as may be after the receipt of the last number expected at the previous residence, and before the 20th of the month. The mail-books are usually handed to the mailing clerk nearly a week before the issue of each number; and, from that time till the mailing is completed, it is not at all convenient to change directions. Any who fail to receive a number in consequence of sending a request to change about the close of a month, may conclude that it has gone to their former address; and the proper way is to write to the Post Master, (if they have not previously requested him to forward such things,) inclosing a one cent stamp: This will cost them, at most, but four cents, while every number forwarded from the office the second time, is worth at least ten cents to us. When numbers are not received in consequence of failure in the mails, they are always willingly remailed; but it is not uncommon to receive complaints of the failure of papers, in which it seems to be taken for granted that it is in consequence of our neglect. Now, it is not supposed that mistakes and omissions do not sometimes occur at this office; but every one who has much to do with the post office, must know that delays and mistakes are very common. Orders for the Journal are often received two or three weeks after date, when they should have arrived in as many days; and this morning, (Sept. 26th,) one was received which was dated the 16th of August! Those wishing copies of the Smithsonian "Directions for Collecting, Preserving and Transporting Specimens of Natural History," will be furnished, as here. tofore, on application to the undersigned, as follows, viz: One copy for 4 letter stamps, or three for 8 stamps. Address, S. N. SANFORD, Granville, 0, Several gentlemen of experience in teaching are desirous to secure situations as Principals of Union Schools or Academies. Inquiries may be directed to A. D. Lord, Columbus, O. A graduate and an experienced teacher would accept a situation as teacher in some Academy or good Union School. Application should be made soon. Address K. L., Chillicothe, O. THE Ohio Journal of Education. COLUMBUS, NOVEMBER, 1854. The Teacher's Duty to Himself. Extract from the Semi-annual Address delivered before the Ohio State Teachers' Association, at Zanesville, July 5, 1854, by Prof. I. W. ANDREWS, of Marietta College. YT is said that there is a tendency in teaching unfavorable in its in fluence on the teacher himself. The precise mode of its operation I have never seen stated; but the belief itself is somewhat prevalent, that continued attention to the ordinary duties of the school room tends to contract the mind. If there is foundation for this belief, it is something which claims the teacher's most serious attention. It is by far the greatest objection that can be urged against this avocation. That the performance of the duties of instruction in a lifeless, soulless manner, would have such an effect on the instructor himself, as well as on those under his care, I think can not be disputed; and it may be, that the general impression to which I have alluded, may have arisen from a few notable instances of this kind. In mechanical operations, constant repetition gives facility and expertness. The printer distributes his type with astonishing rapidity. The fingers of the musi cian seem to move of their own will. The lines of a poem perfectly familiar may be repeated, while the whole mind is apparently intent on something else. Suppose, now, there are a few ideas garnered up in the mind, and that these are brought out and exhibited every day. It must soon become a mechanical matter, calling forth no mental effort, and exciting no interest. This must be the case with one who enters upon the work of teaching with a very little knowledge of a very few branches, and with no disposition to add to his stock. He runs his little round so often, that it becomes as mechanical, lifeless, uninteresting as any merely manual work. VOL. III, No. 11. 21 |