Probably there are few members of these Boards who covet the office, or who have sought it from their neighbors; but it has been conferred upon them, and they can not now honorably evade its responsibilities. What, then, is the proper course for them to pursue? Certainly, to make all necessary effort to understand their duty, to ascertain what the best interests of their schools, and of the community, require, and then take the responsibility of doing promptly and fearlessly what they think to be duty. This is probably the only way in which they can satisfy any considerable number of their constituents. We all like a prompt, decided man; a man who has a mind of his own; and who is not afraid to act it out when occasion requires. Such a man commands respect, even from those who differ from him in opinion. True, if such a course

is pursued, some will find fault, some will threaten same in any case.

they would do the

A few years since the Public Schools in one of our cities were reorganized, school houses were built, a Superintendent was employed, higher wages were paid to Teachers; and, as a consequence, taxes must be levied to meet the increased expenditures. Some influential citizens who had not investigated the subject began to complain: they called the Board of Education to account for their supposed extravagance; the members defended their policy intelligently and fearlessly; some were satisfied, but others, resolved not to be convinced, began to threaten them with removal from office. "Very well," said they, "it will be a favor to us; elect other men just as soon as you please, but while we hold the office, we shall do what we think to be our duty." It was thus found that they knew what they were doing; that they were not to be intimidated; and the very persons who were before ready to accuse them of going too fast or too far, gave them their confidence, simply because the members had confidence in themselves. So far from being displaced, the same men were re-elected again and again: their policy is still continued, and a noble system of schools has grown up under it, in which every good citizen feels a just pride, as he has a deep interest.

We have no hesitation in saying that by an energetic and judicious exercise of the powers entrusted to them, Township Boards may, within the coming year, improve all the schools at least one hundred Let this be done, and not a man who has a soul will grudge per cent. the payment of his School-tax.

Early Rising and Exercise.

There is, in my opinion, too little attention paid by teachers to the habits of their pupils. They would no doubt all be pleased to have their scholars healthy and vigorous, but consider it out of their sphere to attend in any great degree, to their conduct and condition out of the school room.

Now, it is evident to all who have ever taught school, that a child will learn but little while in ill health. Headache and a foul stomach soon take away all inclination to study, and every effort on the part of the teacher, to induce it, is only adding a disordered mind to an already disordered body.

We hear a great deal these days about ill-ventilated school rooms. They tell us that many ruin their health in them, and remain sickly for life. I grant it. But I believe that while ill-ventilated school-houses are destroying the health of thousands, sleep and a want of exercise are destroying the health of tens of thousands.

We hear a great deal of complaining both by teachers and scholars. We hear the former often remark, that they are compelled to relinquish the business on account of their health; and we hear the latter say, they can't come to school any more this quarter; "Pa and Ma " they are not able to attend school regularly.

say

For one, I do not believe any such doctrine. I believe, if study and the acquisition of knowledge, were injurious to our health, God would have endowed us with knowledge; for He expressly declares that He designed us to be intelligent beings. I can not harbor the thought, that the Creator in his all-wise providence made the mind of man capable of endless improvement, enjoined these commands" get wisdom, get understanding and forget it not "—and yet, made the body of such a nature, that study injures its healthy development. I believe that scholars can go to school regularly and be as healthy, as when engaged in anything else.

Disease comes from the violation of physical laws; properly attending school and studying, is the breaking of no physical law; therefore disease can not come from them.

I have been examining this subject pretty closely and have carefully observed the habits of those teachers and scholars that complain most; and the result of my investigation has been, to discover that late rising and a want of exercise, are among the most fruitful causes of the ill

health of teachers and pupils. I am confident that many scholars sleep ten hours out of every twenty-four. They come home from school, are kept in the house; and as soon as dark comes are hurried off (often immediately after a hearty supper,) to bed; there they are suffered to lie and sleep till breakfast next morning. They are then called up; and the result is they are irritable and cross, unfit for study or anything else. They come to school in this condition and very often remain so all day, a pest to the teacher and a torment to the school. All this might have been avoided by rising at the proper time and taking appropriate exercise. Scholars should by all means have a regular hour to rise and take exercise.

And I will here present you with the method I have been pursuing with my scholars for the last year:

The school bell is rung at five in the morning regularly, and the scholars are told to meet me there at that time if the weather will admit. We seldom fail to have a good turn out. They can be seen running along each street, all bearing for the school-house, each trying to be on hand first. There is an elegant lot of woodland about threefourths of a mile from the school-house, whither we start at the appointed minute to exercise. The exercise consists of singing, swinging the arms back and forth, expanding the chest, forming into a large circle and passing balls to each other, and many other pleasant and agreeable plays. The scholars relish it very much and good feeling invariably prevails. At six precisely we all start back with good appetites for our breakfasts. This long walk, of course, we can only take during the pleasant season; during winter we found a walk around two or three squares served as a very good substitute.

I believe this is the best means to get children to rise early, and one that can easily be adopted by any teacher. It takes time, 't is true, but it is well spent; and besides it is so sweet to see their sparkling eyes and blushing cheeks so early in the morning.

I had the satisfaction of knowing that last year, not one that turned out regularly became sick.

I can not recommend the practice of early rising and taking exercise too highly, and believe it worthy of a trial by all who have the good of their school and the health of their scholars at heart.

TIFFIN, May, 1854.

C. C. N.

THE man who gives his children a habit of industry, provides for them better than by giving them a stock of money.-Lord Kames.,

Home Education.

Parents should study the natural bent of their children's mind that they may know what kind of mental food will be greedily devoured by them. One may have a taste for music, and a musical instrument would keep him at home, and prevent him from associating with the vicious, and heating his imagination by an undue and unholy excitement of the appetites and passions. Others may take pleasure in reading history and have a craving desire to become denizens of past times. Provide a historical library commensurate with the desire of the youth. ful historian, and our word for it, the expense will be less than to provide him with funds to spend in the halls of "revelry and mirth," or to gratify the almost insane desires of any of the animal passions. Food for the intellect is furnished at a far less expense than food for the passions. That which "feeds one vice" would in a short time purchase a valuable musical instrument or a large library of choice reading. If parents would always furnish pleasing entertainments for their children at home, they would find little difficulty in keeping them from the contaminating influences of evil society. Children should be treated kindly by all the household. If they are not thus treated, they will meditate an escape from what they consider a paternal prison. Many a young man has left the home of his childhood, unceremoniously, for no other reason than the unkind treatment of parents. If the young could be persuaded to spend their evenings at home, and improve their minds by gaining useful knowledge, their happiness and that of others would be greatly enhanced. Most of the vices which ruin the reputation and destroy the usefulness of so many persons of good natural abilities, are learned in early life by substituting places of public resort for the family fireside. Let parents do their whole duty in interesting their children at home during the evenings, and they will have far less occasion to mourn over the waywardness and guilt of those endeared to them by the strongest ties.—Selected.

EDUCATION OF DAUGHTERS.-When a young lady is seventeen years of age, if she enjoys good health, she is beginning to have that vigor of mind which enables her to make intellectual acquisitions. Two or three years, then, devoted energetically to study, will store her mind with treasures more valuable to her than gold. She will thus be able to command a husband's respect and retain his love. Her children will feel that they have indeed a mother. Her home will be one worthy of the

name, where a mother's accomplished mind and glowing heart will diffuse their heavenly influence. An angel might covet the mission which is assigned to a mother. Your child, who thinks of finishing her education at sixteen, may soon have entrusted to her keeping a son, in whose soul may glow the energies of Milton, of Newton, or of Washington. God did not make her to play a waltz or dance a polka. She is created a little lower than the angels. When the waning stars expire, she is still to go careering on in immortality, till she reaches that happiness in the presence of God. Appreciate the exaltation of her nature, her duties and her destiny. Let not the noble intellect, where dwells her immortality, be unheeded. The years of youth are soon gone. The moments in which a young lady can attract attention by a few superficial accomplishments, are as transient as the morning dew. But there are life-long cares and responsibilities which will weigh upon her. And when she has passed through her three score years and ten, and, venerable in age, she sits by the fire-side with her children and grand children around her, accomplished scholars and honorable statesmen may be among their number, who shall assemble in her chamber of death with emotions of love and reverence.-Selected.

PROFESSIONAL.

The Cye and the Ear in Elementary Instruction.

No. VI.

In the last article, I considered the ear with reference to pronunciation, and urged the importance of accustoming the ear of the pupil to entire accuracy in this whole province. The principles there stated apply equally well to grammar.

It has been my object in these articles to show that the eye and the ear should be habituated to decide in their respective provinces, without waiting for the operations of the intellect. As the eye falls upon a word, the name should be instantly recognized; so as the sound comes to the ear, the child should be able to decide whether or not it has been correctly given. He should be so familiar with correct sounds that his ear would acquaint him instantly when an incorrect one should be uttered. Correct utterance should become a habit. There should be no