The foregoing plan of a very neat Primary School-House we have selected from the "School and School-Master"_ -a most valuble work to which we have heretofore referred. The construction is simple, and the toute ensemble pleasing in the extreme. The situation is well chosen and the grounds planted with beautiful and appropriate trees and shrubbery. This should ever be attended to in selecting sites for School-Houses; and we earnestly direct the consideration of Trustees and the people generally to the subject:

"So much do the future health, vigor, taste, and moral principle of the pupil depend upon the position, arrangement, and construction of the school-house, that every thing about it is important. When the most desirable situation can be selected, and the laws of health and the dictates of taste may be consulted, it should be placed on firm ground, on the southern declivity of a gently sloping hill, open to the southwest, from which quarter comes the pleasant winds in summer, and protected on the northeast by the top of the hill or by a thick wood. From the road it should be remote enough to escape the noise, and dust, and danger, and yet near enough to be easily accessible by a path or walk, always dry. About it should be ample space, a part open for a play-ground, a part to be laid out in plots and flowers, and shrubs, with winding alleys for walks. Damp places in the vicinity of stagnant pools of unwholesome marshes, and bleak hill-tops or dusty plains, should be carefully avoided. Tall trees should partially shade the grounds, not in stiff rows or heavy clumps, but scattered irregularly as if by the hand of nature. Our native forests present such a choice of

beautiful trees, that the grounds must be very ex room for even a single fine specimen of each; yet possible, for children ought early to become familia appearance, of these noblest of inanimate things. natural wood may often be chosen for the site of a is to be thinned out, or if trees are to be planted, space, a selection is to be made, the kingly, mag stately hickories, the spreading beech for its dee the maples for their rich and abundant foliage, the useful ash, the soft and graceful birches, and the nar sycamore, claim precedence. Next may com locusts, with their hanging, fragrant flowers, th hemlock, best of evergreens, the celists, or nyssa, or tupelo, with horizontal branches and po walnut and butternut, the native poplar, and the

Of extremely beautiful American shrubs, the n that I have no room for a list. What place inte taste of the young, should be without the kalmia. cornels, roses, liburnums, magnolias, clethras, spiræas? And whoever goes into the woods to find a multitude of others which he will hardly behind. The hilltop should be planted with ever at all seasons, a barrier against the winds from th

Of the flower plots, little may be said. They taste of the teacher, and of the cultivated person We can only recommend cur wild American remind the reader, that there is hardly a country from whose woods and meadows a hundred kind not be transplanted, of beauty enough to form t

man or English garden, which are now negly bacause they are common and wild. Garden need not be excluded; and if either these or her are cultivated, the great object, to present ng to refine and reform the taste, will be, in gree, accomplished.

oper enclosed play-grounds are provided, the may often be present at the sports, and thus becquainted with the character of his pupils. If are compelled to resort to the highway for their nents, we ought not to wonder that they should taminated by the vices, brawlings, and profanities, belong to frequenters of highways.

room of the School-house should be sufficiently to allow every pupil, 1. To sit comfortably at sk; 2. To leave it without disturbing any one 4. To see explanations on his lessons, and to reithout being incommoded or incommoding others; breathe a wholesome atmosphere.

The

Octagonal Schoolhouse-Cost from $400 to $550.

Fig. 1.

PLAN AND GROUNDS OF AN OCTAGONAL SCHOOL-HOUSE.

above Plan of a very beautiful rustic school-house and grounds was furnished by Messrs. Town and Davis of Massachusetts for the School and School Master. By the kind permission of the Publisher we insert them in this Journal for the purpose of variety. "This design for a school-house intends to exhibit a model of fitness and close economy. The principles of fitness are, 1. Ample dimensions, with very nearly the least possible length of wall for its inclosure, the roof being constructed without tie beams, the upper and lower ends of the rafters being held by the wall plates and frame at the foot of the lantern. The ceiling may show the timber work of the roof, or it may be plastered. 2. Light, a uniform temperature, and a free ventilation, secured by a lantern light, thus avoiding lateral windows (except for air in summer,) and gaining wall-room for blackboards, maps, models, and illustrations. Side windows are shown in the view, and may be made an addition by those who doubt the efficiency of the lantern light. (The lantern is not only best for light, but is essential for a free ventilation.) With such a light, admitted equally to all the desks, there will be no inconvenience from shadows. The attention of the scholars will not be distracted by occurrences or objects out of doors. There will be less expense for broken glass, as the sashes will be removed from ordinary accidents. The room, according to this plan, is heated by a fire in the centre, either in a stove or grate, with a pipe going directly through the roof of the lantern, and finishing outside in a sheet-iron vase, or other appropriate cap. The pipe can be tastefully fashioned, with a hot-air chamber near the floor, so as to afford a large radiating surface before the heat is allowed to escape. This will secure a uniform temperature in every part of the room, at the same time that the inconvenience from a pipe passing directly over the heads of children, is avoided. The octagonal shape will admit of any number of seats and desks, (according to the size of the room,) arranged parallel with the sides. The master's seat may be in the centre of the room, and the seats be so constructed that the scholars may sit with their backs to the centre, by which their attention will not be diverted by facing other scholars on the opposite side, and yet so that at times they may always face the master, and the whole school be formed into one class. The lobby next to the front door (see figure 2) is made large, (8 by 20) so that it may serve for a recitation-room.

pendicularly up, without any inconvenie tates the ventilation, and the retention or of the sliding cap above."

Educational Ente

Fig. 2.

GROUND PLAN OF AN OCTAGON SCHOOL-HOUSE.

This lobby is to finish eight feet high, the inside wall to show like a screen, and rising to the roof, and the space above be open to the school-room, and used to put away or station school apparatus. This screen-like wall may be hung with hats and clothes, or the triangular space next the window may be inclosed for this purpose. The face of the octagon opposite to the porch, has a wood-house attached to it, serving as a sheltered way to a double privy beyond. This wood-house is open on two sides, to admit of a cross draught of air, preventing the possibility of a nuisance. Other wing-rooms (AA) may be attached to the remaining sides of the octagon, if additional inconveniences for closets, library, or recitation-rooms be desired.

The mode here suggested of a lantern in the centre of of the roof for lighting all common school-houses, is so great a change from common usage in our country, that it requires full and clear explanations for its execution, and plain and satisfactory reasons for its general adoption, and of its great excellence in preference to the common mode. They are as follows, viz. :

1. A skylight is well known to be far better and stronger than light from the sides of the building in cloudy weather, and in morning and evening. The difference is of the greatest importance. In short days (the most used for schools) it is still more so.

2. The light is far better for all kinds of study than side light, from its quiet uniformity and equal distribution.

3. For smaller houses, the lantern may be square, a simple form easily constructed. The sides, whether square or octagonal, should incline like the drawing, but not so much as to allow water condensek on its inside to drop off, but run down on the inside to the bottom, which should be so formed as to conduct it out by a small aperture at each bottom pane of glass.

4. The glass required to light a school-room equally well with side lights would be double what would be required here, and the lanterns would be secure from common accidents, by which a great part of the glass is every year broken.

5. the strong propensity which scholars have to look out by a side: window would be mostly prevented, as the shutters to side apertures would only be opened when the warm weather would require it for air, but never in cool weather, and therefore no glass would be used. 'T'he shutters being made very tight, by calking, in winter, would make the school-room much warmer than has been common; and being so well ventilated, and so high in the centre, it would be more healthy.

6. The stove, furnace, or open grate, being in the centre of the

UPPER CANA

Gratifying Indications of Educational nada. Extract from the Correspondence Guardian." During my stay in the c discover what was really the under current of generally, in regard to those two great social c community Religion and Education-more e tion. I knew that from the greater oneness of and absence of those 'conventional forms or b parties and sects aggregated closely together thrown up to protect themselves from the pry I could more easily detect the indications of subjects. This was a pleasing task. The g charms of rural life-its native candour and sin vealed the tendency of its sympathies. That t ucational, was not so obvious from external a versing with several clergymen and persons o practical instances of a highly interesting char own observation, I was much pleased and gra subject has there been so great an improveme that of elementary education. I was tempted t to be attributed this increased interest on the ject, though so vital to themselves-yet hither or overlooked.-Religion flourished, because it Temperance prospered because of its many wa tion languished, because no man had appeared to the people," it had few friends, and though, the olden times, it appeared bewildered and for chivalrous Knight-errantry enough to step forw of the forlorn and fallen. 1 he answer which I re philosophy, and exhibited the entire rationale tional system during the last two or three year with the uniformity with which it was given. leader now'-a mar prominent and officially be of popular sentiment in regard to education-a not at all disposed to let the matter proceed at gular and truant pace, but even in despite of keeps the subject of universal education, in its ally before the public, in one shape or another, given it is felt in almost every section of the Education and the Normal School have been hands of a Superintendent every day becomin And justly too-for a man who has successfully ucational affairs for the last few years truly 'de otically term it, well of his countrymen'-the "The evening of the day on which I arrived an assemblage of Teachers and others-ladies been convened at a neighbouring village by a and an active educationist. At the meeting va portant topics connected with their profession were delivered by the Teachers and by the Min intendent and other influential individuals, lay also to take part in the proceedings. I heard to tation and lecturing about to be undertaken to cation.

D

"These indications of the progress of enlar and views in regard to one of the grand elem greatness as a religious and intellectual peopl and heightend, in an eminent degree, the una perienced during my visit."

Teacher's Institutions are being formed in the Gore and Prince Edward Districts.

The Governor General and the Comm No. of this Journal, we noticed the recent visit ucational Establishments-Primary and Colle Royal progress through Ireland and Scotland JESTY's deep intersest in the intellectual wel

ations of neartiet interest in the same subject by rier MAJES entative in this Country. The visit of Vice-Royalty to the hools of Upper Canada makes a new era in the history of this hile the number of those visits, the prominence and interest ave assumed in the eyes of the people of the various localities y have occurred, strikingly evince the rapid progress we have the last few years in Educational affairs, and the happy suchas attended the labour of those more immediately engaged in d completing a sound system of public Elementary Education population of our Country. The following Address and Rewith the editor's remarks, we copy from the Canadian Free don, U. C. :

-:

llency the Governor-General &c., &c.

Trustees of Common Schools in London, readily embrace the table opportunity of assuring Your Excellency of our devoted er MAJESTY, our illustrious QUEEN, and of our high appreciahany blessings we enjoy from our forming a part of the British onvinced of the importance of Education to all the purposes of ur townsmen have entered with zeal into the providing of the ing a liberal education to their youth, and they hope, that by of God on their efforts the rising generation will form a class d citizens, distinguished as well by their moral habits as by ctual accomplishments. We are happy in having it in our sent these efforts to the notice of Your Excellency, well knowpinterest which Your Excellency takes in whatever tends to intellectual, the social, and moral improvement of the commucongratulate Your Excellency on the birth of an heir to the ame of Bruce, and hope that your present tour through the Upe may contribute to the health of the Countess of ELGIN, who as r of Lord DURHAM, and the wife of Your Excellency has a douupon our affectionate regards. We give Your Excellency a ome to London. "

REPLY.

MEN,-I am truly pleased to receive from so respectable and dy, the assurance of their devoted loyalty to Her Majesty the high approbation of the many benefits they enjoy as formning a British Empire. I have observed with much gratification the your townsmen are making to provide a liberal education for - I take, as you truly remark, a very deep and sincere interest orts, and I earnestly pray that God's blessing may attend them. for your congratulations on the birth of my son, and for your hat our present tour through the Upper Province may contribute h of the Countess of ELGIN."

LIOT, Esq., District Superintendent of Common Schools presentess on behalf of himself and the School Teachers of the DisAddress was couched in very complimentary terms. Thankcellency for the zeal he had manifested in the promotion of priction, and stating the progress which the Schools are making f many difficulties, remarking also the interest which the in the District are taking in the cause of education. His Excelived the Address very courteously and said that in his tour Province he had visited many schools both in towns and rural felt highly gratified in witnessing the advancement and utility itutions. We understand that His Excellency called at all the chools on his route, and expressed himself highly gratified with This inspection."

of the Chief Superintendent to the People of Upper n Free Schools. We observe that this Address which the Journal of Education for U. C. at the commencement ent year has been reprinted and widely circulated in the neighte of New York. The Editor of the official District School the State of New York prefaces it with the following remarks nnot fail to be gratifying to the friends of the Superintendent of Schools in Upper Canada.

rnestly invite the attention of each one of our readers to the nasterly exposition of the advantages and benefits of the Free tem, from the pen of the Chief Superintendent of Schools for ada—a gentleman of the highest literary and moral qualificaan ardent devoted friend of popular education. The whole eated with a clearness, comprehensiveness and ability which to commend it at once to the judgement of every reflecting we have nowhere met with so complete a summary of the nents relied upon by the friends of the Free School System, resented. We hope it will be generally read and widely oir[British Colonist,

School Examination.-On Friday last we availed oure kind invitation of Mr. HASKIN, Teacher of School No. 1, of to visit the autumnal quarterly, examination of his pupils, and

ŁIཙ ཙA SI་པས་ བ་བvIJ IHHཔསས༦ཅས པ་ ༦ ས་་ཅ་ སv ཊྛཅསཔ་ས་ སYFལ- -and cleanliness of the scholars, and the aptitude and readiness with which they invariably responded to the questions put to them, afforded great gratification to the lookers-on.-[L. P. Advocate.

School Section No. 2, Simcoe, heretofore taught by the late Mr. OLDS, in this town, re-commenced to-day, under the control of Mr. EVANS, late of Quebec, a gentleman highly recommended as a teacher. -[Ibid.

Gratifying Examinations and Festivals in School Sections No. 11 Grimsby and No. 3 Pelham.—We select the following from correspondence on this subject from the Niagara Mail:

Grimsby." I take the liberty of requesting a place for a brief notice of a very interesting School Examination and Educational Festival which I had the pleasure of attending in School Section No. 11, Grimsby, a few days ago, conducted by Miss LEET, the highly talented and amiable Teacher of the School.

"Upon reaching the School-house I was particularly struck with the appearance of the yard, well planted with young and thrifty ornamental shade trees, and with the beds of flowers surrounding the building and fences; things which, though not exactly Reading, Writing or Arithmetic, are, nevertheless, matters that will exercise a great and lasting influence over the tastes, pursuits, and future happiness of those who may spend their School days among them.

"The house was filled to overflowing at an early hour by the parents of the children and strangers, among whom we noticed the District Superintendent, the Ministers, Magistrates aud Councillors of the township and surrounding country. The pupils numbered about 35 and were all small as is generally the case in the country in summer Schools, yet one would suppose they had been under training many years, such was the accuracy and readiness with which they answered every question in Geography, English Grammar, Physiology, &c., &c., &c. The examination in Arithmetic especially was, considering the age of the pupils, spoken of by the Superintendent and others, as excelling any thing of the kind they had witnessed. The discipline of the School was not the less satisfactory than the proficiency of the pupils was remarkable.

"After the examination, the pupils with their Teacher, got into a large waggon trimmed with evergreens and drawn by four splendid horses, decorated with flags, and proceeded to a beautiful grove about a half mile distant, where a sumptuous repast had been provided for the numerous friends and spectators who followed in procession. After the repast the Chairman, the Rev. Mr. BIGGAR, in a learned and eloquent address presented the importance and necessity of Education to the people of a country like Canada. He was followed by D. D'EVERARDO, Esq., District Supt. who showed the advantages of School examinations and public demonstrations of the kind that day offered to both Teachers and pupils, and submitted some statistics relative to the progress of education In the District Mr, D'E. was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. BARBOUR, who spoke with great effect and was listened to with much attention, upon the general question. Mr. B. was followed by Dr. WOLVERTON upon a similar topic. Then came the Rev. Mr. GIBSON who has a happy talent for speaking on such occasions and lastly the Rev. Chairman again who put the whole audience into remarkably good humour with themselves and with every body around them.

"The large meeting which met here numbering about four hundred persons, after having expressed its thanks to the young singers, and to the Chairman, separated at an early hour, pleased with each other and with all they had seen and heard."

Pelham.-"Saturday last was a happy day for the Teacher and pupils in Section No. 3, Pelham. The efficient, popular and energetic Teacher of the School in that Section, Miss FAY, had infused such a spirit of industry and application into the minds of her pupils, and such a feeling of unanimity into those of their parents, that the public spirited Trustees, determined upon giving them all a splendid dinner in the large Town Hall of the Township before named. Accordingly preparations were commenced in right good earnest, tickets of invitation were printed and issued; and the viands were, in due course, spread out on a long table prepared for the purpose, to feast the aforesaid little ones, and their amiable Teacher with their friends and guests-not so much after all to feast them in its literal sense, as to show their respect for the Instructress whose labours have been so studious, and to testify their appreciation of the advantages of our Educational Institution.

"At half past two the chair wast taken at the head of the table by D. D'EVERARDO, Esq., District Superintendent. After about two hundred persons, young and old, had satisfied the "keen demands of appetite," and after having listened to some excellent vocal music by the juvenile choir, led by their efficient Music Master Mr. ROBERTS, the assemblage was again called to order by the Chairman. The Rev. Mr. TUPPER was introduced to the audience, who briefly, but eloqueutly and argumentatively addressed them upon the importance and value of sound mental and moral training. The Rev. Mr. GIBSON next spoke, and ably argued in favour of the employment of well qualified teachers. By this time the shades of evening were fast appr. aching, and the Chairman re

marked that the happiness of all would but be consulted by moving an adjournment. The usual formalities having been observed, the com pany parted, every man feeling well towards his neighbour, and I venture to say thinking more strongly and soundly upon the subject of Education than he did in the morning.

New Grammar School, Whitby.-It will be news to the majority of our readers to learn that a new Grammar School, upon a liberal scale, is about commencing in the flourishing village of Whitby. The School Building, large, spacious, and commodiously planned, the walls of which are brick, is now in a state of completion, and will probably be ready for actual service some time near the first of October, at which time it is arranged the School will commence.-[Oshawa News- Letter.

Popular Education among the English Wesleyan Methodists.— There are in the Connection 413 day-schools, 38,568 scholars, of both sexes and all ages, at an annual cost, including teachers' salaries, of £26,043 7s. The Sunday Schools are 4,344, with 461,157 scholars, and 83,992 teachers, 59,643 of whom are men.bers of the Society. Of these schools, 4,049 regularly attend chapel; in 3,506 the Conference Catechism is taught, and 22,829 of the children attend select classes, "preparatory to introduction into the Church." The total annual cost of these schools is £26,194 10s. The increase of children in the day schools is 1,551. It was stated that provision had been made for the erection of a Normal School, at a cost of near £40,000, towards which the Government had offered £7,000

Munificent Gifts.-We learn that a distinguished member of the University of Oxford has, by deed of gift, made over a sum of £10,000 to the University, for the purpose of founding a new Museum for the promo. tion of the study of natural philosophy. The late eminent Dean of Carlisle, Dr. CRAMER, has also bequeathed a sum of £1000, in Government stock, for establishing an annual prize for the best English poem en a sacred subject.-[Church and State Gazette.

Turkey and Spain-Educational movements.--Extract from the Berlin correspondence of the New York Commercial Advertiser:-" The modest entrance of Turkey into the circle of European civilization, is worth more than the passing remark which I can make on it here. The recent examinations of her military schools are spoken of as highly creditable to all concerned. Both Turkey and Spain have recently adopted measures for the institution of Primary Schools; but I have not been unable to learn precisely what they are."

Greece. Gratifying Educational Symptoms.-We extract the following interesting intelligence from the correspondence of the N. Y. Courier and Enquirer, published in the N. Y. Literary World:-" In short, there is but a single point in the aspect of Greece, on which the eye can rest with satisfaction; yet that point is a bright and encouraging one; I mean the growing education and knowledge of the people: The State maintains an excellent system of education, modelled on the Prussian plan, and as a scheme, perfect in all its proportions. At its head stands the University, well endowed by public and private munificence, located in the finest modern building in Athens, and possessing a noble library, a faculty or thirty-four competent professors, and a body of nearly three hundred students. The capital also contains a Polytechnic School, where the sciences are well taught to some 200 pupils; a gymnasium, or academy with 600 scholars; a female seminary with about the saine number, and a large number of elementary schools, conducted on the Lancastarian plan. Athens probably has as large a proportion of its population under instruction as any capital in Europe.

"Public schools are maintained over the whole kingdom, and all classes participate in their advantages. No less than eighteen or twenty cleverly conducted newspapers are published in the metropolis. Their subscription price is high, but in the Reading-rooms and Coffee-houses they find their way to the great mass of the population. With all their short-comings they are doing much to enlighten the public mind. It is true that the provisions for moral improvement in Greece but ill compare at present with the facilities for mental development; yet if there is a single element in Greek society that promises to elevate and eventually redeem the nation, it is the spirit of inquiry which now prevails among the people, and for the first time since the ancient republic, can, in all matters not ecclesiastical, be safely cherished and freely gratified."

Expenditure for Education in Prussia ment 33,000 primary school teachers, the gro to $1,500,000. The sum devoted to the salari tenance of Schools is levied and expended und ship officers. The total amount expended or versities, Printing, Art and Science, is nearly nually expended in Prussia for Education abo dence N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.

The Question of Free Schools in the be decided next month. We select the follo the subject from the Albany Evening Journal fact that the influence of Canada will be felt in contest among our neighbours of the "Empire lishing Free Schools throughout the State," of the Legislature, is to be submitted for the electors of the State, at the ensuing November and maguitude of the issue thus involved cann ated by every enlightened mind; and the most in reference to the principle and practical de should be within the reach of all.

With this view we are requested to state tha trict School Journal has devoted, and will columns of that paper, until after the election, In the August and September Nos. will be fou sed by Hon. Horace Mann, of Massachusetts, most experienced educators of the Union, in r moral and social efforts capable of being pro complete and enlightened system of Universa Free School system, together with the replies o The publication of these letters will be contin position of the principal arguments in favour School system, from the pen of the Chief S Upper Canada. These arguments are chief operations of the system in Massachusetts, an cities or towns where it has been for any lengt ration, and will be found to afford a perfect ma tions in support of the proposed system.

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Education and Industry in the United however, even by some who are favourable to the masses can have leisure to profit in after life as the government of Massachusetts is now a youth of the country. between the ages of four a answer, that in nations less prosperous and prog men may provide for all their bodily wants, may and yet give up one-seventh part of their time, ligious duties. But granting may be found, it will still be asked whether, if n tion be taught to enjoy the poems of Milton a Scott, or lectures on literature, astronomy and daily newspaper and often indulge in the stirrin tics, they will be contented with their situation labor. All apprehension of such consequences the more advanced states of the American Uni the rich that where the free schools have been are least addicted to intemperance, are more pr for property and the laws. are more conservative, list or other revolutionary doctrines. So far from acteristic of the laboring classes where they a Englanders are rather given to overwork both bo better pioneers, when roughing it in a log-hou the uneducated Highlander or Irishman; and th who publish their "Offering," containing the essays, work twelve hours a day, and have not y bill.-[From Sir CHARLES LEYELL'S "Second Commerciel Advertiser.

Education in the Netherlands.-The from an article in Chambers's Journal, descripti the Netherlands. The passage here quoted is fr writer's visit to a school at Haarlem.