Something has been said to guard against the misapplication of funds raised for the erection of school-houses. Yet funds must be raised for this purpose. Let any one witnessthe contrast between an airy, commodious, well-finished, and well-furnished school-room, and one of the better class even of the schoolrooms which have commonly been met with, to say nothing of the wretched hovels in which many schools are kept; and let him remember that the school-room is, in an important sense, the home of our children, the scene of a large share of their joys and sorrows, and he will need no other argument to prove, that money must be expended to render the school-house, as well as the dwelling-house, both convenient and attractive. It must be done, because the comfort, as well as the improvement, of our children, is dependent, in an eminent degree, upon it.

Errors have been pointed out, as liable to occur in the discharge of various duties devolving upon school-committees; as in framing regulations for schools, in arranging the course of studies, and in attending examinations. Yet these duties mnst be performed. Men must be found in every town, and if possible in every district, who will accept the office of school-committee, and devote the necessary time to the performance of its duties. Such men are required to establish the schools in the . first instance; and they are required to see to their interests afterwards. The best teachers will do better when they are looked after; and without an efficient school-committee, teachers of an inferior grade will find their way into the schools; in which case the need of careful supervision will be still more imperative.

But it is not supervision strictly that a school, when once well established, most requires of its committee. It is simply attention; and this it requires, not of the school-committee only, but of the whole community. The school must be spoken of as one of the things worthy of attention. Parents must visit the school, and when they have made it worthy of notice, they should invite their friends to see it when they visit them. They should converse with their children in such a way as to increase their respect for their teachers, and their interest in their studies. They should encourage the teacher, not by speaking condolingly of his trials,-for few teachers are fond of that kind of sympathy, but by showing that they appreciate his services.

The effect of this kind of attention bestowed upon a school, is in the highest degree salutary. The teacher no longer feels that he is shut out from the rest of the world, to toil in an irksome business, which many despise and nobody cares for; but that he

is engaged in carrying forward an important work, in which the whole community take a deep interest; and he labors with redoubled cheerfulness and diligence, thereby giving assurance. that the just expectations of the community will be realized. Nor is the effect upon the pupils less important. If parents treat the work of the school as unworthy of attention, their children are very likely to fall into the same error. On the other. hand, if parents interest themselves in the school, and encourage their children in their studies, the children will apply themselves to their school duties with a corresponding alacrity and success:

In conclusion the Committee remark, that while much caution is to be exercised in carrying forward this work of reform, in ac cordance with the suggestions made in the course of this report, yet the work must go on. We are making improvements in every thing else, and we must make improvements in our schools Money must be raised sufficient to pay their necessary expenses; school officers must be found to manage their affairs; and the community, at large, must throw around them their fostering

care.

Respectfully submitted in behalf of the Executive Committee. C. FARNUM.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE RHODE-ISAND INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION.

The third annual meeting of the RHODE ISLAND INSTITUTE OF INSTRUCTION took place in the State House on Friday evening, Jan. 21st. Mr. N. Bishop, Corresponding Secretary, called the meeting to order and stated its object. Mr. Tourtellot, one of the Vice Presidents, arriv ing, took the chair. Messrs. Gammell, Barnard and Austin were appointed a committee to nominate officers for the ensuing year. The Treasurer presented his report, and Mr. C. T. Keith was appointed a committee to audit accounts.

The records of the last annual meeting were read. Mr. Farnum presented the report of the Executive Committee, which was read and received; and it was voted that it be printed under the direction of the Executive Committee. Prof. Gammell remarked that people are ready enough to acknowledge the importance of good education, but they are not so ready to give their attention and efforts to promote it. While they attend to their common business operations, they neglect their schools, and other means of improvement. We should aim to awaken a livelier interest. The Rev. Mr. Vail of Westerly, not being able to attend, communicated a cheering account of the cause of education in his quarter. One thousand dollars have been recently raised for the establishment of a library.

Mr. Updike illustrated the progress of education in this State. He could speak from an extensive observation. He knew the "District School as it was "in Rhode Island. He had known some of its teachers, men who were employed without the slightest regard to their qualifications as educators. He had known those employed in the sacred office of teacher for the very reason that they were unfit for any thing else. They were too stupid, shiftless, and feeble in body and mind to earn their bread in the ordinary way, and hence, were employed to teach school. He had known a man, an instructor of youth, whose word upon oath was not respected in one of our civil courts. Such teachers, he rejoiced to say, could not now be found in our schools. A different policy prevails. Teaching is now regarded as a profession, second to none in importance. Those who enter it have to undergo a rigid examination. They must have a good knowledge of the branches in which they are to instruct. They must possess a good moral character. They must adopt improved modes of instruction and discipline. They must devote their time and efforts to their schools. The people of Rhode Island no longer seek the cheapest, but the best men, to train and instruct their children.

Mr. Sisson, of North Providence, gave a statement of facts, which showed conclusively the progress of education in his vicinity. A few years since, and only one school-house was owned in Pawtucket, and that was a general office for the transaction of town business and for various meetings. The schools were kept in dirty, inconvenient, ill-arranged and badly situated rooms. Some of them were molested with the vexatious clatter of machinery, and some were regaled with the music of an Irish wake. The only virtue of these rooms was their cheapness.

The miserable, niggardly policy prevailed which makes men bow implicitly to the "almighty dollar," and slight the laws of the Almighty Maker. A change has taken place. Pawtucket now has school-houses and schools which need no encomium from him. The people are justly proud of them, and could not be induced to retrace their steps. A slight exception exists. Mr. S. concluded with the sentiment that a good school is worth what it costs. Poor articles are cheap; good ones bring and cost money. Education must be paid for, or it is nothing worth.

The Commissioner of Public Schools stated some interesting facts connected with public libraries. The first district library, established since his official connection with the State, was at Portsmouth. More than $50 has been realized by this library by letting the books out at one cent apiece. Some progress has been made in seventeen other places for the establishment of these libraries. More than four thousand books have already been purchased and are in circulation, and provision has been made for the purchase of five thousand more. These books are read and are exerting an untold influence on the character of the rising generation. Great credit is due those gentlemen who have exerted themselves to diffuse the blessings of good books through the community.

Mr. Bishop, Superintendent of Public Schools in Providence, briefly stated the change which has been wrought in the character and condition of the schools within eight years. The number of school-houses, belonging to the city, has increased from five to twenty-four, and the number of scholars in attendance from seventeen hundred to six thousand, and the number of teachers from twenty-seven to eighty-five.

Adjourned to Tuesday evening, 25th inst., in Westminster Hall, at 7 o'clock.

The Institute met by adjournment at Westminster Hall, on Tuesday evening, Jan. 25th. Hon. E. R. POTTER, Vice President, for Washington county, presiding.

The report of the nominating committee, appointed at the former meeting, was presented, and the following gentlemen appointed officers for the ensuing year :—

JOHN KINGSBURY, President.

Hon. E. R. POTTER, Vice President, for Washington County.

Hon. A. BALLOU,

tr

AMOS PERRY, Corresponding Secretary.
C. T. KEITH, Recording Secretary.

T. C. HARTSHORN, Treasurer.

Nathan Bishop, William Gammell, Christopher G. Perry, Jesse S. Tourtellot, Caleb Farnum, Rev. T. Shepard, Rev. T. H. Vail, Sylvester Patterson, S. Austin, James Bushee, G. C. Wilson, Thomas R. Hazard, William S. Baker, Directors.

Mr. BARNARD, Commissioner of Public Schools, remarked that "he should confine what he had to say on this occasion, to a plain statement of facts as to the present condition of public schools, and to the efforts which have been put forth to improve them within the past four years. He would in the outset, acknowledge his obligations for the valuable cooperation he had received from the Institute, and particularly to the gentleman who has presided over it since its first organization in this Hall three years ago, and whom nothing but sickness could detain from this meeting. To the uniform, personal kindness of Mr. Kingsbury, to his sound, practical judgment in all matters relating to schools and education, to his prompt business habits, to his large public spirit, to his punctual attendance, and valuable addresses in every meeting of the Institute which has been held out of this city, and to the pecuniary aid which his high character and influence in this community has enabled him to extend to the various plans which have been adopted by this department, Mr. Barnard desired to bear this public testimony, and to make his grateful acknowledgements, both personal and official.

Much has been attempted, and something it is hoped has been done, to prepare the way for a broad, thorough and liberal system of public in struction, by interesting all who could be reached by the living voice or the printed page, in the nature and means of education, the condition and wants of the schools, and the best modes of introducing desirable improvements. To this end public meetings have been held, not only in every town, but in every village and neighborhood, more numerous and more systematic in their plan of operations than was ever attempted in any other community, or than could have been carried out in the same time in any state of greater territory, and with a population less concentrated in villages than this. More than eleven hundred meetings have been held expressly to discuss topics connected with the public schools, at which more than fifteen hundred addresses have been delivered. One hundred and fifty of these meetings have continued through the day and evening; upwards of one hundred, through two evenings and a day; fifty, through two days and three evenings; and twelve, including the Teachers Institutes, through an entire week. In addition to this class of meetings and addresses, upwards of two hundred meetings of teachers and parents have been held for lectures and discussions on improved methods of teaching the studies ordinarily pursued in public schools, and for exhibitions or public examinations of schools, or of a class of pupils in certain studies, such as arithmetic, reading, &c. These meetings have proved highly useful. Besides these various meetings, experienced teachers have been employed to visit particular towns and sections of the State, and converse freely with parents by the way-side and the fire-side, on the condition and improvement of the district school. By these various agencies it is believed that a public meeting has been held within three miles of every home in Rhode-Island, except in sections of a few towns where an audience of a dozen people could not be collected in a circuit of three or four miles.

To the interest awakened by these addresses and by the sympathy of numbers swayed by the same voice, and by the same ideas, must be added