Annual Report on Public Schools in Rhode Island

The Gonigraph is a small instrument composed of a number of flat rods connected by pivots, which can be put into all possible geometrical figures that consist of straight lines and angles, as triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, octagons, &c.

The Arithmeticon, represented in the annexed cut, is a most useful instrument. In an oblong open frame, twelve rows of wooden balls, alternately black and white, and of the size of a nutmeg or small walnut, and twelve in each row, are strung like beads on strong wires. The instrument, when fixed to a stand, is about four feet high, the frame being onefourth part broader than it is high. It may be made much smaller, as in the cut. When it is used to exercise the children in arithmetic, the teacher or monitor stands behind, and slides the balls along the wires from his left to his right, calling out the number he shifts, as, twice two are four, thrice two are six, shifting first four balls, and then two more. the children are apt to confuse the balls remaining with those shifted, a thin board covers half the surface on the side next the children, as marked by a line down the centre, so that they see only the balls shifted to the open side.

Holbrook's Scientific Apparatus embraces a variety of articles which will be found highly useful in the District school, in which both the older and younger pupils of the districts are ordinarily gathered at the same time, and under one teacher.

The following articles constitute a set which costs $14.75, including a neat box with lock and key:

Tellurian; Suspension Orrery; Gear or Wheel Orrery with metal wheels; Globe; Orbit Plain; Numerical Frame; Geometrical Forms

and Solids; Twenty-five Geological Specimens; Geometry; Scale and Triangle; Block to illustrate Cube Roots; Geometrical Chart; Manu̸ script Letters: Text Book.

Mr. Josiah Holbrook of New York, whose name was originally connected with this set of apparatus, and with which, as manufactured under his direction, we are familiar, disclaims at this time (1848) any responsibility for the articles manufactured by Holbrook & Co., of Ohio.

This gentleman, so long and so favorably known from his connection with Lyceums, and elementary instruction, is now residing in New York, and has an office in the Hall of the Public School Society. There, in connection with Mr. Seton, and two very ingenious workmen, (Messrs. Riker,) he is now getting up apparatus "which shall be simple, easily used, readily understood, not liable to get out of order, and durable." The following is a list of articles already prepared for Primary Schools:

A Geological Cabinet, Geometricals, embracing plain figures, solids, models of crystals, illustrations of insect architecture and human mechanism, transposing and revolving figures, all illustrated with cuts and explanations; a globe with maps of the world and United States; numeral frame; a simple lever, with weights; a syphon and glass pump, showing the weight of the atmosphere in raising water; an air bulb, showing the expansive power of heat, simply by the hand; a simple permanent magnet; also an electro-magnet, a microscope, a simple orrery, and First Drawing Book for children, are among the instruments fitted to make clear, distinct, correct and lasting first impressions upon young minds, before reading-lessons or the letters of the alphabet can be rendered intelligible to them.

To teach Geography and History properly, the following maps are desirable:

Map or plan of the school-room, yard, &c.

Map or plan of the District or Village.

Map or plan of the Town, County, and State.

Map of the United States.

Map of North America.

Map of Europe.

Map of the World.

Map of Palestine.

Map of the countries mentioned in the Bible and in ancient history. Map of Europe during the middle ages.

Fitch's Chirography, or plates and instruction in map-drawing.

Series of Outline Maps, published by J. H. Mather & Co., Hartford, Ct. A selection from Borgaus & Johnston's Physical Atlas, published in Edinburgh in 1847, viz.

Rivers in America.

Rivers in Europe and Asia.

Mountain chains in North and South America.

Mountain chains in Europe and Asia.

Regions of Earthquakes and Volcanoes.

Geological Map of America.

Geological Map of Europe.

Distribution of Food-plants over the world.

Distribution of Animals.

Distribution of Man.

Colton's Historical Chart.

Willard's Map of Time.

Mattison's Astronomical Maps.

Page's Normal Chart of Elementary Sounds,

Fulton's Chirographic Charts.

Green's Analysis of Sentences.
Henry's Family and School Monitor.

Wickham's Drawing Tablets.

APPARATUS FOR GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.

The School Committee of Boston, in 1847. adopted the following articles as a set of Philosophical Apparatus for the Grammar schools, which was selected and classified by Mr. Wightman, whose long experience in manufacturing apparatus for schools of every grade, admirably qualified him for the work:

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The articles of Apparatus for a High School, will depend on the extent to which such studies as Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, &c., are carried, and to the amount of money which can be expended. We have drawn up several such lists, and in doing so have been governed by the circumstances mentioned. As the best guide to committees and teachers, we shall publish in another place, under the head of Priced Catalogues, &c., lists of such articles as can be purchased for sums of money varying from $50 to $1000.

PUBLISHED BY

J H. MATHER & CO., HARTFORD: H. H. HAWLEY, & CO., UTICA.

MITCHELL'S OUTLINE MAPS, REVISED AND IMPROVED. This series of Maps have been thoroughly revised and improved; being accompanied with a Manual of Geography, combining a key to the Maps. This revised series consists of the following Maps.

These Maps and Manual taken in connection, form a system of elementary instruction in Geogrephy and Map-drawing, independently of other text books. These maps on a reduced scale are introduced in the revised edition of the Manual, by which the method of outline instruction can be fully carried into effect.

One set of these maps for the school-room, and one manual to each scholar, in the class, enables the teachers thoroughly to instruct the whole class simultaneously.

The maps are backed with substantial bleached cloth, the coasts water-lined, and the whole beautifully colored, and cased in a portfolio, accompanied by one manual for the teacher.

Price per set $8.-Extra Manuals of Geography and Key, 30 cents.

MITCHELL'S ORIGINAL SERIES OF OUTLINE MAPS.

This set of outlines, being the first and only full series embracing separate State Maps, has been introduced into every State in the Union.

This series is arranged in the following order.

No. 1. The world represented by Hemis

pheres,

2. North America,

"3. U. States and Territor's.

No. 13. Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkan