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WOULD it not be desirable to extend and establish this
System of Education, before we lose sight of its useful-
ness?-before party prejudices may prevail, and keep the
grand desideratum hidden from the world? It is highly im-
portant that the experiment should be fairly made, while
the minds of Americans are in favour of those plans which
promote Freedom in preference to Tyranny:-For, it is
not to be expected that Monarchs will foster the institu-
tion; because, the diffusion of knowledge ultimately ter-
minates in their destruction, and throws civil government
into the hands of the people, whence the God of Nature
has ordained it should originate.

THE present performance is intended as an easy Intro-
duction to Arithmetic, to facilitate that useful art upon
Lancaster's plan or otherwise, as circumstances may re-
quire in common schools or private families. The Author
offers it as the result of long acquaintance with the sub-
ject, and no inconsiderable experience as a Teacher; and
confidently hopes that it will be found to answer the ends
intended. His method being new, he has no doubt but
that he hath still left room for improvement by abler hands:
but let it be remembered, that Men of great genius, or of
great reputation in the literary world, generally engage in
more dignified pursuits, soar above rudimental improve-
ments, and omit some of the most important duties of
moral rectitude; or, in other words, they are contented
in leaving the youths, of whom the future great men of
the country must be formed, to grope in the dark, or be
subject to the Tyranny of those whose minds are too nar-
row to encourage real facilities in the arts of " teaching
young

ideas how to shoot."

THAT the success attending the system, of which this is
a part, may even exceed in America what has been indi-
cated in England, and that the poor of all countries, may
become as well informed as the rich, is the ardent hope,
and sincere wish of the

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THIS book is written in thirteen parts, with a view to benefit a great
number of scholars with one copy only; for, ten or twelve learners, that
is, one class, may work from one part, while another class of ten or twelve
may work from a separate part; thus if there are a sufficient number of
different classes, possessing different degrees of knowledge in figures, the
book will conveniently serve more than one hundred pupils.

SCHOOLMASTERS may therefore signify their choice, and receive a book
full bound, with all the parts in one volume, or they may have the parts
trimmed and bound separately with strong paper, in form of a neat pam-
phlet. They may also subdivide these pamphlets at pleasure.

Page 18, at the end of line 3, omit the words "or multiplied."

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OBSERVATIONS,

To be read by Teachers, and then deposited in their desks.

1. Ir may not be convenient for every Teacher to procure my spelling book, nor Lancaster's description of this plan for educating children; therefore the following sketches will be of use, by enabling Teachers to perform as herein directed, till those books can be obtained.

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2. The scholars are to be classed according to their age and abilities, with ten or twelve in a class. In full schools the boys and girls are classed on separate seats by themselves. Each one has a slate and pencil. The slates are without frames, and generally let into the wri ́ting bench even with the surface. Here let us digress one moment: Benches, or writing desks, as you please to call them, are universally constructed too much aslant; therefore, when hew school-houses are to be erected, it will be necessary to employ some discreet superintendent. Able Teachers of about thirty or forty years of age, will be most likely to have observed deficiences, and be ready in giving directions, respecting the length, breadth, and award formation of school-houses. Three degrees of inclination for a writing desk, I have found, by expe rience, to be the most convenient. By this construction, the writer will sit more naturally, with a greater degree of ease, and the implements will remain in their places.

* Which are for sale at the Bookstores, in Albany.

3. When boys in a reading class, can spell words of two syllables, they may go occasionally into a ciphering class, for half an hour or more at a time. This change will create an amusement; it will invigorate the mind, and render tasks delightsome: for as the body grows weary by remaining too long in one posture, so the mind becomes tired by pursuing a particular object. The old dogma, of not allowing scholars to calcule with, and combine numbers, till they have become great proficients in reading and penmanship, is done away by the Lancastrian plan or mode of teaching.

4. But let us return to our ciphering class: After a class is formed, place an overseer behind the class, with a slate and pencil, to superintend the whole. His business will be to instruct every scholar how to arrange the work on the slate, and how to begin and finish the operations with accuracy. The most expert boys in each class, will also aid the overseers when cases render the same needful.

5. These superintendents, by Lancaster, are called Monitors; and there are higher monitors that preside over senior classes, whose duty it is now and then to inspect the younger classes. These higher monitors, with the advice of the principal Teacher, will remove scholars from one class to another when they become acquainted with the rule, or particular part of the rule, they are working in; but those who do not understand the rule, must remain in the same class till they can pass examination. The criterion whereby to know when a boy is fit for removal to a

* When a monitor forfeits his place by inattention duty, another is appointed; which appointment dishonors the first monitor.

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