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NOTES ON EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

WAYLAND UNIVERSITY.—The new University building at Beaver Dam, we learn, will be ready for occupancy by the 10th inst. The edifice is beautifully located in the city of Beaver Dam, being 116 feet in length and three stories high above the basement. The cost of the building, completed, is estimated at $20,000. Three Professors, of acknowledged scholarship and experience in teaching, have been secured, and will be at their posts at the commencement of the ensuing term.

NEW SCHOOL HOUSES.-A contract has been let for building two Public School Houses in the city of Watertown, in this State. Cost of the buildings, $20,000.

MINNESOTA PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND.-The organic act of Minnesota grants to it, on its admission as a State, two sections of land in every township for the support of common schools. This is double the amount of land which has usually been granted to the new States for such a purpose.

THE RIGHT SPIRIT.-Several of the prominent citizens of Port Washington, seeing little or no hope of getting a tax voted by the inhabitants of the place, sufficient to build a Public School House, have undertaken the erection of a building by voluntary subscriptions. We learn that nearly six thousand dollars have already been subscribed for this purpose. The individuals who have undertaken this enterprise understand their true interests, and have enlightened views of the true elements of prosperity in a town. Port Washington claims a population of over three thousand, while, we are told, there are but two indifferent, ill-contrived and out-of-repair common school houses, to supply the wants of the population. We hope, before another year, Port Washington will have a school edifice that shall be the pride and ornament of the town.

STATE NORMAL UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.-This Institution has been located at Bloomington, Ill. A building is to be erected sufficient to accommodate five hundred students. The contributions of the people of Bloomington, as appears from the papers of that city, are as follows: $24,850, if the University is located within three-fourths of a mile of the railroad junctions; 160 acres of land, valued at $38,000, if the University is located upon it, and $70,000 from the county of McLane, dependent upon the revenue to be obtained from the swamp lands belonging to the State—the whole of these offers amounting to $141,825."

The first session of the University will commence on the first Monday in October next. C. E. Hovey, Editor of the Illinois Teacher, has been chosen Principal. Temporary accommodations will be provided until the University building is ready for use. Illinois is moving vigorously in the cause of common school education. The best men in the State are making earnest en

deavors to increase the educational advantages, in proportion to the rapid advances in wealth and population.

John G. McMynn, Principal of the Racine City High School, is now on a tour East, for the purpose of visiting some of the prominent institutions of learning in the Eastern and Middle States. The Board of Education of the city of Racine have placed at the disposal of Mr. McMynn $1000, for the purchase of Apparatus, and $500 for the purchase of a library for the Racine High School. This liberal provision of the Board of Education will add to the already enviable reputation of the Racine Public Schools. Public expenditures of this kind are the best guarantees for the future prosperity of the city.

MADISON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.-Two of the contemplated new Public School houses in the city of Madison will soon be completed, and the best modern improvements will be regarded in their furnishment. The erection of suitable school buildings in Madison has been considerably delayed, but the friends of education have labored perseveringly, and will soon have the satisfaction of witnessing the consumation of their plans. D. Y. Kilgore, City Superintendent, has been untiring in his efforts, and the citizens of Madison are doubtless much indebted to him for the progress which has been made, and for the present encouraging condition of the schools.

WAUKESHA UNION SCHOOL.-We are inclined to believe the people of Waukesha are entitled to more credit than has been awarded them, on account of their public spirit in educational matters. Perhaps, from feelings of modesty, they have not taken so much pains to herald abroad their achievments, as some other towns have done. The Union School House at Waukesha would be creditable to any city, east or west. It is a large stone edifice, finished and complete; except single-chair seatings in the main rooms would have been an improvement. It stands in the centre of a lot containing three acres, enclosed with a neat and substantial fence. It now only needs one or two hundred shade trees, to render it a delightful play ground for children, and a place of pleasant resort for all classes. The out houses are models of their kind for neatness; no obscene disfigurings-not even a pencil mark is found about them.

Mr. A. A. Griffith has for some time past been the Principal; with the term which closed on the 11th of August last, we understand, his connection with the school ceased. Mr. Griffith leaves the business of teaching for the purpose of devoting his attention more exclusively to the profession of the law, and newspaper editing. So far as the interests of Public Schools are concerned, it is a måtter of regret that Mr. Griffith has resolved to relinquish the occupation of teaching; he evidently has a fitness for this department of usefulness-the success of the Waukesha Union School is a proof of it.

Carroll College is another evidence of the liberalities of the people of Waukesha; large subscriptions have been made by the citizens to place this

Institution on a permanent pecuniary basis. The Waukesha Female Seminary is another instance of the educational enterprise of the people. This is a respectable stone building, the expense of its erection having been chiefly contributed by inhabitants of the place.

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PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE CITY OF JANESVILLE. -The Public Schools of the city of Janesville were consolidated over two years ago, and placed under the control of a Board of School Commissioners-one from each Ward, appointed by the Common Council of the city. The powers of the School Commissioners, are such as are usually possessed by Boards of Education in cities. A Public High School was organized nearly two years ago, in a building formerly occupied as an Academy; and last year two Ward school houses were built at a cost of $13,500. These two Ward school houses are capable of seating, in the Primary and Intermediate department, 280 each. Other buildings of a temporary character, are now, also, used to accommodate shcolars in the Primary and Intermediate departments.

A contract has recently been let for building a new High School house, in the first ward of the city, to be completed on the first of July, 1858. The dimensions of this building, will be 101 by 66 feet on the ground, three stories above the basement; the style of architecture is Italian; its entire cost when completed, is estimated at $30,000

The present system provides a Primary and Intermediate department in each ward, and one High School for the city. The course of study as now prescribed by the Board of School Commissioners, contemplates two years in the Primary, two years in the Intermediate, and four years in the High School-making in all, eight years. The last two years in the High School, are designed to furnish a perparatory course to such students as desire to enter college. The present efficient principle of the High School, Mr. LEVI CASS, has done much to elevate it to its now flourishing condition, and gives it a wide reputation. Rev. H. Foot holds the office of City Superintendent. The city of Janesville has done nobly, during the past two years, for the cause of Public Schools, and those who are now at the head of its educational affairs, appear to be of the right stamp.

EDUCATION IN MISSOURI.-The first number of a new monthly periodical, entitled Missouri Journal of Education, has recently been issued; it is published in the city of St. Louis, under the direction of the Missouri State Teacher's Association, and is in every respect a highly creditable paper.Recent events in the history of Missouri, have infused new life and vigor in the various departments of enterprise. The physical resources of the State, are being rapidly developed, and its educational interests have taken a new start. The State Teachers' Association, which assembled at St. Louis, on the 6th of May last, was a large and influential body, gathered from various portions of the State; its transactions were characterized with spirit and earnestness. As an evidence of its determinations, a part of one of the resolutions, adopted near the close of the Convention, may be instanced :— "That we pledge ourselves not to rest from our labors, until they have re

sulted in a State Normal School, a Teacher's Association and Institute of Instruction, in every county in our noble State, and the elevation of our profession in the public estimation, to the rank to which it is evidently entitled."

The Convention resolved to establish and maintain a Journal of Education, and subscriptions amounting to 500 copies were pledged by members present. It was also resolved to employ an agent to convass every county, hold teacher's conventions, and employ every available means to awaken an interest in the cause of general education throughout the State. The salary of the agent was fixed $1,500 a year.

The teachers of Missouri, have undertaken a great and noble work; the necessity for it may be learned from the report of the State Superintendent, which represents less than one-half of the entire number of children in the State of suitable age, as not attending any school-public or private. In speaking of school houses, the Superintendent says:—

"With regard to our district school houses, they are the old kind, ten by twelve log-cabins, with one door in the middle, and one oblong window extending from the door-casing to the corner of the house. Who has seen one, has seen the counterpart of nine-tenths of the school houses in the State-low, dismal, dreary things, in an open space by themselves, with missiles of every discription scattered around them; even the view is cause enough for the fever and ague of the whole neighborhood. No humane master would cabin his negroes in such noisome dens; and yet with an inexplicable infatuation, affectionate parents send their children there to sit and sweat a whole weary summer's day, to acquire habits of neatness and order, and a love of knowledge! Heaven grant that the children of this age, may not have to pass many more such weary days, and that the inhabitants of the districts in which such houses are found, may determine-and it requires no great liberality-to demolish these dirty remembrancers, and erect in their stead, neat, comfortable, New England school houses."

NEW SCHOOL HOUSE IN MILWAUKEE.-The new school building which will soon be completed, in the seventh ward, of the city of Milwaukee, is an ornament to the city. We have encouragement of being furnished with an engraved view of the building, for the next number of the Journal, when we will endeavor to give a more particular description of the edifice.

JOHN G. McKINDLEY, formerly Principal of the Kenosha High School, will have charge of the High School department, to be established in this school, at a salary of $1,500 per annum. No better selection of a Principal could have been made. Mr. McKINDLEY ranks among the most accomplished and successful teachers in the State. H. B. COE, formerly a teacher in the city of Racine, will have charge of the intermediate department, at a salary of $1000 a year.

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.-The city authorities of St. Paul, Minnesota, have voted to appropriate $36,000 for building school houses the present year.

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WISCONSIN STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

THE Fourth Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin State Teachers' Association, met in the Union School House, in the village of Waukesha, on Wednesday, the 12th of August, 1857.

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The Association was called to order at half-past ten o'clock, and opened with prayer by Rev. R. Boyd, of Chicago. After which, the President of the Association, A. C. Spicer, of Milton, delivered the opening address: subject-The responsibility of teachers, and the necessity of their studying well the duties of their calling.

The executive committee, through the chairman, A. L. Pickard, of Plattville, asked further time to report.

By consent of the Association, the Secretary was authorized to appoint one or more assistants.

On motion of A. L. Pickard, a committee on resolutions was appointed by the chair, consisting of Prof. Conover, of Madison; A. Pickett, of Horicon, and Prof. S. A. Bean, of Waukesha.

The Committee on Resolutions was made; also Committee on Honorary Members.

The Convention adjourned to 2 o'clock, P. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The business of the afternoon was reported by the Chairman of the Executive Committee. On motion of A. L. Pickard, a committee was appointed to report suitable officers for the ensuing year. The chair appointed the following persons:

J. G. McKindley, of Kenosha; F. C. Pemeroy, of Milwaukee; D. Y. Kilgrove, of Madison.

On motion of Mr. Pickard, a committee was appointed to recommend a suitable place for the next meeting. The chair appointed

A. D. Hendrickson, of Whitewater; D. J. Holmes, of Sheboygan; G. McWhorter, of Milwaukee.

J. G. McMynn, chairman of the editorial committee, made the following report in regard to the Educational Journal.

Wisconsin Journal of Education, Vol. I., in account with JOHN G. McMYNN, Treasurer.
DR.

To amount paid Hulett and Harrison, as per contract for printing, &c.,

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$2093 42

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