deal of complaint about the inefficiency of our common schools, but his individual experience was, that as a boy he had his best education in such a school, and his poorest in a university. He liked the kindergarten system; and believed that a child should be brought in contact with nature as much as possible.

Mr. Norton, a teacher in the Elmira Reformatory, spoke briefly in reference to both industrial and literary effort there. The prisoners are far more easily controlled since the establishment of that school than ever before. He sees in

the old-fashioned system of education something grand and noble yet. Dr. Murray, Secretary of the Board of Regents, Albany, read a very able paper entitled Examinations-Their Use and Abuse.

"There are two uses for examinations which it will be well for us to distinguish and to keep in mind. The first is their use as an educational appliance. The second is their use as a test of proficiency. The teacher has chiefly occasion to deal with them in their first capacity. For the purpose of finding out whether his class understand what they have learned, whether their conception of the subject is clear and adequate, and wherein their knowledge is defective, he catechises them. In other words, he examines them daily or weekly or monthly as occasion may require. He makes these examinations a process of instruction by using them to direct the thoughts of his scholars into the desired channel, and by bringing them to think definitely and clearly. Three advantages may be pointed out as possible to derive from the process. First, it encourages definite knowledge in distinction from loose, imperfect and desultory knowledge. Second, it serves as a wholesome stimulus to the pursuit of knowledge. Third, it guides the student to the essentials of a subject, and saves him from wasting time upon that which is unimportant."

The report of the Standing Committee on Improved Methods of Education was read in two parts, the first part by the chairman of the Committee, Superintendent S. G. Love, of Jamestown, and the second part by Mr. C. W. Wasson, of Portville. The former inquired:

Are industrial schools practical? Can they be successfully engrafted upon our present public school system? We are strong and firm in the belief that they can be; and that there are good men who stand ready now to pledge their all upon success, with only a moderate investment for the trial.

"That they will be, we hold in all modesty and deference, is only a question of time, and when that hour does come, the youth, however humble his station and scanty his mental endowments, will be the peer of the intellectual monarch of the land.'

Commissioner Wasson spoke of his own school work.

"Our work is not confined to any particular material, class or trade, but so far as our resources permit, the work is general.

"Only a part of the work is done under my own supervision, and that mostly out of school hours.

'Much of the work is done by students at their own homes from tools and materials there accessible, but after patterns and designs previously determined upon.

"Students have increased their facilities for work by adding a Holley saw, a foot lathe, and other tools, even to a fan-blower and iron-melting apparatus of their own construction.

'Among the many benefits which, I have allowed myself to believe, are reached by the laboratory method of practical work, may be mentioned :

Plainly a better comprehension of the branches studied, with an increasing desire to study them more.

'Habits of promptness, carefulness, faithfulness, economy, industry, are strengthened and fostered, if not in some cases created.

Helps develop power to judge, to think, to discriminate, rather than the ability to remember.

""

Improved ability to give ideas rather than words or figures from reading, with a tendency to make students rather than scholars."

Mr. Wasson's paper excited more interest than any other read during the session, and he was subjected to a fire of questions from all sides after the reading. Dr. Hoose, of Cortland, of the Committee on Supervision and Licensing of Teachers, read the report of that Committee.

Mr. John Kennedy read a minority report.

Resolutions Adopted.

Resolved, That this Association recognizes the increasing demand for industrial education, and recommends that it be introduced into our schools as rapidly as circumstances will permit.

Resolved, That a crying need of our country schools is for the patrons to ornament the school-room and enlarge and beautify the grounds--not through an increase of taxation, but by the co-operation of the people in an earnest effort to make a pleasant home for their children.

Resolved, That no common school does its full duty which fails to give its pupils, as soon as their age will permit :

(1) A sufficient knowledge of physiology and hygiene to guide them in the preservation of their health, so essential to their progress in their studies and success in after life; and,

(2) Such an acquaintance with the principal facts in the history and Constitution of the United States as to make them intelligent citizens.

Resolved, That, in the opinion of this Association, there should be a board of health in each town, consisting of physicians or other competent persons, whose duty it shall be, in conjunction with the school commissioner of the district, to examine each school building in the town, at least twice each year, and report in the local papers as to its seating capacity, air space per pupil, lighting, heating and other sanitary conditions; and that for violation of the recommendations of such board the authorities of any school district shall be amenable to law.

Resolved, That this Association recommends the appointment of a Board of Examiners for each Commissioners' district, to consist of the School Commissioner and two teachers to be selected by him; these teachers to hold diplomas from a college or normal school, or a State certificate. If such persons cannot be found in the district, the commissioner shall then constitute the board.

Resolved, That in the opinion of this Association the benefits of common school libraries would be much enhanced if all the libraries in each town were consolidated into one centrally located library; exclusive, however, of libraries containing 500 or more volumes, where a majority of the people of the district desire to have their library retained in a separate existence.

Resolved, That this Association recommends the Department of Public Instruction to issue a uniform series of questions, to be submitted twice each year to all who desire to obtain licenses, as teachers.

Resolved, That no person shall be eligible to the office of School Commissioner, unless he holds a diploma from a college or normal school, or a State certificate, or has been a School Commissioner.

Resolved, That a course of study for our common and graded schools should not be intended exclusively to fit pupils for the high schools, but should be so arranged in order to meet the wants of the mass of pupils that, at whatever age a pupil is forced to leave school, he may at that time have received the best possible preparation for life and citizenship consistent with his stage of advance

ment.

The inspectors of election announced the election of the following as the officers for 1881: President, Professor Jerome Allen; Vice-Presidents, John A. Nichols, Miss Emily A. Weaver, Miss Caroline A. Comstock, Charles Henry King, M.D.; Corresponding Secretary, M. M. Merrell; Recording Secretaries, William O. Campbell, H. C. Kirk; Treasurer, George L. Farnham.

Lake Canandaigua.

The excursion given by the citizens of Canandaigua was by no means the least interesting feature of the meeting. The natural scenery, beginning with Squaw Island and including Seneca Point, Bare Hill, and various other points and glens, was noted and discussed by the naturalists and artists of the party, while not a few "in lighter vein," doubtless feeling the need of relaxation from the close attention, and mental strain of the Association work, indulged in that ancient pastime of Israelitish'origin, known as "Thumbs up!" Woodville was reached and explored. Lunch followed, and the two steamers reached the dock of "The Sleeping Beauty" barely in time to allow some of the party to take their homeward trains. In the evening a sociable was held in the hotel parlors.

JEROME ALLEN.

Born at Westminster, West, Vt., July 17th, 1830. He prepared for college at Kimball Union Academy, N. H., and graduated from Amherst College in 1851, the youngest in his class. While in college he was especially distinguished for his knowledge of the natural sciences. He taught several district schools in his native State, and was, the first year after his graduation, Principal of the High School at Belchertown, Mass. In 1854 he was elected Professor in Alexander College, Dubuque, Iowa, where he remained until this school was merged into Lenox Collegiate Institute, Hopkinton, Delaware Co., Iowa. Here he remained eight years. He is the founder of this school, which is still flourishing. Alexander College was and Lenox Institute is still under the care of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church. He labored in Iowa fourteen years, and was the father of normal institutes of that State, also one of the charter members of the Iowa State Teachers' Association. For a time he was editor of the Iowa Journal of Education.

In 1868 he removed to New York City, and for two years was an institute conductor under the appointment of Hon. A. B. Weaver. At the organization of the State Normal School at Geneseo, N. Y., he was elected Professor of Natural Sciences. Here he remained until the fall of 1881, when he was chosen President of the State Normal School at St. Cloud, Minn., where he now lives. In 1880, at Canandaigua, N. Y., he was unanimously elected President of the New York State Teachers' Association, also in the same year he was chosen President of the Normal Section of the National Association, and in 1882 VicePresident for the State of New York. For five years of the time of his residence at Geneseo, and in addition to his school work, he was editor of Barnes's Educational Monthly, A. S. Barnes & Co., publishers, N. Y. He is author of many educational articles, beside which he has written Methods for Teachers in Grammar, National System of Map Drawing, and Laboratory Practice in Chemistry.

THE THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL MEETING

was held at Congress Hall, Saratoga, July 5th, 6th and 7th, 1881. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Hawley, of the First Presbyterian Church, of Saratoga. Superintendent L. S. Packard delivered an address of welcome, which was responded to by Hon. Neil Gilmour, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. President Allen's address, which followed, was a vigorous discussion of educational topics of interest. His position on the questions of State education is shown in the following three propositions :

The following propositions are incontrovertible. They are not only logically true, but have been proven to be practically so in ten thousand communities.

1 A name applied to Canandaigua village.