PUBLIC SCHOOLS.-Ripley, Brown county.-During the past school year, 750 different pupils were instructed in the Union Schools and 666 during the last term. The average attendance for the year, was 500 of these 121 had attended every day. This is certainly a creditable report for the first year.

Fredericktown, Knox county.-The regulations of the Union School have been published in a neat pamphlet. This school, organized nearly a year since, under the supervision of Mr. Wm. Mitchell, closed its first year on the 23d ult.

Selections.

The great Geological divisions of the State are well understood. The strata dip easterly; at Cincinnati you are upon blue limestone, the lowest rock formation, geologically, in the State. Traveling east, at Dayton and Xenia, you come upon the outcrop of the cliff limestone, which continues to Columbus, where it is quarried for the new State House-a few miles east of Columbus it dips under the black slate, and in a short distance the black slate disappears under a sandstone: this sandstone is a northern continuation of the Waverly sandstone of the old Geological Survey; still continuing cast you find that the Waverly sandstone dips under a coarse grained sandstone, in some places made up of pebbles ce mented together and frequently called pudding stone. This is the conglomerateabove which come the coal measures, consisting of alternate beds of sandstone, coal, limestone, shale, and iron ore. This conglomerate or coarse sandstone formation is important as furnishing a geological horizon, indicating where we may expect to find coal; that is, above it and never below it. Again: take a map of the State and draw a line from a little east of Sandusky City through Columbus and Bainbridge to the Ohio river, and the great limestone formation is all west of this line; draw another from near Cleveland, through Newark and Lancaster to Portsmouth, and all the coal, iron or slate, in workable quantities, lies east of this line.-O. Cultivator,

Decision of Character.-There is nothing more to be esteemed than a manly firmness and decision of character. I like a person who knows his own mind and sticks to it-who sees at once what is to be done in given circumstances and does it. He does not beat about the bush for difficulties or excuses, but goes the strongest and most effectual way to obtain his own ends, or to accomplish a use ful object. If he can serve you he will do so; if he cannot, he will say so with. out keeping you in a needless suspense, or laying you under pretended obligations.-Foster.

Energy and Victory. The longer I live, the more I am certain that the great difference between men, between the feeble and the powerful, the great and the insignificant, is energy-invincible determination. A purpose once fixed, and then death-death or victory. That quality will do anything that can be done in this world; and no talents, no circumstances, no opportunites, will make a two-legged creature a man without it.-Buxton.

Don't live in hope with your arms folded. Fortune smiles on those who roll up their sleeves and put their shoulders to the wheel that propels them on to wealth and happiness. Remember this, ye who idle in the bar rooms or at the corners of the streets.

John Randolph once said, "he expected to live to see the time when slaves in Virginia would advertise for runaway masters; as it took all the corn to feed the hogs-all the hogs to feed the negroes-and there was nothing left the planters."

ILLUSTRATIONS OF IGNORANCE.-Among the singular instances of a lack of intelligence on the part of those applying to school examiners for certificates, the following have come under our notice: We present the questions with the

answers.

Where is Calcutta? "In Mexico, South America."

In what direction does the St. Lawrence River run? "It runs up hill.”
Who discovered America? "James K. Polk."

Where does the Mississippi River empty? "Into the Gulf of Mexico."

Where does that empty its waters? "Into the Pacific Ocean: no, into the Indian Ocean."

What are the political divisions of North America? "Whigs and Democrats." That such ignorance is not confined to teachers, however, the following remark made by a member of a township board, will suffice to show: He was complaining of the strictness of the board of examiners, and to prove that they were incompetent for their duties said, "why just look at the questions they use," (alluding to the foregoing question,) "I contend that they have nothing to do with politics."

Items.

Rev. W. D. SANDERS, a graduate of Western Reserve College, late pastor of the Congregational Church in Ravenna, O., has accepted the Professorship of English Literature and Rhetoric in Illinois College.

Mr. S. S. RANDALL, late Deputy State Superintendent of Public Instruction in New York, has been appointed Superintendent of the Public Schools of New York City. His salary will be $2,500 or $3,000.

Mr. JOHN OGDEN, Principal of the Normal Department in Ohio Wesleyan University, is hereafter to receive $800. The salary of the Professors is $1,000, we believe.

Mr. F. W. HURTT has resigned the supervision of the schools of Ripley, to accept a place in the Woodward High School of Cincinnati.

Mr. JESSE MARKHAM, late of Salem, is to take the charge of the Union Schools of Plymouth, Richland county.

Mr. W. J. SAGE, late of Piqua, has been appointed Superintendent of the public schools of Steubenville.

Mr. Royce, the agent of the State Phonetic Association, has, during the last month, introduced Phonotypy into the Union School, at Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson county, (Geo. K. Jenkins, Superintendent), and has lectured upon Phonetics in Wheeling, Va., in and near Harrisville, and at Franklin College, New Athens, Harrison county, Ohio.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS.-In a case of punishment by a school teacher, recently tried at Lawrence, Mass., it was conceded by both parties that in the school-room, and during school hours, the teacher is possessed of all the authority of the parent, and is not liable for any punishment of a pupil, unless it be such punishment as would be unlawful if inflicted by a parent. Verdict for defendant.

According to the Washington Star, the number of post offices in the United States on June 30th, 1850, was 18,417: on June 30th, 1851, 18,706; on June 30th, 1852, 20,901; on June 30th, 1853, 22,220; and since the last of these periods, about 1200 have been added to the list.

A grocer advertises in the Burlington, (Vt.) Sentinel as follows: 'HAMS and CIGARS, SMOKED and UN-smoked, sold by A. S. Dewey.'

OHIO STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

The sixth semi-annual meeting of the Association will be attended in Zanesville on the 5th and 6th of July next.

The opening Address will be delivered by Prof. I. W. ANDREWS, of Marietta College; a lecture is expected from JAMES W. TAYLOR, Esq., State Librarian, on the History of Ohio; and one on Biblical Archæology, from Prof. JENKS, of Urbana University: Reports are expected from Prof. J. BRAINARD, of Cleveland, on Drawing in Common Schools; from Mr. J. HURTY, of Lebanon, Chairman of the Committee on Historical Reminiscence; and from Prof. M. G. WILLIAMS, of Urbana, on the Educational History of Ohio.

Gentlemen who have heretofore been appointed to prepare Reports and have, for any cause, failed to read them, are requested to present them at this meeting; and to notify the subscriber of their readiness so to do, as early as practicable. A plan for establishing a Normal School under the auspices of the Association, will be presented by the Chairman to theExecutive Committee, and, if they ap prove it, to the Association for its action.

In accordance with a resolution passed at the Ohio Railroad Convention held in Columbus, in January last, persons will be carried to and from the Convention at half fare, on all the Railroads in the State.

Arrangements will be made to provide, as far as possible, for the gratuitous entertainment of ladies attending the meeting.

There is now every prospect of a large attendance and a pleasant and profit able session. Teachers, and active friends of Education in other States, are most cordially invited to meet with our Association, and take part in its deliberations. COLUMBUS, June 1st, 1854. A. D. LORD, Chairman of the Executive Committee.

The Association of the Friends of Female Education, will hold its second semiannual meeting in Zanesville, on the 4th of July next.

The Ohio Phonetic Association, will meet in Zanesville, on the 7th of July, immediately after the meeting of the State Teachers' Association,

The exercises of these meetings, as announced last month, will be of an interesting character: it is hoped they will be well attended.

A SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE for practical instruction in Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Geology and Mineralogy, will be attended in Marlboro, Stark county, for three weeks, from the 18th of July. Instructors, JOHN NICHOLS, M. D., Prof. JEHU BRAINARD, A. M., J. S. NEWBURY, M. D., A. HOLBROOK, and C. S. ROYCE. Tuition, $3.50. Board can be had for $1.75 or $2.00 per week. Marlboro is seven miles from Alliance, on the Cleveland and Pittsburgh, or Ohio and Pa. Railroad, and can be reached by stage every day.

A competent scholar, with suitable qualifications, to act as Superintendent of the Public Schools of Ripley, Brown county, Ohio, will be employed at a fair salary. A person who has had some experience in the method of instruction pursued in the Union Schools now established in the State of Ohio, would be preferred. Those making application, will please address: F. F. Shaw, Clerk of the Board, Ripley, Ohio.

Several gentlemen of experience in teaching are desirous to secure situations as Principals of Union Schools or Academies. Inquiries may be directed to A. D. Lord, Columbus, O.

THE

Ohio Journal of Education.

COLUMBUS, AUGUST, 1854.

Ohio State Teachers' Association.

HE sixth semi-annual meeting of this Association, was held in
Zanesville on the 5th and 6th of July, 1854.

The Association convened in the Odd Fellows' Hall on Wednesday, July 5th, at 10 o'clock A. M.: the President, LORIN ANDREWS, of Kenyon College, called to order, and the meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. J. M. Trimble, D. D., of Zanesville.

The President then made some remarks, in which he referred to the fertile and beautiful valley of the Muskingum, and to Zanesville as one of the first towns in Ohio which established a system of Graded Schools. On motion of Mr. D. C. Pearson, Mr. John Lynch, in the absence of the regular Secretary, was appointed Secretary pro tem., and Messrs. J. H. Holton and A. Samson were appointed assistants.

On motion of Mr. J. Campbell, Messrs. D. C. Smith, C. Frame and J. M. McLane were invited to the stand as reporters for the

the city. papers of The opening address was then delivered by Prof. I. W. Andrews of Marietta. Subject: "The Teacher's calling as regards himself.”

On motion of Mr. C. S. Royce, the thanks of the Association were returned to Prof. Andrews for his address, and a copy solicited for publication in the Journal of Education.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

The President in the Chair.

On motion of Mr. James Elliott, Messrs. Crippen of the Cincinnati Times, and Coggeshall of the Cincinnati Columbian, were invited to take seats as reporters for their papers.

Prof. J. Brainard, of Cleveland, from the committee on Drawing, preVOL. III, No. 8.

15

sented his report, in which he urged the importance of this as a branch of Common School education. To the report, the following resolution was appended:

Resolved, That in the opinion of the members of this Association, drawing should constitute a branch of education in our Common Schools.

After remarks on the subject by Prof. I. W. Andrews, Prof. Brainard, and J. W. Taylor, the resolution was unanimously adopted.

Dr. Lord, Chairman of the Executive Committee, presented an unwritten report on the propriety of establishing a Normal School, under the auspices of the Association. He briefly noticed the condition and arrangements of such schools in several of the States he had lately visi ted; and spoke very highly of the general plan of the Normal School in Toronto, C. W. He urged the importance and practicability of establishing, on a less extended scale, perhaps, a similar institution in our own State, and under our own control.

Mr. M. F. Cowdery also advocated the establishment of such a school. Prof. I. W. Andrews concurred in the views that had been expressed, and offered several suggestions in regard to the course of study to be adopted in a Normal School, contending that it should be almost entirely such as relates to professional training.

Dr. Lord spoke of the great interest manifested by the Teachers of other States in the success of this project.

Mr. J. H. Rolfe favored the establishment of such an institution, but objected to having it done by the State. He thought we had no right to call upon the State to assist in the professional training of teachers. He was not sure that the establishment of a Normal School under the auspices of the Association, would be the best plan; he was inclined to think that the enterprise would best succeed if undertaken by private individuals.

President Andrews, having called Mr. Nason, one of the Vice Pres idents, to the Chair, remarked that he believed such institutions should be established by the State, and that it is the business and interest of the State to educate not only its children, but their teachers. He thought it was now time that something should be done; and as the State had taken no action in the matter, that duty now devolved on the Associa

tion.

Mr. Rolfe made some remarks in reply.

Mr. E. D. Kingsley spoke of the importance of the present subject as a professional movement; but he doubted much if a Normal School were immediately established whether it would be properly sustained.