Expense no Objection. Cousin's Report Deficient.

fail, it will not be for the reason that, with a penny-wise pound-foolish policy, they groped their way in the dark, because they feared the expense of procuring those lights, which were within their reach. No objection, as it seems to me, could be made by any state to such a procedure, but its expense. Yet what would the expense be? A few thousand dollars at most-a mere nothing in comparison with the magnitude of the object to be secured.

It may, indeed, be urged as a plea to obviate the necessity of the course recommended, that we have the Report of Cousin on the state of Education in Prussia, and we may be called upon to say what need there is of further light. It is true that the eminent philosopher and educationist referred to, performed the duty assigned him with an ability honourable alike to himself and the French nation; and his Report is a mine of valuable information concerning Prussia, and of just principles in relation to education in general. But Cousin was not long enough in Prussia to become thoroughly conversant with her educational institutions.* His Report presents us with a variety

*He arrived there on the 5th of June, 1831, and left about the 1st of July of the same year.

Would answer for France, but not adapted to our circumstances.

of minute details in reference to the economy and regulations of the Normal schools, but he gives us no clear idea of the manner in which the various branches of knowledge are taught to those who are themselves to become the teachers of the primary schools. This, in fact, was hardly necessary under the circumstances; for he was to return, and to superintend in person the establishment of the national schools in France. Besides, it should be borne in mind that he wrote for a people differing widely from ours in their manners, customs, institutions, laws, form of government, and the whole structure of society. What the citizens of our several states need for their complete satisfaction is an examination by one of themselves,-a man familiar with their institutions and with their habitudes of thought, feeling, and action, who should pursue his investigations into the system with a constant reference to the question of its availability for their own republican purposes. They require for their guidance not only a Report from such a man, but that deep familiarity with the spirit of the system, and that intimate acquaintance with the minutiae of its arrangements, and with its special modes of instruction, which can be gained only by personal inspection, and can never be fully shadowed forth in

A Report from one of our own Countrymen needed.

a written Report. Between a mere composition, however eloquent or able, and this full, fresh, breathing knowledge, there is the same difference that there is between a marble statue and a living

man.

16*

CHAPTER IV.

COMPENSATION OF TEACHERS.

Present inadequate Compensation of Teachers-No Class in the Community so poorly rewarded-Wages of Mechanics and other Manual Labourers as compared with the pay of SchoolMasters-Compensation of Instructers as indicated by the School-Returns of Massachusetts and New York-Alarming Nature of the Facts disciosed by these Returns-Manifold Evils of this ill-judged Parsimony-Examination into the Claims of Competent and Faithful Teachers to receive a liberal Reward-Justice requires it-Sound Policy requires itTeachers should be supplied with the Means of maintaining a Family The Question, what would be a fair average Salary? considered-Inquiry into the Cost of the System recommended-Twenty Millions a Year for the Whole United StatesThis Sum compared with the Object in View and the Advantages that would result from the Attainment of the ObjectWhence is the Money to come?-This Question dispassionately answered-First, from the Annual Proceeds arising from the Sale of Public Lands-Secondly, from the Interest of the Surplus Revenue deposited with the States-Thirdly, from the Avails of present and additional Grants of Land for this Purpose-These three Sources would give ten Millions a YearThe other ten Millions to be raised by the Districts themselves-Those who refuse, to receive none of the Public Money-Present Endowments-Bequests-The Nation expends liberally for less important Objects-Florida WarLast War with Great Britain-Astounding Fact in relation to

Compensation of Teachers. Very inadequate.

the Cost of the Wars in which England was concerned between 1688 and 1815-Enough to Educate the whole World to the End of Time-Poverty and Economy of Nations when Education is to be provided for-Our Parsimony in maintaining Schools a National Disgrace-A more liberal Compensation to Schoolmasters essential to an efficient Education of the People-The necessary Expenditure really small in Comparison with our Resources and the Vastness of the Object to be gained.

THE Compensation of teachers is a matter of great moment, and demands especial consideration in establishing a general and permanent system of popular education. There is no class in the community whose services are so poorly rewarded, in proportion to the labour required and the responsibility involved, as those of the primary schoolmaster. The average wages of mechanics is not less than a dollar and a half a day, which would give them an annual income of over four hundred dollars. Labourers on farms, in factories, and at most other occupations, can easily realize two hundred dollars a year, and frequently

more.

How stands the matter with respect to schoolmasters? The school-returns in Massachusetts and New York, for the year 1834, show the following results: in the former of those states the average sum paid for instruction in each schooldistrict for that year, was a hundred and fourteen