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them exist, except from travelling agents or through the
Post Office. Hence, reading is confined to newspapers and
magazines. The volumes of a School Library circulating
through the District, will create a taste for reading, while
they add to the fund of general knowledge. Small additions
each year will soon secure a collection of books, worthy of the
name of Library. Each School District ought to avail itself
of the provision of the law, and thus secure for the children
who are taught to read, books profitable and interesting.
If a taste for reading, be not formed early in life, it is not
likely to be formed at all. The youththful mind is active
and will be occupied. If it has not the means of useful occu-
pation it will seek that which is pernicious. Books adapted
to the tastes and capacities of the young, will interest and
instruct, filling their minds with useful knowledge, and oe-
cupying the leisure hours, of long winter evenings.
EDUCATIONAL JOURNAL.
Every State which has an energetic School System, sus-
tains a well conducted School journal. This journal is the
medium of official communication, between the School au-
thorities and the Schools, and the vehicle of valuable infor-
mation, relative to the duties of teachers.
Teaching is a progressive science, and every teacher, to
keep up with the times, must be a student. In no profession
have greater advances or more valuable discoveries beea
made than in that of teaching. There ought to be some reg-
ular plan for recording and disseminating this informatioo
among teachers just as the Thelogical, Medical, and Law
journals do for the members of the professions they represent.
The School Commissioners, who are the executive agents
of the School system, also need instruction to guide them in
the discharge of their duties; this can be given through the
journal. School officers will be incited to action, by special
and earnest appeals, difficulties will be overcome by practical
and earnest suggestions, professional information will be
imparted and become the basis of intelligent work. Such a
publication, I believe, will impart knowledge, and awaken
enthusiasm among all connected with the School system, and
will be of value in dollars and cents, by increasing the value
of the Schools.
Schools have to be sustained by constant and laborious
efforts. No system will run by itself, in any other way, than
to run down. Teachers must be encouraged by fr equent ex-
hortation, and a knowledge of the efforts and success of those
who labor in the same cause. The establishment of a school
and family journal, received the favorable consideration of
the association of Commissioners, and an effort will be made
by E. S. Zevely, assisted by an additional committee, to
commence such a publication as early as practicable in 1867.
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