need of a general uplifting, renovation and vitalizing-a general advance towards higher aims, worthier conceptions and wiser means in our common school work-is most imperative. Tens of thousands are leaving the public schools every year, to return no more, with scarcely the elements of a good English educationwith no adequate preparation at all for the actual duties and business of life—with not even the rudiments of knowledge clearly and securely gained. Especially is this true of our primary schools, beyond which the great mass of the youth in the rural districts do not go. Hence the paramount importance of making our elementary schools more efficient and practical—of organizing them upon sounder and better principles-of regarding them not as limited to a narrow and meager routine of preparatory studies, whose value depends upon their connection with those that are to follow-but rather as enfolding the germs and principles of the entire course, as the initial stages of that comprehensive and symmetrical culture of the whole mind, of which the higher grades are but the further development and expansion; so that the pri mary school shall be complete in itself, and, if the pupils never advance further, that they may at least have the foundations, the beginnings, of true culture and progress.

It was my privilege, last October, to visit the graded school in Aurora, Kane county, of which Mr. Wm. A. Jones is the principal. I was so impressed by what I saw and heard, that I requested Mr. Jones to furnish a statement or report of the organization, discipline, instruction, etc., of his school, for publication in the biennial report of this department. He kindly consented, and his statement will be found in the appendix to this report. I invite to it the special attention of all who are interested in the improvement of our public schools-of our primary schools particularly. It illustrates and confirms the ideas suggested in the former part of this paragraph, better than any words of mine could do. I publish the paper as a practical and very valuable contribution to the cause of common school improvement. It deals with facts; it shows how our common schools may be rendered immeasurably more efficient and useful. It reveals the true idea of a graded school-the grand possibilities of our noble system of education.

THE WESTERN COLLEGE ASSOCIATION.

In the year 1866, upon the suggestion and at the request of Rev. David A. Wallace, President of Monmouth College, Illinois, a convention of the college presidents of the State was called by presidents Blanchard, of Wheaton, and Burroughs, of the University of Chicago, which met at the latter institution and formed what is now the "Western College Association," consisting of all officers of the colleges in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. (Ohio was omitted by inadvertance, but its college faculties are invited to unite at the next annual meeting.)

It was proposed at the first (Chicago) meeting to organize on a more extended basis, but as there were present at that meeting only representatives from the colleges of Illinois, it was thought immodest to call themselves a "Western" organization, and they took the name of "The Illinois College Association." The first annual meeting at Springfield, however, was addressed by president Fairchild, of Oberlin College, and others from other states; and at the second (last) annual meeting, in Bloomington, Illinois, on motion of president Haven, of the University of Michigan, president Blanchard, of Wheaton, Dr. Haven, of Michigan, and Dr. Gregory, of the Illinois Industrial University, were appointed to invite the faculties of the above seven states to meet at the next annual meeting, at Evanston, Illinois, at the call of the executive committee; which invitation the three gentlemen above named have, by circular, already extended to the colleges in the states aforesaid.

The meeting at Evanston next summer is, therefore, likely to be the largest and perhaps the most important strictly educational meeting yet held in this country.

At these meetings important questions of every kind relating to organization, government, instruction, and whatever affects the welfare of colleges, are presented; generally, an essay or address opens the discussion, and the subject receives such further examination as occasion may allow or the body choose. The committee on the next meeting have already assurances of assistance, by essays or addresses, from Messrs. Gulliver, Sturtevant, Chapin, Haven, and others. The history and proceedings of the association are soon to be issued, under supervision of Prof. Mitchell, of Shurtleff College.

THE WESTERN SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION.

This organization, which was perfected at Chicago, on the 12th day of November, 1868, at a convention called for the purpose, is designed to afford a platform for the free discussion of all social problems of interest to the people of the west. Its connexion with the general work of education, renders a brief notice of it appropriate in this report. This connexion is twofold. First, the plan of organization adopted embraces a division into five departments, of which education is one. The president of this department is Richard Edwards, President of the State Normal University. Second, the labors of the members are designed on the one hand to add to the sum of human knowledge, and on the other to educate the people in the knowledge of themselves and the ties which unite them to each other.

Its history can be briefly told. It is modeled after the American Association for the Promotion of Social Science, organized in Boston, in October, 1865, which was itself modeled after the British Association of the same name and character, organized under the auspices of Lord Brougham, in 1857.

The suggestion of a western association for the investigation of the facts and laws of social life in the Mississippi valley, originated with one of the directors of the American Association, Rev. E. C. Wines, D.D., whose son was pastor of a church in Springfield, Illinois. At his father's instance, the Rev. Fred. H. Wines, a very young man, but of marked ability as a thinker and writer, and of sincerest christian philanthropy, undertook the work of establishing such a society.

The first step was correspondence with leading men in Illinois, who approved of the enterprise.

At a meeting in Jacksonville, Illinois, a call for a public meeting in Chicago, Nov. 10th, was agreed upon. The call was signed by about thirty persons, including the Governor of Illinois, the Secretary of State, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, two of the Judges of the Supreme Court, the principals of nearly all the public institutions of the State, and several presidents of colleges, editors, pastors of churches, and other public men, including the governor elect. It was issued in August.

On the day appointed, November 10, 1868, the convention assembled. About one hundred and fifty persons were in attendVol. II-95

ance. A constitution was adopted, officers elected, and sixteen papers were read, of which the following is a list, with the names of the authors:

Object and Scope of this Association.-Rev. Fred. H. Wines.
Progress of Social Science in America.-F. B. Sanborn, Esq.
Woman's Work and Place in Society.-J. M. Gregory, LL. D.
The Political Education of the People.-Prof. J. B. Turner.

What shall be done with the Insane of the West?-Andrew McFarland, M. D.
Population-the Law of its Increase.-Nathan Allen, M. D.

The Problem of Domestic Service.-Prof. H. L. Wayland.
Lodging Houses for Women. -Mrs. Caroline H. Dall.

Compulsory Education.-Prof. H. A. Ford.

The Instruction of Deaf Mutes.-Prof. Philip G. Gillett, and Prof. McIntyre, M. D. Divorce and Divorce Laws in the United States.-J. W. Woolsey, D.D., LL. D.

Value.-H. K. Smith, Esq.

Licentiousness of our Age and Country.-Charles F. Coffin.

Female Reformatories.-Rev. Fred. H. Wines.

Intermediate or Municipal Prisons.-Z. R. Brockway, Esq.

A number of other papers were presented, but could not be read, for want of time. The meeting was characterized by the daily journals of Chicago as a remarkably successful one. The organization thus effected is designed to be permanent. A second meeting will be held in Chicago, next summer, and the association will doubtless become, sooner or later, one of the centres of public influence for the nation at large.

By" Social Science," is meant the accurate and systematic knowledge of the laws of human society; just as by "Natural Science" is meant the accurate and systematic knowledge of the laws of nature. The expression implies that society is governed by law, as nature is. Combined study, skillfully directed, will effect for social science what combined study skillfully directed has effected for physical science. To secure such study, this association is established. It can scarcely fail to draw forth from the mass of thoughtful men, the few for whom this class of subjects has a peculiar charm, and mutual acquaintance, and the interchange of views will increase their interest in the theme, and their influence for good over others.

Fuller information, copies of the constitution, of the published proceedings, etc., can be obtained from the Rev. Fred. H. Wines, of Springfield, Illinois, who is corresponding secretary of the association, from whose opening address I extract the following paragraph, in which the means and objects of the association are

aptly and forcibly illustrated through a comparison instituted between society (or the body politic) and the human body. "The four departments of social science correspond to the four departments of medical science. What does that man do, who desires to qualify himself to act as a physician or surgeon? First, he dissects the body. The knowledge thus acquired is called anatomy. Next, he observes the normal action and re-action of the parts upon each other. The result is physiology. Then he acquaints himself with the abnormal and hurtful action of the parts. This is pathology. Finally, he seeks to ascertain the appropriate remedies, mechanical or chemical. This is surgery and therapeutics. There is a social anatomy, a social physiology, a social pathology, a social therapeutics and surgery. These four together constitute social science. What medical science has done to relieve physical suffering, social science will do to relieve social suffering. To learn how to alleviate or put an end to it is the object of the present organization."

THE SCHOOL LAW IN PAMPHLET FORM.

There are more than forty thousand school officers in the State. It requires a large number of copies of the school law, annually, to supply them. To meet this demand, it has been customary for the Legislature to provide, at each session, for the printing of a suitable number of copies of the law, in pamphlet form, including all important amendments. This was done by every Legislature, from the time the free school system was established, until two years ago. The number of copies ordered was never less than ten thousand, and was once as high as thirty thousand. The `last Legislature omitted to make the usual provision. In consequence, this department has been unable to supply school officers with copies of the law during the past two years, and is now without a spare copy of the act in the office. The calls for it are many and urgent. The cost of the school law in pamphlet form has never amounted to quite three cents per copy. Ten thousand copies will be needed for current use during the next two years. The cost of that number, including all amendments that may be made at this session, will not exceed three hundred dollars. The subject is respectfully commended to the notice of the General Assembly.