On changing from one grade to another, the pupils observe the teaching of the critics for two days, and for one day the teacher whom they are to succeed in their practice. The teaching is all done under the careful supervision and criticism of the most capable teachers, selected with special reference to their adaptation to their work. After the close of the public schools at 3 o'clock, both divisions of the Training Class meet an hour and a half for instruction in methods.

A criticism lesson is given every Monday at 34 o'clock. At this exercise some member of the class previously appointed gives a lesson with the children on some subject assigned. At the close of the exercise the members of the class are called on in turn to criticise the teaching both as to the character and arrangement of the matter and method.

At the close of the exercise, in a kind of summary, the Principal criticises both teacher and critics.

The course of training embraces one year, one-half of the time being devoted to instruction in method and the philosophy of education, and the other half to teaching under criticism.

The Oswego Board of Education are the Executive Committee, to act under the advice and general direction of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The Secretary of the Board, E. A. Sheldon, has acted as Principal of the school since the time Miss Jones returned to London.

The following extracts from a Circular of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (Hon. Victor M. Rice) presents the conditions of admission, and the Course of Instruction for 1866:

Each county is entitled to as many pupil-teachers in the Oswego Normal and Training School as it has representatives in the Assembly, and other qualified applicants are received until the accommodations are exhausted.

To gain admission to the school pupils must possess good health, good moral character, and average abilities. They must be able to pass a fair examination in Spelling, Reading, Geography, and Arithmetic, (as far as the roots;) also to analyze and parse simple sentences. Ladies must be at least sixteen and gentlemen eighteen years of age. Those who shall have passed the examination will receive a formal appointment from the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and be admitted to all the privileges of the school.

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.

Elementary Preparatory Course.

This course is limited to one term of twenty weeks, which is devoted chiefly to instruction in Spelling, Reading, Writing, Book-keeping, (single entry,) Linear and Object Drawing, Geography, (physical and political,) Arithmetic, (oral and written,) History, Grammar, Analysis of Words, to Exercises in Impromptu Composition, and to Weekly Essays.

It is desirable that all pupils, on entering the school, be thoroughly qualified in these common English branches. Those not found so qualified will be required to pass through this course under thorough instruction before entering upon the Training Course.

Elementary Training Course

This course is limited to one year of two terms, each twenty weeks; and includes instruction in methods of teaching the branches named in the Elementary

Preparatory Course, and of miscellaneous subjects calculated to cultivate the perceptive faculties. Special attention will be directed to objective teaching, and to the philosophical yet simple methods of primary instruction.

B CLASS. Methods of teaching the subjects comprised in the Elementary Preparatory Course; also instruction in the Philosophy of Education, School Economy, Physiology, Zoology, Botany, and Mineralogy, and Impromptu Composition, (oral and written.) Criticism lessons and essays weekly.

A CLASS.-The time of this class will be devoted to observation in the Model Schools, and teaching in the Practicing Schools, under the supervision of competent critics. Two hours, each day, will be devoted to Impromptu Composi tion, and to methods of teaching Form, Size, Measure, Color, Weight, Sounds, Objects, Animals, Plants, and giving Moral Instruction. Criticism lessons and essays weekly.

Students having satisfactorily completed the preceding courses will receive a diploma, signed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Superintendent of the School, the Head Master, and the Officers of the Board of Education of the city of Oswego.

This diploma will serve as a certificate of qualification to teach common schools.

Advanced Preparatory Course.

Students to be admitted to this course must pass a satisfactory examination in the studies of the Elementary Preparatory Course; one much more critical than for admission to the Elementary Training Course.

As familiarity with any subject is essential to a consideration of the best methods of teaching it, no pupil will be admitted to the Advanced Training Class until properly prepared in all the subjects of this course. Those familiar with none of the branches herein named will require a full year and a half to complete the course; others, who have mastered a portion of them, may complete it in less time.

The students of this division may be arranged in three classes, according to their acquirements. Those conversant with some of the studies of each class may take up such studies as they need to pursue, in order to pass the required examination for the "Advanced Training Course."

SUBJECTS OF C CLASS.-Higher Arithmetic, Algebra, Grammatical Analysis, Rhetoric, English Literature, Book-keeping, (double entry,) Linear and Object Drawing. Botany, and Impromptu Composition. Rhetorical Exercises and Essays weekly.

SUBJECTS OF B CLASS.-Algebra continued, Geometry, History, Natural Philosophy, Perspective Drawing, Chemistry, and Impromptu Composition. Rhetorical Exercises and Essays weekly.

SUBJECTS OF A CLASS.-Astronomy, Algebra completed, Trigonometry, Surveying and Mensuration, Mental and Moral Philosophy, Geology and Mineralogy, and Impromptu Composition. Rhetorical Exercises and Essays weekly.

Advanced Training Course.

This course will occupy one term of twenty weeks, and will be devoted to instruction and practice in the best methods of teaching the branches named in the Advanced Preparatory Course.

In this course special attention will be directed to the Philosophy of Education, School History, School Law, Science of Government, School Organization, and Discipline; to the Theory and Practice of Teaching and School Economy generally. There will be frequent Criticism Lessons and Compositions.

A course of lectures will be given on Zoology, Physiology, and Hygiene, to be accompanied by reading on the part of the class. A portion of the time will be devoted to observation and practice in teaching under criticism.

To those who satisfactorily complete the course a diploma will be given, signed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Superintendent of the School, the Head Master, and the Officers of the Local Board, certifying that the graduate therein named is "deemed qualified to teach the English branches usually pursued in the High Schools and Academies of the State."

PLANS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE STATE NORMAL AND TRAINING SCHOOL AT OSWEGO, NEW YORK.

THE accommodation provided for the Normal and Training School at Oswego, New York, is a large and commodious building, with ample grounds, located in a pleasant section of the city, and commanding a fine view of the town, lake, and surrounding country. The entire front is 153 feet, and its depth 130 feet, with ample accommodation for 600 pupils in the Model and Practicing Schools, and 300 in the Normal Department.

FIRST FLOOR.-1, Hall and Main Entrance to Normal School; 2, 2, Recitation Rooms for Normal School; 3, Laboratory and Chemical Apparatus; 4, Philosophical Apparatus and Cabinet; (Between rooms 2 and 3, and 2 and 4, are sliding doors so that two rooms can be thrown into one when required;) 5, Office; 6, 6, Assembly Rooms for Practicing Schools; 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, Recitation Rooms for Pupil-Teachers; 8, Model Graded School-Room; 9, Girls' Hall and Main Entrance to Model and Practicing Schools; 10, Boys' Hall and Main Entrance to Model and Practicing Schools; 11, Entrance from Court-Yard; 12, Covered Passage Way to Water Closets; 13, 13, 13, Girls' Cloak Rooms; 14, 14, 14, Boys' Cloak Rooms; 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, Teachers' Closets; 16, 16, 16, 16, Piazzas; 17, 17. Sinks for soft water.

2

SECOND FLOOR.-1, 1, 1, 1, 1, Halls; 2, Assembly Room and Hall, capable of seating from 800 to 1,000

persons; 3, Lecture Room; 4, Natural History Room; 5, Ladies' Dressing-Room; 6, Teachers' DressingRoom; 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, Recitation Rooms for PupilTeachers, with children from Practicing Schools; 8, Model Ungraded School-Room; 9, Cloak Room for Girls; 10, Cloak Room for Boys; 11, 11, 11, 11, Teachers' Closets; 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, Ventilators, (Robinson's;) 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, Piazzas; 14, Stairway and Covered Passage; 15, 15, Janitor's Rooms.

THIRD FLOOR.-1, 1, Halls; 2, 2, Recitation Rooms; 3, Library and Reading Room; 4, Gentlemen's

Dressing-Room; 5, Apparatus Room; 6, 6, Janitor's Rooms; 7, 7, 7, 7, Rooms for the solitary confinement of refractory children. These rooms are properly warmed and lighted.

III. ADVICE ON STUDIES AND CONDUCT,

BY MEN EMINENT IN LETTERS AND AFFAIRS.

GEORGE BERTHOLD NIEBUHR,

GEORGE BERTHOLD NIEBUHR, the Philologist, Diplomatist, and Historian, was born in Copenhagen, August 27, 1776, but his early years were spent in South Ditmash, where his father, Carsten Niebuhr, the celebrated traveler in the East, held an appointment from the Prussian government, and by whom he was principally instructed until he joined the university at Kiel in 1773. In 1795 he went to Edinburgh and pursued his studies for two years, including his visits to different parts of England. His professional studies were jurisprudence and finance, and for several years he was secretary of the Minister of Finance (Count Bermslorff) at Copenhagen, and one of the directors of the Bank. In 1806 he entered the Prussian service, was appointed one of the counselors of public affairs under Prince Hardenberg, in 1808 was sent as embassador to Holland and again in 1812, and 1816 as minister plenipotentiary to Rome. This last appointment was given in furtherance of his historical studies, to which he had devoted himself with great zeal, having given his first course of lectures on Roman History in the University of Berlin in 1810, and published the first and second volumes of his History of Rome in 1811 and 1812. While at Rome he prosecuted his historical studies, examining ancient manuscripts, edited some unpublished manuscripts of Cicero and Livy, and made his house the resort of learned men and artists of all countries who congregate at Rome. In 1823 he retired to Bonn, and in the following years until his death, on the 2d of January, 1831, he continued to read lectures in the university on Roman History and Antiquities, Greek History, Ancient Geography and Statistics, and kindred subjects, and commenced rewriting his History of Rome, and a new edition of the Byzantine Historians. In his domestic and social relations, he was simple, affectionate, and influential. He loved to have students consult him in reference to their reading, and "I have found him," says Lieber in his Reminiscences, "repeatedly rolling on the ground with his children."