116 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
(Bbncattonal Ifjmrtmnit. 
_22. Rochester, Si.96. 
by L. wetherell. If vve take the number actually taught in 
——-———————- - - - our schools, the yearly expense per scholar 
ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. only about $3,50. 
——— The average quarterly expense for tuition 
The Ninth Annual Report of the Rochester in 27 of the unincorporated private and se- 
BY L. WETHERELL. 
ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
Public School Superintendent. 
This is a neatly printed pamphlet of 40 
here about ten years. In 1838 the Histori¬ 
an of Rochester said.—“ There are thirteen 
common school districts, and two half dis- 
scholar in the Public Schools, is 
Difference in favor of Public Schools, 
tricts within the city limits; in one of which j j n die 07 schools above mentioned there 
districts a spacious and beautiful edifice has 
been erected—the building next north of 
St. Luke’s church—which might be advan¬ 
tageously used as a model for similar struc¬ 
tures in other districts.” 
The city of Rochester is now one school 
1st year 1,433 pupils and the entire 
cost of their yearly tuition was 
valued at $50,900—ranging from $300, the 
lowest valuation of any one of the houses, 
to 0,500, the highest. 
The children of the city attending the condition than at the present time. Much 
public schools are classified into Primary, 
Intermediate and Senior Departments.— 
of their present prosperity is ascribed to 
the faithful and efficient labors of It. D. 
There are now eight Senior departments j J° NE ‘ S > I <jS( l-» piosent Superintendent. He 
where the most advanced pupils are taught. 
The Principals of the highest grade are 
The amount expended in 1842, for the 
teachers’ wages and contingencies, was $13,- 
tho 1st of January last year, was 9,507. 
The sum expended the last school year 
as in 1842, would have given us the addition¬ 
al sum of $11,470. 
The difference in the amount raised, per 
scholar,between 1845 and 1851. was 44 cents, 
which on the per centago of 1845, would 
have added to our school money last year, 
the sum of $4,219. 
It may have resulted from ignorance. Lot 
the folly, and the wrong of lying be ex¬ 
plained, the danger set forth, and strong re¬ 
monstrance bo made against the practice; 
and if these are found insufficient, resort 
should be immediately made to more ef- 
If wo compare the amount raised with the fectual means. 
"■''"I 0 WjfT lh0 eit y, ‘'1 W “ Should a child over be punished for an 
1842 and 18ol, it wdl be seen that our school . 1 
tax has greatly diminished on this ratio.— accident r 1 Ins depends upon circum- 
In 1842 we had a population of about 22 ,- stances. If the accident was the result of 
000. In 1851, our population was probably disobedience, it may not be necessary in 
40,000; but to be within bounds, the coin- dealing with the offender, entirely to sepa- 
parison is made on the census of the previ- , .r * * .11 ,, ,, , 
J , ■ , , ,. ' , ' rate the former from the latter; though tho 
ous year, winch gave us a population of 36,- .... , , . , , h 
600. Taking these figures, we find the distmctl0n should 1)0 clearly pointed out to 
amount raised in 1842 for each inhabitant, him, and he should be brought to feel that, 
was 5 cents 1 mill. In 1851, tho sum for but for the disobedience, the accident would 
each individual, was 3 cents 8 mills. Ma¬ 
king a difference of 1 cent 3 mills. 
Again: if wo compare tho per centago 
raised on tho valuation of the real and per- 
not have happened. To punish a child for 
an ordinary accident would bo as unreason¬ 
able and unjust as to punish him for being 
sonal property in tho city, last year with the sick, or lame, or naturally deformed. 
per centage laisod in former years, it will Again, a child mav acquiro a habit of in- 
be found to bo considerably less now than “ . , , " . ,, , 
heretofore attention and become careless, so that acci 
The amount of money raised by tho city den *' s ma y be the result. If caution, rc- 
for the purposes above mentioned, has only monstrance, or tho withholding of some 
been increased about 23 per cent, while tho reward or privilege, does not remedy the 
daily average attendance of scholars in the e vil, it would certainly bo proper to resort 
schools has increased about 40 per cent. , . 1 1 
A comparison of the number of scholars to moro effectual means oi correcting it. 
in this city to be educated, with tho amount Objection. It is contended by some, that 
expended, shows not only that our.citizens “children should never be punished, for 
are very moderately taxed when compared fear of breaking their spirits.” The ob- 
with other cities, but that we are doing more . ,. , t , , 
for the education of our youth with, tho jection, however is wholly unfounded. Such 
same means, than is done in any other place. a resub; never follow, except when pun- 
Lowell. Massachusetts, containing a school ishment is inflicted unreasonably, unjustly, 
population of 5,044, raises by tax. for the and repeatedly so. In such cases there may 
support of schools, $32,597-making $6,46 bo danger> a8 the child feels that he has 
per scholar. Lvnn, with a school popula- , . " , ^ . 
tion of 2.794, raises by tax $12,057—$4.31 been injured. Lxcept 111 these, there is 
per scholar. Roxbury, 3,187 children of none. Neither theory nor experience fur- 
school ago, raises 21,655, or $6,79 per scliol- nishes any ground of fear. Judicious pun- 
ar. Cambridge, numbering 14,825 inhabi- ishment may control or direct the energies, 
tants, and having 2.982 children between 1 , . . 1 •, . ,, 
k but will not break or destroy them, 
tho ages of 5 and la, raises $20,026 for the 
"support of schools—being $6,78 per scholar. Tho “no punishment,” advocates admit 
There are 34 towns in Massachusetts, that that obedience should bo secured; but do 
pay $4 and less than $5 per scholar; 14 not tell us how it must be done. There are 
towns that pay $5 and less than $6; 11 *1 ,, , , , . , 
towns that ray *6 and loss than $7 per ‘hrw methods by winch a parent may gam 
scholar. Two paying from $7 to $8, and bls encl Wlt,10ut tho us0 of tho rod - but 
two that pay between $8 and $9; and in neither of these will secure sincere obedi- 
lect schools in the city, as reported by the 
teachers, is $3,80. In the estimate are in¬ 
cluded all the schools reported, in which the 
.,. ,. A ,, ‘ , 1 . „ eluded all the schools reported, in which the 
pages, setting forth the present condition of tuition pcr scho i ar) is i‘ ss th an $3 80 per 
the Public Schools in Rochester. The Free quarter. 
School system has now been in operation The average yearly tuition, per scholar, is $15,20 
here about ten years. In 1838 the Ilistori- I The sum paid for the yearly tuition of a 
’V. 
$22,781 
THE BUTCHER BIRD. 
The yearly cost for tuition in the Public 
Schools, of the same number, is 5,015 
Difference in favor of Public Schools, $17,676 
The average range of" studies, in the pub- 
district, containing sixteen school houses, be schools, is as high as the average range 
, . , ' ,, in the Institutions mentioned above. 
It is very generally admitted that the pub¬ 
lic schools of our city were never in a better 
is an experienced and successful teacher, as 
all our executive school officers should be. 
inale teachers; all the others, excepting the ^ 0 commend fbe Report to all who are de- 
two music teachers, Messrs. B. W. Durff.e sirous of acquainting themselves more fully 
and James Murray, are females. Tho whole of tho condition of tho P ublic scbooIs in 
number of teachers employed is seventy. Rochester._ _ 
The following salaries are paid in the sev- pp^ISHING OR CORRECTING CHILDREN 
oral departments: - 
Principals in the senior departments, $650 IIow often, said a father once tome, 
Female assistants “ “ 200 “ how often should that child be whipped in 
Females having charge of intermediate a week ?” 
departments, 250 ‘ . rn , ! , , „ ,, , . , , 
Other intermediate teachers, 180 ’ That depends upon tho object you have 
Primary teachers, 160 in whipping him. If your object be to teach 
Assistants in primary department, 120 him obedience, lie should be punished every 
Tho expense of tho present school sys- time he disobeys; but if it be to inflict a 
tern of Rochester may be judged of by tho certain amount of punishment for a certain 
following extract from the report—also its amount of mischief, the less you punish 
relation to other large cities in this respect, him tho better.” 
both East and West: What then, is tho object in punishing or 
The number of children in the city, of correcting children ? By punishing I mean 
school age, or between the ages of 5 and 16, not only tho use of tho rod hut all the va- 
in npf 4 ^’ " <lS lO/io e xr. rious substitutes. Whatever is or may be 
The amount expended in 1842, for tho . , , J 
the object with some, there can be but two 
058, making $2,58 per scholar. Deducting objects, or causes for the infliction of pun- 
the amount received from the State, leaves ishment: viz., To enforco obedience, and to 
$11,300 assessed by the Common Council correct a fault. 
upon the city, being $2,53 per scholar. , , J, 
lo ,r _,if„„ Jv „ JLi__- 1st. lo enforce obedience. As obedienco 
upon the city, being $2,53 per scholar. , , , P 
In 1845 the number of scholars was 5,750. lst " lo enlorc0 obed,cn ?°" As obedience 
Tho school money raised in the city that embraces almost everything that a parent 
year, would give per scholar $ 1 , 77 . can require of his child, this should be ear- 
The whole amount expended, including ]y, persoveringly and effectually enforced, 
the sum received from the State would give As soon as the child has learned that the 
]H The number of children of school age, on wiU of the P arcnt is Iaw ’ and a law which 
will of the parent is law, and a law which 
ho must obey, there can bo little further 
use of tho rod. The simple expression of a 
for teachers wages and contingencies, was wish by the parent will generally be all that 
$18,799, or $1.96 per scholar. Deducting noroRS o, rv 
the amount received from the County and 
State, leaves $13,820 raised by city tax— 2d - To correct a fault. If a child has by 
being $1,33 per scholar. any means, acquired the habit of deceiving 
It will be seen from tho above, that the or is disposed to deceive, this should by all 
difference between the amount raised per means bo corrected. Yet it may not be 
The same per centago per scholar last year, noccssai 7 ^ use the rod for the first offence. 
one town, tho cost is $10,52 per scholar. I once : A cumpulsory substitute for tho rod, 
The character and disposition of this bird 
is plainly visible in his countenance, and in 
all his movements, lie is the most courage¬ 
ous, fierce, and cruel bird of his size, car¬ 
rying on a constant warfare and butchery 
among the smaller birds, and the whole in¬ 
sect tribe—a propensity in which he seems 
to indulge more for sport or pleasure, than 
to satisfy hunger. We have seen him spend 
hours together in catching grasshoppers and 
beetles, sticking them upon thorns, and leav¬ 
ing them to wither in the sun. 
Our first acquaintance with the Butcher 
Bird, was in the early part of December 
1847, directly after a heavy fall of snow.— 
We stood watching a Titmouse that was 
busily engaged in picking among the branch¬ 
es of a tree. He approached so close that 
we could have reached him with a common 
walking stick, when a movement on our part 
caused him to take wing for a neighboring 
tree some few rods distant. He immediate¬ 
ly returned, pursued by what we afterward 
learned to be the Butcher Bird, and passed 
coaxing, or hiring, and leaving the offender 
“ to cry it out.” 
lst. A substitute. If this bo anything 
that compels the child to submission even 
without the rod, the effect will be tho same 
as if the roil had been used. It is tho sub¬ 
mission, not the manner of securing it, that 
“ breaks tho spirit,” if there is any breaking 
in the matter. 
211. Coaxing, or hiring. A parent may 
gain his end by such means, hut can never 
secure obedience. Besides the effect on tho 
young mind is always injurious. Its ten¬ 
dency is to encourage selfishness and ob¬ 
stinacy. 
3d. Leaving the offender “ to cry it out.” 
This, like the preceding does not secure 
obedience, while at the same time it produ¬ 
ces an unhappy effect upon tho young mind. 
It always produces a peevish, fretful dispo¬ 
sition. 
It is plain, therefore, that the Scripture 
method of training up children is the bust; 
tho most philosophical, the most consistent 
with tho principles of human nature, and 
the most happy in its practical results. 
Down East, March, 1852. 11. 
NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
Harpers’ New Monthly Magazine. —The 
April number continues tho story of llo- 
dolphus. A Franconia Story—with seven 
Illustrations—by Jacob Abbott: also, the 
Life of Napoleon, with seven illustrations, 
by John S. C. Abbott, who is now on his 
way to Europe in older to visit tho battle 
grounds, and to gain personal details from 
the surviving comrades of the Emperor.— 
For sale at Dewey’s, Arcade Hall. 
Musical Review and Ciioral Advocate: 
Published monthly,,by F. J. Huntington, 
Mason & Law : New York. Corresponding 
Editors, Profs. L. Mason and J. B. Wood¬ 
bury —tho former writing from Leipzic and 
the latter from Romo. Terms, 50 cents a 
year. We commend it to our Musical 
readers. 
The Massachusetts Teacher. —The April 
number comes filled with entertaining and 
useful matter. This monthly should bo ta¬ 
ken and read by every school teacher in our 
land. Terms, $1 per annum. 
The Connecticut School Journal : New 
Series. Henry Barnard, Esq., State Su¬ 
perintendent of Common Schools, is Editor. 
Published at Hartford, at $1 per annum.— 
The double number for January and Febru¬ 
ary, contains tho Eulogy on the life and 
character of Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallau- 
det, LL. D., by tho editor. Success to this 
new educational journal. 
A Word to Boys.— Truth is one of tho 
brightest of jewels. Many a young man 
has been ruined in allowing its brightness to 
tarnish by contact with the busy world. If, 
then, this gem still glows in your bosom, 
cherish it as you would a treasure of inesti¬ 
mable value. It is the safeguard to virtue, 
honor and integrity. Think of this and let 
no temptation, however alluring, cause you 
to swerve for a moment from its path. 
Man is greater than a world—than sys¬ 
tems of worlds. There is moro mystery in 
the union of soul with the physical, than in 
the creation of a universe. 
Carlton, N. Y., March, 1S52. 
Katk Woodland. 
“In France,” says Do Tocqucvillc, “the 
women reign; in the United States, they 
govern.” A very delicate, as well as a very 
pretty discrimination. 
Amid corruption of morals a virtuous 
man is an exilo, although he remains at 
home. 
Iiibbufj) jUabinga. 
i within a foot of our head. They made a 
j few circular motions through the air, when 
die Titmouse received a blow from the pow- 
’ erful beak of his pursuer and fell, but was 
| instantly seized upon by the Butcher Bird, 
who, after munching his throat in order to 
make sure work of him, deliberately tore 
! out his entrails, and devoured them, in the 
manner represented in the above engraving. 
This bird is by no means numerous in 
this State; and is seldom seen in summer, as 
he retires to the most mountainous regions 
| to breed, but on the approach of cold weath¬ 
er, descends to the more cultivated parts of 
the country, and at times takes up his winter 
quarters in the midst of our villages. 
It builds a large and compact nest, in tho 
upright fork of a small tree, composed out¬ 
wardly of dry grass and lined with feathers. 
Tho female lays six eggs of grayish white, 
thickly marked at the great end with spots 
and streaks of reddish brown. She sets 
fifteen days. Tho young are produced early 
in June.— Youth’s Casket. 
Into Dfjmrtninit. 
LETTER TO AN OLD SCHOOL MATE. 
Dear Maria :—Tho calender tolls us it 
is spring once more, and although f«>st and 
snow, cold winds and driving blasts, have 
visited us in company with that rude child, 
March, yet at times, I feel,the warm south 
wind upon my cheek, whispering of the 
songs of birds, and of swelling buds, and 
springing grass, and tho perfumo of sweet 
flowers, not forgetting tho blue violet, tho 
dearest of all. Dearest, because first in the 
year, and first in my young affections. It 
is the time for making maple sugar, and of¬ 
ten as this season returns, does my mind 
wander to you, to the old homestead, and 
the days of yore. Are you thinking Maria, 
of those glorious games wove had in the old 
wood, when even the squirrels shrank back, 
frightened at our glee ? And do you think 
of our more quiet rambles in search of wild 
flowers, when every brake and violet wo 
saw. wore picked, until our hands were full ? 
Have you forgotten the little pond between 
tho hills, round which we used to gather, 
and child-like, wonder hoiu much larger a 
lake was ? 
Do you remember tho old pear tree, and 
the swing—our cozy seat in the apple tree 
—and play-house by tho tansy bed ? Do 
you recollect tho large rock by tho road¬ 
side, whereon we met at sunset, and the 
corner of your father’s door yard by the 
locust tree, where tho “ Katy-dids” sang so 
merrily ? And then our walk to shod; how 
gladly did our naked feet leave tho burning 
sand of the highway, for the cooi green 
meadow grass, through which the little 
streamlet flowed. They laugh Maria, at 
thought of our bare feet, and say my stream 
was but a broad, deep ditch. But what care 
I ? Wo did not blush to sport upon, the lap 
of “mother earth,” unrestrained by conven¬ 
tional fetters. And their so called ditch— 
“ by summer never dried,” for its source was 
a pure spring, and we could ever see tho lit¬ 
tle fish, and pebbles at tho bottom,— I will 
call it streamlet stiil. 
Do you ever think of tho old butternut, 
beneath whose shadowing boughs the hours 
of noon were spent, and from which a troop 
of laughing boys and girls came running 
forth at sound of tho “ school ma’ams” ferule 
on tho window sill ? Ah, that gentle teach¬ 
er ! I will not ask, Maria, if you remember 
her; for well I know that one so loved as 
her, can never be forgotten. Years have 
passed since she was laid to rest with sum¬ 
mer’s dying flowers. (Six Autumns have 
cast their yellow leaves upon her bed, and 
soon tho blossoms of as many Springs will 
have spread their petals o’er her grave.— 
Still we love to cherish the memory of her 
virtues, and her gentle ways. Within the 
garden of our hearts she sowed the seeds of 
Amaranthine flowers, which have sprung up 
and will never fade—kept bright by the 
dew-drops of affection. 
The following poem from theN. Y. Independent, tliough 
not owned openly by tbat gentleman, may safely be as¬ 
cribed to William Cullen Bryant, the author of 
“Thanatopsis.” “It was doubtless written,” says 
the Niagara Democrat, “ in consequence of some com¬ 
ments on the latter poem in the abov • named journal, 
objecting to iton the ground that the sentiments pervad¬ 
ing it, were those of despair and annihilation rather 
than those of immortality—that thouch it might gently 
soothe our way to the inevitable grave, it threw no light 
on our pathway through • the dark valley and shadow 
of Deatn’ to the mansion of Eternal Life ” Though the 
first poem was written by Bryant before enteiing his 
twentieth year, lie has produced nothing since which, 
as a whole, equals it in all respects, and this last ema¬ 
nation from liia pen. though very beautiful, and bright 
with the consolations of religion, must rank below 
“ Thanatopsis.”—Ens. Rural, 
A VISION OF IMMORTALITY: 
be:ino a sequel to “thanatopsis” and “the hymn 
1 who essayed to shut in earlier days 
The “ Thanatopsis” and the “ Hymn to Death,” 
Wake no.v the Ilymn to Immortality. 
Yet once again, O ntan, come forth and view 
The haunts of Nature,—walk the waving fields. 
Enter the si'ent groves, or pierce again 
The depths of the untrodden wilderness. 
And she shall teach thee. 
Thou hast learned before 
One lesson,—and her Hymn of Death hath fallen 
With melancholy sweetness on thine ear; 
Yet she shall tell thee with a myriad tongue 
That life is there—life in uncounted forms— 
Stealing in silence through the hidden roots. 
In every branch that swings,—in the green leaves, 
And waving grain, and the gay summer flowers 
That,gladden the beholder. 
Listen now. 
And she shall teach thee that the dead have slept 
But to awaken in more glorious forms,— 
And that the mystery of the seed’s decay 
Is but the promise of the coming life. 
Each towering oak that lifts its living head 
To the broad sunlight, in eternal strenglh, 
Glories to tell thee that the acorn died. 
The flowers that spring above (heir last j'ear’s grave 
Are eloquent with the voice of life and hope— 
And the green trees clap their rejoicing hands, 
Waving in triumph o’er the earth’s decay 1 
Yet not alone shall flower and forest raise 
The voice of triumph and the hymn of life. 
The insect brood are there !—each painted wing 
Thnt flutters in the sunshine, broke but now 
From the close cerements of a worm’s own shroud, 
Is telling, as it flies, how life may spring 
In its glad beauty from the gloom of death. 
Where (he crushed mold beneath the sunken foot 
Seems hut the sepulcher of old decay. 
Turn thon a keener glance, and thou shalt find 
The gathered myriads of a mimic world. 
The breath of evening and the sultry morn 
Bears on its wing a cloud of witnesses, 
That earth from her unnumbered caves of death 
Sends forth a mightier tide of teeming life. 
Raise then the Hymn to Immortality! 
The broad green prairies and the wilderness. 
And the old cities where the dead have slept 
Ace upon age, a thousand graves in one. 
Shall yet be crowded will) the living forms 
Of myriads, waking from the silent dust. 
Kings that lay down in state, and earth’s poor slaves, 
Resting together in one fond embrace. 
The white-haired patriarch afid ti e tender babe, 
Grown old together in the flight of years, 
They of immortal fame and they wiiose praise 
Was never sounded in the ears of men— 
Arehon and priest, and the poor common crowd,— 
All the vast concourse in the halls of death, 
’Shall awaken from the dreams of silent years 
To hail the dawn of the immortal day. 
Aye, learn the lesson. Though the worm shall be 
Thy brother in the mystery of death ! 
And all shall pass, humble and proud and gay 
Together, to earth’s mighty charnel-house, 
Yet the Immortal is thy heritage ! 
The grave shall gather thee:—Yet thou shalt come 
Beggar or prince, not as thou vventest forth 
In rags or purple, but arrayed as those 
Whose mortal puts on Immortality ! 
Then mourn not when thou markest the decay 
Of Nature, and her solemn hymn of death 
Steals with a note of sadness to thy heart. 
That other voice, with its rejoicing tones. 
Breaks from the mold with every bursting flower, 
“ O grave! thy victory!” 
And then, O man. 
Burdened with sorrow at the woes that crowd 
Thy narrow heritage, lift up thy head 
In the strong hope of the undying life. 
And shout the Hymn to immortality! 
The dear departed that have passed away 
To the still house of death, leaving thitie own, 
The gray-haired sire that died in blessing thee, 
Mother or sweet-lipped babe, or she who gave 
Thy home the light and bloom of Paradise,— 
They shall be thine again, when ihou shalt pass 
At God’s appointment, tlrough the shadowy vale. 
To reach the sunlight of the immortal hills. 
And thou that gloriestto lie down with kings, 
Thine uncrowned head now lowlier than theirs. 
Seek thou the loftier glory to be known 
A king and priest lo God,—Then thou shalt pass 
Forth from these silent halls to take thy place 
With patriarchs and prophets and the blest 
Gone up from every land to people heaven. 
So live, that when the mighty caravan, 
Which halts one night time in the vale of Death, 
Shall strike its white tents for the morning march, 
Thou shalt mount onward to the Eternal Hills, 
Thy foot unwearied, and thy strength renewed 
Like the strong eagle’s for the upward flight! 
Excellence is never granted to man but 
as the reward of labor. It argues indeed 
no small strength of mind to persevere in 
habits of industry without the pleasure of 
perceiving those advances, which, like the 
hand of a clock, whilst they mako hourly 
approaches to their point, yet proceed so 
slowly tis to escape observation. 
Let no young man expect success or 
prosperity who disregards the kind advice 
and pious instruction of his mother. What 
can be more consoling and heart cheering in 
severe affliction than the fond recolloction 
of a pious mother's prayers and tears, pour¬ 
ed forth and shed in infancy for her beloved 
offspring ? 
O ! let thy soul remember, what the will 
of heaven ordains is good for all; and if for 
all, good for thee.— Akenside. 
