ll
last, simply to give variety and interest to your plans. Recommend it in
conversation or in other ways to teachers with whom you are acquainted;
not as a wonderful discovery, which is going to change the whole science
of education, but as one method among others, which may be introduced
from time to time, to relieve the monotony of the teacher's labors.

In a word do not go away from the established institutions of our
country, or deviate from the great objects which are at present, and
ought to be pursued by them, without great caution, circumspection, and
deliberate inquiry. But within these limits, exercise ingenuity and
invention as much as you will. Pursue steadily the great objects which
demand the teacher's attention; they are simple and few. Never lose
sight of them, nor turn to the right or to the left to follow any ignis
fatuus which may endeavor to allure you away; but exercise as much
ingenuity and enterprise as you please, in giving variety and interest
to the modes by which these objects are pursued.

* * * * *

If planning and scheming are confined within these limits, and conducted
on these principles, the teacher will save all the agitating perplexity
and care which will otherwise be his continual portion. He can go
forward peaceably and quietly, and while his own success is greatly
increased, he may be of essential service to the cause in which he is
engaged, by making known his various experiments and plans to others.
For this purpose it seems to me highly desirable that every teacher
should KEEP A JOURNAL of all his plans. In these should be carefully
entered all his experiments: the new methods he adopts; the course he
takes in regard to difficulties which may arise; and any interesting
incidents which may occur, which it would be useful for him to refer to,
at some future time. These or the most interesting of them should be
made known to other teachers. This may be done in several ways.

(1.) By publishing them in periodicals devoted to education.
Such contributions, furnished by judicious men, would be among the most
valuable articles in such a work. They would be far more valuable than
any general speculations, however well conceived or expressed.

(2.) In news-papers intended for general circulation. There are very few
editors whose papers circulate in families, who would not gladly receive
articles of this kind, to fill a teacher's department in their colu