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    that she is beginning precisely upon the plan by which every desirable result will be prevented . There is no exercise for the heart or mind in questions like these . It is a mere explaining of terms by other terras , not one of which , probably , would present a clear image to the mind of a child .

    Let Miss Macauley take her catechumen and by private conversation fiud out what is already passing in its mind . It is no easy tasi ; but affection , and desire to be right , will do much ; then may she proceed to call forth what needs assistance , and help the little thinker to

    clear up its own ideas . Hitherto she has mistaken her own mental activity for that of the child—the old , the original sin of educators . We are always disposed to sympathize with those who wish to serve their fellow-creatures , and it is mortifying to see them thus defeatiug their own plans .

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    Art . IV . —Prayers for the Use of Sunday-Schools . By the Rev . S . Wood . Mr . Wood ' s little volume will be of great value to Sunday-School Teachers , and eventually , it may be hoped , to Sunday Scholars also . The Prayers are more simple , and eveiy way better adapted to the purpose , than those in any similar collection which we have seen .

    The concluding Hints to Teachers respecting books , may also prove useful . The greatest objection to them is , that they are nearly all expensive ; and not only is this undesirable as far as respects the probable pecuniary means of a school , but also as respects the effect upon , the children . Even among the

    little people whose rank in life may entitle them to luxuries of this kind , it is much to be regretted that the taste for literary extravagancies has been allowed to reach such a height . A value for mere ornament is thus early fostered , and the more homely volume is despised . We entirely differ with Mr . Wood as to the idea of the books he has mentioned

    not being " extravagant in price . Let him compare them , as to the quantity of matter , with any published by Houlston , 65 , Paternoster Row , or Oliphant , at Kdinburgh , or still more by Westley and Davis , and he will be convinced of this . It is possible , indeed , that the bitiding and printing of the books in Mr . W . ' s list may reuder it impossible to afford

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    them cheaper : but we object to the idea of leading a child to value the book for its outward advantages . In a library , indeed , more expensive books must necessarily be purchased , and the teachers ought not to be fettered in the choice of those which will best enable them to

    perform their duty to the children ; but for the use of the pupils in school , and for prizes , ( if prizes are given , ) we could wish the scale of expeuse , on every account , to be lower . In Mr . Wood's list , we do not observe that that admirable American Tale , James Talbot , reprinted by the Christian Tract Society , has met with particular notice . " The Suspected Boy , " price 4 d . by the same author , is to be had at Mr . Houlston ' s . < s

    Christmas Day , or the Friends , " in two parts , ( 6 d . each , by the author of Devotional Exercises , ) may also be recommended . And for the library , we are rather surprised not to meet with " Principle and Practice , " by the same author .

    We now come to the subject of Rewards . Mr . Wood approves of them , but objects to the system of giving marks or tickets for what is done every Sunday . Yet he perceives the difficulty of ensuring punctual attendance , and thinks , if any exception be made to his censure of the marking or ticketing system , it

    ought to be in favour of marks for regularity in coming to school . It may not be amiss to mention a plan which has been adopted in several large Sunday-Schools , to meet the difficulty here adverted to , and with complete success . The object has been totally separated from the consideration of conduct in

    every respect , and has been effected simply by the establishment of a little Savings' Bank among the children . Every child pays a halfpenny on the Sunday , to which every five Sundays the teacher adds a halfpenny more . The money is of course the property of the child , who has the liberty of drawing it

    out once a quarter ( perhaps once in half a year would be better ); but if , except for some very satisfactory reason , the scholar fails in bringing the halfpenny two successive Suudays , his place and money for that quarter are forfeited , and he cannot be re-admitted except by a written order from the minister or superintendent of the school .

    This leaves the question of other rewards perfectly opeu , and upon this we will not now enter .

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    Critical Notices . 119

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1829, page 119, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2569/page/47/