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each occupier shall be responsible for the condition of the fence bordering his own allotment.

III. No occupier will be allowed to plough his land, unless when it exceeds one acre in quantity, but he will be required to cultivate it solely by spade husbandry.

IV. If any occupier be found neglectful in the cultivation of his land, he will not be permitted to hold it beyond the end of the current year.

V. It is particularly requested, every occupier of a cottage allotment be watchful over his own moral character and that of his family; abstaining from swearing and drunkenness; that they regularly attend the parish church, and his children the Sunday and daily schools; and that they are brought up in a decent and orderly

manner.

VI. The Minister of the parish, and whomsoever else shall be appointed by the landlord, are authorized to see to the due observance of the above rules and regulations.

ON MOVING FROM ONE CLASS TO ANOTHER. DEAR SIR, The remarks that were made on the subject of "Removing children from one class to another," in the last number of the "Teacher's Visitor," by a "Sabbath-school Teacher," led me to tender to you for insertion, a brief account of the plan adopted in the school in which I am a Teacher, about two years since, for the purpose of doing away with the evil your correspondent complains of.

The number of classes in our school is about sixteen, averaging about twelve in each class, and are classified in the following

manner:

The two first classes are termed local classes, and consist of the larger boys, which attend on the Sunday alone.

The

The next six classes are termed revolving classes: these classes consist principally of boys who attend on the week-days. first of these last mentioned classes is made up of the most advanced boys, and, consequently, are the most likely to be the first to leave the school. When this class is reduced to four or five boys, the next class with its Teacher moves up, and takes in these four or five boys, and constitute one class. The remaining four revolving classes move up also. So now the first class Teacher is without a class. A class is then provided for him out of the remaining eight classes, which are termed juvenile classes. So now the revolving classes are once more complete.

The juvenile classes are generally those which do not read in the Testament, but in little books named the "parables," &c.; and these are the only classes which are likely to suffer from the evil your correspondent speaks of: but this, comparatively speaking, is nothing; for there has only been one change since the plan has been adopted.

The above plan, which I have feebly attempted to explain, was designed to do away with two evils, viz: "The removing children from one class to another," and to remove a jealous feeling which was created, by some Teachers being placed in higher classes than others.

It has had the desired effect; and I have no doubt, that if a similar plan was adopted in other schools, it would have a beneficial result. A SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHer.

Liverpool, Feb. 21, 1846.

ON KEEPING UP THE ATTENTION OF A CLASS.

TEACHERS frequently complain that they are unable to keep up the attention of their class. The following simple hint may be useful to some. Instead of giving a long and laboured address and comments to children, teach them to compare Scripture with Scripture. Let the Teacher name the chapter which contains the desired reference, and the children see who can first find the verse; the one. who does, gives it out to the rest, and he whose turn it is, reads the verse. This plan not only keeps alive the interest, but to a certain extent proves the question and subject to be understood.

"WHEN OUGHT THE DOOR TO BE CLOSED?"

DEAR SIR,-As some Sunday-school Teachers appear to experience a difficulty with regard to "When ought the door to be closed?" I am induced to lay before them the plan we have adopted; and which is found to answer far better than any other we have ever tried, and to be the most beneficial for the dear children.

The school-bell is rung at nine o'clock in the morning, and a quarter before two in the afternoon, and five minutes are allowed for assembling. The door is then closed and bolted, and we unite in singing a hymn of praise to God; after which it is opened, in case any children should have arrived during that time, and they are permitted to enter, and walk quietly to their respective classes; when it is again fastened for prayer. All who are not in school before the door is shut for singing are marked "late," and lose a ticket.

The plan recommended by "W. M." in your "Teacher's Visitor' for this month, I consider to be objectionable; for, however quietly children may be "allowed to open the door during the time of prayer and praise, and to kneel or stand (as the case may be) immediately inside," yet it interrupts the devotion of the others→→ many of whom cannot be prevented from turning round to see who are the late comers, just, alas! as too many of their parents and betters are in the habit of doing in the house of God.

Hoping that this subject may soon be brought to a close, and that you will kindly favour us with your opinion upon it,

March 12, 1846.

I remain yours truly,

R. P. B.

In bringing this subject to a close, the Editor begs to offer his opinion.

Inasmuch as punctuality is an essential point of education, he considers that the best plan which most effectually enforces it. Let the list be called over in the first place-say at nine o'clock precisely, or the tickets given to those who are present, as the custom may be; after which, let the school devotions commence. Let the doors then be bolted, and none admitted till after the prayer. All is thus kept quiet during the devotions of the school. This is an essential point; and experience proves that the fear of losing a ticket, or getting an absent mark when the list is called over, ensures, very successfully, regular attendance.

TICKET SYSTEM.

REV. SIR,-In the December No. of the "Teacher's Visitor," you detailed a plan that you intended to adopt in your Sundayschool for rewarding the children according to merit; since then I have also tried it; and my object in writing is to beg the favour of your inserting a more particular account of the kind of tickets given in exchange for the specified number, also the kind of rewards, so as to make a distinction. If you have a circulating library, you would perhaps give some hints as to the best way of lending out the books. Could they be made rather a stimulus to promote the attention and diligence of the children? S. S.

To the Rev. D. B. B.

MR. EDITOR,-In reply to the queries put to me by S. S., with regard to the ticket system I have adopted in my parish, I have pleasure in giving him any information which is likely to prove useful to him.

As to the kind of tickets made use of, bone are decidedly the best,

but they are very expensive. I use bone ones, with the initials of my parish stamped on them, and a little hole bored in them for enabling the children to string them as they receive them, and then they bring them in strings of twenty-eight to be exchanged for larger ones. I make use of white bone ones for the small tickets, and red ones for the large tickets. But I should recommend tin tickets for general purposes, and they are to be obtained on very reasonable terms. I supply each teacher with a little bag, which contains the number of tickets required for his or her class. The bags are gathered after school and sent to me, and I bring them with their proper supply to the school on Sunday morning.

As to rewards, we give them in the shape of books in the summer, and clothing in the winter. I have £5 worth of books of all sizes and prices at a time, from Groom, of Birmingham, who sends me a nice selection. A Society's prayer-book, or a church hymnbook, or a little Testament, makes a nice first class prize. And as to the clothing, I buy a stock at wholesale price, and distribute it in proportionate quantities. For instance, two yards of flannel, at 1s. per yard, or four yards of print, at 6d., or six yards of calico, at 4d., makes a nice first class prize; and for a fourth class prize, three yards of unbleached calico, at 2d. per yard, or one yard of print, at 6d., for making an apron, can be given. And the intermediate prizes will, of course, be in the same proportion. Feb. 28th, 1846.

TAKING MONEY ON SUNDAYS.

SIR,-Observing in your valuable "Visitor" for this month a letter respecting the selling of books on the Sabbath, containing an anecdote of a child buying fruit on the Sunday, and defending herself on the ground of the practice of selling Catechisms, &c. at the School, and concluding with a question as to "what difference there is between these two practices?" I would beg to offer a few remarks on the subject, if you think them fit for insertion, though I have not time to go fully into the matter; and I should answer the question by saying, that in the one case a person was pursuing his ordinary worldly calling for his own emolument, while in the other the Teacher is seeking no personal profit, nor is he selling to any worldly purpose. But the main point to be settled is, what is the spirit and meaning of the command? I should imagine it was, that a certain part of our time was to be rescued from our worldly affairs, pursuits, thoughts, and occupations, and given to the service of God in worship and the improvement of our souls; and if this be allowed, we shall see, that the pursuit of our worldly calling on

the Sabbath must be contrary to the spirit of the command, while any thing, the object of which is to promote our own or other's spiritual improvement, even the selling Bibles, Catechisms, wherein to learn of God, when necessary, is not contrary to it. I have said when necessary, because, certainly, I imagine that where it can be done as well they should be sold in the week. In many cases, however, if not all, this is quite impossible.

It is a pity the subject of emulation is not gone into fully, for it is a very important one. I should be glad if any Teacher would state how he reconciles the adoption of it as a moving force with these passages of Scripture: "In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." (Phil. ii. 3.) In honour preferring one another." (Rom. xii. 10.)

Pentonville, 5th March, 1846.

66

ON PRIDE IN TEACHERS.

HARRY.

REV. SIR,-May I venture to propose a subject for the prayerful consideration of Teachers, and for the pen of some of those persons who enrich your columns with their valuable remarks?

Should not persons ask themselves, before they undertake to be Teachers, whether there is any part of the duties of the office which they think it would be beneath them to fulfil?

It has been my painful lot to observe Teachers habitually walk off when the children leave the school-room to repair to church-on some occasions the children have been allowed to go entirely by themselves-in whatever order they pleased, or rather in the greatest disorder, some taking the opportunity to run away.

Those Teachers who act as I have stated also object to sit with the children in church, even on an emergency, when those who will sit with them are unavoidably absent. This seems to tell me that their conduct results from some powerful feeling; and what that feeling can be, if it be not pride, I am at a loss to conjecture.

Should persons who thus act and feel take upon themselves to be Teachers?

A Teacher I look upon to be a quasi parent; and as it is lovely to see parents bringing their children to God's house, and sitting in the midst of them, teaching them to worship and to attend to the word spoken by the minister, so it is also desirable to see Teachers doing the same. If the Teachers take the parents' duty into their hands, they ought not to reject any part of it. But surely, sir, when the Teachers can suffer their children to stray-when their orderly deportment on the way to church, and their reverent behaviour in church, are not matters of interest and obligation with

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