ductor;* and that silence be strictly kept, not only during the reading, but for a short space of time before and after they are read.

3. That any orderly poor person, above sixteen years of age, may be received into the school, or dismissed from it, by the conductor, or conductors; and that personal cleanliness be particularly attended to, as far as their circumstances in life will enable them.

4. That no learner belonging to any other school be admitted into this; unless it be certified, in writing, by the conductor, that it is with his approbation such learner makes application for admission into this.

Private Rules for the regulation of the Teachers; each of whom should have a copy in his possession.

1. EACH teacher to be furnished with a class paper, to keep an account of the attendance of each learnwhich is to be filled up, and laid on the conductor's table before 3 o'clock.†

er;

2. As soon as a teacher finds a learner in his class is fit to be advanced to a higher one, he is to inform the conductor who officiates for the day.‡

3. The teachers are requested to be punctual to the time of meeting; that they endeavour to preserve stillness in their classes during the school hours; and that they particularly observe the mode of instruction adopted in the school, in respect to reading and writing;

* Conductress, if a female-school.

+ Supposing the school to begin at 2 o'clock.

‡ In some instances, several conductors officiate alternately.

when the bell rings to remove the lessons, to see that each learner cleans his own slate, waiting for the second ringing of the bell to remove them.*

4. A reading-teacher to attend to one class only; and a writing teacher to two classes.t

5. At the close of the school the bell is rung; then the class next the door is to move out first, led by the teacher to the door; the other classes following in the same manner, according to the order of their seats, until all the learners are dismissed. After the room is clear

* In the particular school for the government of which these rules were framed, writing is taught; which, I believe, is the only instance in Bristol and its vicinity. For the reader to understand the latter part of this rule, it may be necessary to say, that one half of the number of scholars (of those who learn writing) are employed in that department, the other half in reading, during the first hour; at the expiration of which, the the conductor rings a small bell, as a signal for changing their employments, when those who have been writing are to go to reading, and those who have been reading, to writing. On the bell's first ringing, the writers clean their slates; when about one minute has elapsed, the bell is rung a second time, as a signal for moving the slates to the other end of the desk, for the use of those who had been reading; and the reading lessons are moved to those who had been writing.

+ One class will require the constant attention of a teacher, whilst learning to spell or read from a lesson before them; be cause the eyes of the teacher and learners are all to be fixed on a certain letter or word, upon which the pointer is placed; but the case is not the same with writers; a whole class may be permitted to write a line each, from a copy given them, whilst the teacher is instructing another class at the next desk; by the time that line is written, the teacher will be at liberty to turn from the other class, and point out any errors he may observe, or give any instructions that may be necessary; thus he is alternately employed between the two classes; for a short absence from each, is not attended with any loss to the learners.

This desirable regularity and order cannot well be observed, excepting in a room furnished with desks and forms, arranged as they commonly are in proper school houses. But most of the Adult Schools are held in private houses, and not supplied with desks, as writing is not taught.

ed of the learners, the teachers are to put the slates, pencils, lessons, &c. in the proper places appointed for them.

6. When a teacher cannot conveniently attend, he is to apply to the alternate teachers* of the same class to supply his place for that day; if unsuccessful in such application, he is to supply the deficiency from the list of supernumeraries ; and should no supernumerary be at liberty, he is to inform the conductor, the day before that on which the school is to be held, that a person may be procured to supply his place.

7. In case a teacher wishes to resign his office, he is requested to mention it to the conductor at least one month previously to his leaving the school.

N. B. The list of supernumerary teachers to be added to each copy of these rules.

Rules for the Conductors of each School.

1. THAT there be four conductors chosen annually, whose office it shall be to regulate the school and make rules for its internal government; two to attend the school alternately, who shall examine all applicants, and admit such as may be considered eligible persons; but shall not dismiss any whose names have been entered in

*In some of the schools, two teachers undertake the instruction of one class, and attend the school alternately, not being able to attend every week.

† A list of teachers is kept, under the title of Supernumeraries, over and above the number employed in the school at one time; who have given in their names to supply the places of such as may occasionally be prevented attending their classes.

the books, without the concurrence of all the conductors.*

2. That the business of the school be divided between the conductors who act for the day; and that a book be kept, in which shall be entered the age, name, residence, and time of admission of the learners; also, an account of the number present of both teachers and learners; and a class-paper provided for each class, headed with the teacher's name.

3. Should either of the conductors wish to resign his office (before the usual time of electing new ones,) he is requested to send notice thereof, in writing, to the other conductors, one month previously to such resignation, who are to provide a properly qualified person to fill the vacancy.

4. Should either of the conductors be prevented attending in his turn, he is to engage one of the others to act in his place.

5. That no tracts or publications be introduced into the school, without being previously examined and approved by all the conductors.+

6. That the conductors shall appoint the learners to their respective classes, and remove them to higher classes as they advance in learning; and also appoint what teachers they may think requisite and properly qualified.

7. That a school-secretary be appointed, whose business it shall be to keep a fair book of the minutes belonging to the school; to write all notices, if required; to attend, and enter the transactions of the quarterly meeting in a book for that purpose; and, with the con

* It is desirable to have more than one conductor, that they may occasionally relieve each other,or supply each other's places, in case of illness or absence from home. Most of the schools in Bristol have but one conductor or conductress.

+ It might be proper for the committee to appoint a sub-committee, to examine all tracts; to prevent the bias which par ticular opinions might have upon the minds of the learners.

ductors, to prepare a report, to be read at the general annual meeting of the society.

8. That a quarterly meeting of the conductors and teachers be held on the

day, in

* in every year; and that at the meeting next preceding the annual meeting, a report be drawn up, to be laid before the said annual meeting, mentioning the number of learners admitted since the commencement of the school, the number admitted in the present year, and the number now in the school, with the average attendance of the scholars; also, the number and names of the conductors and teachers, as well as a general account of the conduct and progress of the learners, with such other information as they may think necessary, in order to enable the secretaries of the society to make up their general annual report, to be printed and laid before the public.

The rules and regulations here proposed, are more particularly designed for the government of Adult School Societies, and the schools belonging to them which may be established in populous cities and towns, where two or three, or a much larger number, shall belong to such a society; but local circumstances will render it necessary to make material deviations. Where one or two small schools may be established, a few simple rules will be sufficient for their regulation. When the general principles are clearly understood, there will be little difficulty in selecting from those now laid before the public, such as may answer the purposes of benevolent individuals, who shall incline to adopt the important design of educating the adult poor. Many small schools have been established by persons wholly

Enter here the particular day of a particular week, in four certain months of the year, so as to have the meeting last preceding the annual meeting of the society, a week or more before it is to take place, that the secretaries to the society may have time to make out their general report before such meeting shall

Occur.