operation by pen and purse, I ventured in 1856 on the first number of the American Journal and Library of Education-and there now lies before me the Announcement for 1878, and the Contents, not yet printed, of the first Number of Volume XXVIII.-the third volume of the International Series, and the last, I shall, in all probability, edit. I think I can safely point to the Classified Index to the first sixteen volumes, and to the General Index to the volumes from seventeen to twenty-four, for a range of topics in the history, biography, organization, administration, institutions, and statisties of National Systems, and in the principles and methods of education, not be be found elsewhere in the English language. It falls far short of my own ideal; but the work has been prosecuted without that coöperation from school officers and teachers on which I had calculated, and which I still think the magnitude and practical value of the work justified me in anticipating.

"I intend to make one more effort to bring the enterprise to the attention of my personal friends and of the school men of the country and to solicit their coöperation in placing a set of the Journal, or of the several treatises made up from the same in the State Library, the Normal School, City and other Superintendents, the College, and other public libraries of each State.

"If I am successful in disposing of enough sets or volumes of the Journal, or of the Special Treatises, to meet the obligations which mature before the first day of May, I shall continue the publication to the close of Volume XXVIII. and a General Index, at least to all the volume indexes will be prepared and bound up with the same.

UNIVERSITY;

CALIFORNIAL

Preface.

THE plan of a series of publications, embracing a periodical to be Issued monthly or quarterly, devoted exclusively to the History, Discussion, and Statistics of Systems, Institutions, and Methods of Education, in different countries, with special reference to the condition and wants of our own, was formed by the undersigned in 1842, on the discontinuance of the first series of the Connecticut Common School Jour nal, commenced by him in August, 1838. In pursuance of this plan, several tracts and treatises on distinct topics connected with the organization, administration, and instruction of schools of different grades, and especially of public elementary schools, were prepared and published, and the material for others was collected by travel, correspondence, purchase, and exchange.

The further prosecution of the work was suspended in consequence of his accepting the office of Commissioner of Public Schools in Rhode Island, but was resumed in 1849, on his resigning the same. In 1850 the plan was brought without success before the American Institute of Instruction, at its annual meeting at Northampton, in connection with an agency for the promotion of education in New England. Having been induced to accept the office of Superintendent of Common Schools in Connecticut, for the purpose of reestablishing the educational policy which had been overthrown in 1842, the undersigned undertook to carry out his plan of publication by preparing a series of reports and documents, each devoted to one important subject, under authority of the Legislature. In this connection " Practical Illustrations of the Principles of School Architecture," "Normal Schools, and other Institutions, and Agencies for the Professional Training and Improvement of Teachers," and "National Education in Europe," were prepared and published, Firding that the anxieties and labors of office, combined with that general correspondence, and special research and reflection which the completion of the series required, were too much for his health, he resigned his office, and addressed himself to the execution of the latter. Failing to enlist either the Smithsonian Institution, or the American Association for the Advancement of Education, in the establishment of a Central Agency, the undersigned undertook, in March, 1855, on his own responsibility, the publication of a Journal and Library of Educaticn. Arrangements were accordingly made in April, to print the first number of the American Journal of Education, in connection with the publication of the proceedings of the Association for 1854, to be issued on or before the first of August, 1855.

After much of the copy of Number One was in type, a conference was held with the Rev. Absalom Peters, D. D., who contemplated the publication of a periodical under the title of the American College Review, and Educational Magazine or Journal. This conference led to the combination of the two periodicals, and a joint editorship of the American Journal of Education and College Review. The first number was published in type, style and matter as prepared by the undersigned with the adoption of the Prospectus already prepared by Dr. Peters for his magazine, modified, so as to merge the prominent feature of the College Review in the more comprehensive title of the American Jout. nal of Education.

In the preparation of the second number, it became evident that two could not walk, or work together, unless they be agreed, and by mutual arrangement, and for mutual convenience, it was determined after the issue of that number, to discontinue the joint publication, leaving each party" the privilege of publishing an Educational Magazine, for which he was entitled to use the first and second number of the American Journal of Education and College Review, as number one and two of his work."

In the spirit and letter of this arrangement, as understood by him, the undersigned resumed the title and plan of his own Journal, and has completed the first volume by the publication of a number for March and for May, with this variation only, that he has given his subscribers more than he originally promised, and in the further prosecution of his work, shall include in the Journal much that he intended for chapters in some of the treatises which were to compose the Library of Education. Should the Journal be sustained by a liberal subscription list, and should the health of the present editor admit of the requisite labor, it will be continued for a period of five years, or until the issue of ten vol umes, conducted substantially on the plan of Volume I.

The editor will studiously avoid the insertion of all topics, or papers reign to the great subject to which it is devoted, or of a single line or word calculated to injure intentionally the feelings of any faithful aborer in any allotment of the great field of American Education. HENRY BARNARD.

HARTFORD, CONN.,
MAY 1, 1856.

I. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION.

DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.

ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

Issued as a Circular in May. 1855, and pul lished in August following, with the first number, and again with a Postscript in January, 1856.

In the great educational movement now going forward on this Continent, and especially throughout all the states in which the English language prevails, there has seemed for many years to the undersigned to exist, if not a demand, at least the want, not only of an American association of the friends of universal education, but of a series of publications, which should, on the one hand, embody the matured views and varied experience of wise statesmen, educators and teachers in perfecting the organization, administration, instruction and discipline of schools, of every grade, through a succession of years, under widely varying circumstances of government, society and religion; and on the other, should harmonize conflicting views, expose real deficiencies, excite to prudent and efficient action, and serve as a medium of free and frequent communication between the friends of education, in every portion of the great field.

In furtherance of these objects, a Plan of Central Agency for the increase and diffusion of knowledge on this subject was submitted to the American Association for the Advancement of Education, at its annual meeting in Washington in 1854. One feature of this plan was the publication of a Journal and Library of Education; the former to be issued in monthly or quarterly numbers, to embrace the current educational intelligence of the world, and the discussion of topics of immediate and pressing interest;-the latter to consist of a series of independent treatises, each devoted to the development of an important subject, or department, and embodying the reflections and experience of many minds, and the working and results of many institutions; and the whole, when complete, to constitute an Encyclopedia of Education. The plan was referred to a committeeconsidered and approved; and the Standing Committee were authorized to carry it into execution as far and as fast as the funds of the Association should admit. In the absence of any funds belonging to the Association, and of any pledge of pecuniary coöperation, on the part of

individuals, the Committee have not taken any steps to establish a central agency for the advancement of the objects for which the association was instituted, or felt authorized to provide for any publication beyond the proceedings of its last annual meeting. Under these circumstances, the undersigned has undertaken on his own responsibility, to carry out the original plan submitted by him, so far as relates to the publication both of the Journal, and the Library— relying on the annual subscription of individuals in different states, and interested in different allotments of the great field, who desire to be posted up in the current intelligence and discussion of schools and education, to meet the current expenses of the former; and on special contributions in aid of the latter, by persons or institutions interested in particular treatises, as their preparation shall be from time to time advanced and announced.

The First Number of the American Journal of Education will be issued in August, on terms which will be set forth by the publisher. As it will be devoted exclusively to the proceedings of the American Association for 1854, it will not present the usual variety and arrangement of topics, which will characterize the succeeding numbers.

The first treatise or volume of the Library of Education will be published in the course of 1856, under the following title, "NATIONAL EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES; or Contributions to the History and Improvement of Common or Public Schools, and other means of Popular Education in the several States," on terms which will be hereafter announced.

HARTFORD, CONN., May, 1855.

HENRY BARNARD.

P. S. After much of the copy for this Number of the American Journal of Education was in type, a conference was held with the Rev. Absalom Peters, D. J., in reference to the plan of an Educational Journal contemplated by him under the title of The American College Review and Educational Journal, which has led to the combination of our respective plans, and a joint editorship of THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND COLLEGE Review.

NOTE TO NEW EDITION.-The agreement for the joint proprietorship and editorship of the American Journal of Education and College Review, having been dissolved by mutual consent and for mutual convenience, the undersigned has resumed the publication of the American Journal of Education on his originai plan. A portion of the material intended for the first volume of the American Library of Education, will be published in the American Journal of Education. Dr. PETERS will continue the publication of an educational periodical to which he has given the joint name. H. B.

HARTFORD, January 7, 1856.