Wide discretion, as to the classification of the Common-schools, and as to the extent of the studies in them, is given to the _Towns_. In some, the people, or their commissioners appointed to superintend the schools, are content with a single grade or _tier_, in which are taught merely the _necessary_ sorts of knowledge, from Arithmetic downwards. Others classify them, into 1st. _primary_ schools, where only spelling, reading, and writing, are taught: 2nd. _secondary_ schools, for the rudiments of Arithmetic, Geography, English Grammar, and further progress in reading and writing: 3rd. _Apprentices'_ schools, where the above branches are further taught, with the addition of some History, Book-keeping, and Geometry: 4th. _High_ schools, for Algebra, Geometry, use of the Globes, Latin, (and sometimes Greek) with perhaps the elements of Natural Philosophy. The classification sometimes stops at the third, sometimes at the second, tier. There are but few towns, in which it is carried to the fourth. Worcester is one of these: Boston, and Salem, are the only others that I heard of. In the first and second grades, boys and girls are schooled together: in the higher grades, male and female schools, are separate. Latin and Mathematics are coming to be considered as a regular part of female education, throughout the North. But I have not ascertained satisfactorily, whether it is a mere smattering that is taught, or so thorough a course as may solidly improve the memory, taste, judgment and reasoning powers. In relation to women even more emphatically than to men, (it seems generally agreed) these studies are less to be prized, for any specific pieces of knowledge they furnish, than for the activity, strength, acuteness and polish, they give to the various powers of the understanding. The Yankees are too shrewd, and too habitually observant of practical utility, not to perceive this truth, and act accordingly.