The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-03-10

ton on the lst Tuesday Of May, is4o. RE psyy.
ment Of this tax, equal to 644 cents for each taSa
bic, will probably enttIe them beside relieving them
from the poor school tax, to a state APPROXIMATION
equal to 81 for each taxable for the second wear
So that the payment of 81 80 for each taxabla r.,
two years, will enable those districts to receive Ss
for each taxable, from the state in the same time.
Hence IT seems to be for the interest of the non.
accepting districts to take the matter seriously into
deiiberatlon Independent Of all considerations aris.
ing irom the merits or dement's Of the Common
School System
Though the system is yet in its infancy, II has
Piouepeq some decided and sslutary changes in the
districts which have adopted il. Wv
The School Houses are generally much yo,,o,od
being either fiew well repaired, and more canal
y and conveniently located than formerly.
The compensation Of Teachers is increased fully
one third aud the profession is rapidly and propor
tonatey rising in usefulness and independence
The number of Children taught in the Common
Schools is at least double that Of the schools which
preceded them in the same districts.
The duration Of teaching in each year is about
the same
The kind Of instruction is in all cases as good
and in most better than in the old schools. ~,
1he cost OF teaching, notwithstanding the in
creased compensation of the teachers--the impro.
ved condition OF the house. and the better order and
KIND oil instruction. tits only one half of what it was
before the system went into operation Formerly i,
was 81 20 on an average over the state now il is
81 l29 for each pupil per quarter.
In the old schools some paid for their own edu.
cation, and some were educated at the expense of
the county. This unpleasant distinction is not
found in the Common Schools All receive the
same instruction, paid for out Of the same common
stock There is no room, therefore, for partaIitv
on the part OF the teacher towards particular pupils
CT of distinction among the scholars.
But 1t Is not on account of these its undeniable
fruits, that the non-accepting districts are now ad
dressed. These facts are alluded to merely 10 show
that there is no danger to the experiment. The OBJ
Ject OF the Superintendent is to lay the whole mat
ter before those districts that they may act under
standlngly on the subject, when they make their
| final decision next spring.
AS friend, he would advise all TO accent the svs
TEN for the next two years, because at the end of
that time It can be discontinued If found insufficient
In the mean time the accumulated funds of five
years will be secured and can be applied to the per-
manent improvement of the school houses of the
District, and to fair trial of the Common School
mode OF teaching. At the end of that time, if the
system be discontinued each District will be in pos
session OF good school houses and of increased ex-
perlcnce in the subject of instruction which will be
amply worth the small tax paid for them.
If the system be accepted by any of the districts
in question, the Superintendent would advise that
such citizens have heretofore been opposed to i
but who are candid and intelligent men, shall be
elected directors They will have it in their power
to keep down the amount OF taxation, and to test
the experiment in such manner as to prevent any
imputation of partiaity for the system Such men,
also, reprcsentating the feelings of the majority Of
1 4tn l.,t~, ~,..N L. .,,lI e
them, and the result whether for or against Com
mon Schools, win be satisfactory to the district.
THO. H. BURROWS,
Superintendent Of Common Schools
SEcRETARY's OFFICE,
Harrisburg Jan. l3, 1888. 8