Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-02-27
(Concluded nert ,1eek
INDIANA LEGISL ATURE.

Report of DIR. NJ LANcA sTER, made on the 3oth
of January 1911, the Appointment Of a
Superintendent of Common Schools
Mr.. SrEaKER:-Thc select committee to whom
was referred the resolution of the House, respec-
ting the appointment of Superintendent oil
Common Schools; having examined tho SUBJECT
"',. go - 80 'rnnnr'ance seemed to re-
quire; they have directed me 10 nuke the follow
ing report:
The office of Superintendent, has been adopted
in q number of our States, W. as IN several
countries Of Europe; W here systems of Common
Schools, have been established; and every where
as far as the Committee have ascertained, with
uneauvocal success. In Ohio, Pennsylvania,
and New York the press teens with evidence OF
the snutary influence That may arise from the
exercise Of even one enlightened mind; when nll
its energies concentrated upon one object, the
development of all the resources of tho State
belonging to education; and giving a proper di
rec,ion to its varied interests In those States,
under thi, officer the school funds have been bet
ter preserved and distributed tho quali6cat ton
of teachers advanced parents have been arou-
sed to higher appreciation of the benefits of
education the school houses quality Of books,
and the whole cause submitted TO his care, and
supervision; have received impulse and i'm
provement, highly gratifying to tho friends OF
such office, and amply romuneraing the pub
lie for tho expense incident to IT, Although IN
Pennsylvania, and for long time in New York,
the duties belonging to the office, wero dischar-
ged by the Secretary of State. In consequence
Of which, the superintendent, was prevented from
visiting the different portions of the State and
giving that undivided attention to the interests OF
education, necessary to realise the full bene-
fl of his appointment.
The committee conceive that tho situation of
our school fund, pnd tho ~o..i:,;~.. IS ---~~~-
schools among US; seriously require more rigid
investigation, than they are likely to receive I'M
der existing arrangements 1t is found, by re-
ference 10 the returns of the United States Mar
shnI for the State of Indiana, thai in the number
Of our citizens destitute of education, and in the
number of our schools, and of pupils attending
them, compared with all those between ; md II
years Of age to be educated; well as with those
States, having a more efficient organization of
common schools; and where they have had, for
years, the aid Of Superintendent, our situation
presents most unfavorable appearance.
The whole number Of children in the State,
between the ages of FIVE and ,wenty-one, amount
to near three hundred thousand. Of these there
Of males, between 5 and 10 years, 81 ,29l, -
between 10 and Is. 1924, aud Of those between
Is and 20, $500: whole number of males, be-
tween 5 and 90 years, l4o,lo7. OF females,
between and 10 years, 50 59o,-be,woen 10
and Is years, 43, 0s9, and of those between ID
and 90 81, i22: whole number of females, be-
tween and 20 years, 1884, ol We find in our
six colleges and universities 392 students. In
the 40 Academies and Grammar schools 2to3
tuAe nd in md
400 students, and 400 of them O, public
charge. while IS o62 white persons, over twenty
one years, are returned, unable either to read
write.
What an exhibition is here presented OF the
state OF education with US! Not a sixth of those
whom the law contemplates objects of its care
and whom the trainers OF our constitution, with
parental regard, decreed should receive the boon
OF knowledge, were enjoying, at the time the
census was taken, the privileges which, under
proper regulations, would be nestimable; Of an
attendance even in primary and common
schools. When, in the State of New York. under
her enlightened system. which the aid of her SUI
perntendent has greatly assisted 10 produce.
scarcely any found of suitable age who have
not been recipients of the benefits of a common
school education. While 10 near forty thousand
OF our adult population, the ages past are occlu-
deo,-to them the volumes of its history the re-
corded lessons of human experience, have never
been unfoded The wisdom of an tiquity canno,
insraet--its eloquence animate or lis poetry
dciigh: them And tina, communication with en-
Hghtenea minos OF every age. that books afford
us; the raihiess hat of their destiny. that has
denied them an acquaintance with letters with
few exceptions, has foreve, closed Eve, h,
story OF our nations birth, its tolls aud trials and
al the glorious manifestations it gave to the
~or'o' OF tho geniu. and virtue of our patriot
sires-and ct those pure lessons of patriotism
they taught, come 10 them but as ,radliions wild