Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-03-01
PORT
OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF COM
MON SCHOOLS.
OFFICE SECRETARY STATE,
Jefferson, January 4, 1S45. {

perntendent oil Common SCHOOLS.
Since the adjournment Of the General Assem-.
bly,, the plan Of public instruction which has
been adopted by the State, has met with as
much popular favor as could be expected from
the circumstances that surrounded it. The
wsrmest feeling is entertained by the great mass
Of our citizens for its universal adoption, and this
hope is checked only by the fear that the State
will not be able to continue its benefits. The
tables which are attached to this report, show in.
creased organization yearly, since the passage of
the law relating 10 common schools, and the be.
lief may well be entertained that corresponding
increase will manifest itself If the school fund
be so managed as 10 yield certain revenue. !
trust sincerely that the Legislature may think it,
duty incumbent upon them to settle this end,
| which is so essentially connected with The sue.
cessfu operation OF the system. The certainty
Of reward when his duties have been completed,
is the most active stimulus to the labor Of the
teacher, and the reverse OF the proposition is
equally true, that uncertainty and delay on this
point will not only dispirit his efforts. how zeal
GUS soever they may be, but will ultimately drive
him from his useful profession. | have found
in my experience under our code Of education,
that the surest and speediest mode Of reconciling
public opinion 10 our system and introducing it
into public favor is TO make it the interest Of the
public at large 10 adopt its provisions. \ system
that commends itself solely by the precepts that
it incuIcates, or the direction which it purports
10 give 10 popular education, how wise soever the
direction or precept may be, will never find half
so many advocates as a code Of public instruction
that fortifes its provisions by the inducements Of
personal interests. Every nation that has adop.
ted successful code Of public instruction, has
not only found itself compelled to aid it by
bolo b,, hoe boo,
PEELED to sustain it by the public revenues, and
as the system advances in its excellence, greater
bounties have been afforded by legislative wis.
dom.
Il. is needless 10 tell the General Assembly that
as the public mind is enlightened, the resources
OF the Stale become developed, and the capacity
Of the people to pay an increasing rate Of taxa.
ton, is greatly facilitated and especially when
the same taxes are restored 10 them in the shape
Of fund for public instruction. The State will
find that by coming TO the aid OF the system, and
extending it TO every possible bounty, that its
benefits will be proportionabIy extended. do
not mean here 10 say, that The State should sup.
ply from its own Golfers the deficiency that may
occur to meet the demands made on the school
fund, but that the Legislature will take such care
of this fund, that lis revenue may be permanent
and certain. 1t now amounts 10 nearly $780,
900, and The interest accruing on it, at the low
est ordinary rate, would be more than sufficient
to supply the wants arising under our code.
The last General Assembly enacted that tn,
maximum allowance to each child reported, be
tween six and eighteen years Of age, should 10
exceed one dollar. regret to soy that TIT
sum on hand for distribution in January last, ad
mitted only OF an apportionment OF fifty fou
cents to each such child. In making this allow
ance OF zone dollar" the General Assembly nc
doubt believed that the dividends declared BY
the Bank of Missouri lin which the State schoo
fund is invested) would be amply sufficient t
/ admit this distribution. but the expectation hal
been disappointed, and since the adj ournment o
: the last Legislature, no assistance has been deri
n we'd from this quarter. The amount distributed
e in January last, was the residue Of dividends, lei
in the treasury unappropriated in January last b.
the Superintendent on the first Of January, 1912
If the Bank declares its dividend on this stock a
the present session OF The General Assembly, q
, usual, there will then be- in all probability,
. sum in the treasury sufficient to meet the de
D mands on the fund from the reports Of the pre-
sent year, but when this is exhausted there vii
be nothing left for distribution on the reports {
the approaching year, unless the Bank declare
dividend in lS46. If we are at liberty 10 iudg
from our experience Of this institution this foItu
nate event is not likely 10 occur, and the cause
our common schools must suffer, and wait unit
TO the next session Of the General Assembly o.
he ours, when, perhaps. the usual dividend will b
made. This State OF things should not be ongt
, allowed. No system that depends upon pecun
airy support, could exist under SO much delay ar
so much uneertanty.
To guard against this contingency, | most rel
peclfully urge the General Assembly, if the pow
OF er 10 do so exists to authorize the transfer OF Il
cy Common School Fund from the Bank, to son
stock that will render the income from this sour
at once certain and permanent Our Ste
bonds, in my opinion, furnish this stock. Mar
of them are redeemable in short time, and m
NJ more can no doubt be purchased on reason
81 bic terms If this transfer can be effected, the
surely can be no objection TO this investment
the school fund. We shall thus lessen the bu
then OF taxation on the people Of the State,
restoring to them, in the shape Of an annu
/, amount OF State school moneys, the sums viii
they are now paying 10 foreign bond holders q
J.. even If the payment OF this interest should not
,re made sensibly lighe, We should be consoled
nd the reflection that our children are enjoying t
rs, benefits Of a debt which they will ultimately
lot called on 10 pay. But if the Legislature dc
not think itself authorized 10 take this slo
from the bank, then most respectfully sugg
that the amount lost 10 the school fund, by
- present investment in the Bank, be remburs
10 it from some other source.
1t will be fecollected that this fund was r
raised from taxation levied on our citizens. 1t
not the result OF private contribution, nor Of {
ing Request, but is fund granted us by the CT