New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-01-08

| amount, bat unlncunoefed oy deb. and inte-,.,
NAV work out, in so limited term of vea,, y
is true. the School Fund has f.on time 10 Il.
been moderately aided in rs annual dis,r bu.;on.
from the treasury, and that row, and f,r sey.ss
wears past, it has received, and is now receiy;a-
one hundred and sixty-hve thousand dollar, -
annum from the interest of the United STATES +
post fund, a sum greater than lis whole aDpp,l
revenue This authorizes the enlarged dis,rs,
lion directed BIZ law 10 be now annually made =.
the bent'i! OF the common schools.
No Public Fund of the State is so unore,e,s
ing, set 50 aii-pervading; 50 little seen, vet 70
universally felt; so mild in It, cxactions, We, ;,
bouutiGl in ia benefits; SO ltie feared .,
cour!ed, and yet 50 powerful. as this Fund q,
inc support Of Common Sahools. Tie o,b,,
| Funds act upon the secular interests OF sccia,v
It's business liz pleasures, It's prdc It's paNics,
IT'S vices, It's msioFtunes. Chs acts upon i,
mind and lis morals Education is TO iree irsi
uut;ons what bread is 10 human life, the; SAT- NJ
their existence. The otiiec of this Fund il IA
oper ard warm the soil, and sow the seed, roe
which this olemen, Of freedom must grow and
ripen into maturity, and The heal h or sickliRts
of the y7ow,h viii measure the extent and seep.
r;ty of our liberties The thankflness We owe
10 those who have gone before US, for The ins,itu
ton OF this Fund for IL Constitutions! pru,ec.
ton. and for rs safe and prudent administrator
hitherto. we can best repay by initatHg ,he,
example, and improving upon their work as the
| increased Ueaas placed III our hands shall give
us he ability.
Few, il any instances are upon record, in
which u fond Of this description has been adAin
istcrcd. and its b0uaiies dispensed through pc.
rod OF forty years, with 50 few suspicious, accq.
sations or complaints of the interference OF enhs.
p,l,tica! or reugjous bases TO disturb The COAL
balance by winch its benefits should be EXTENDED
10 cur whole population. Tbs should Gsptinrs
as 1t has b. en-. Our school End IS not lhoaiulst
10 make our children and youth either partzsts
in politics. or seatarlans N Religion; but 10 give
them education, intel gence, sound PRINCIPLES,
good moral habits, and free aod lndeperdel!
spirit; III shot, t. make them American treema
ard Amer can citizens, and 10 qualify them 10
ipdye end choose for themselves in matters Of
politics, religion and government. Such sG.
yniui.tration OF the ilDd as sha! he calculated 10
render this qualification the most percc! for The
mature mind, with the fcweSt Influences lending
to bias the Judgment, or incline the choice, will
be the most conso~ant with our duties, and with
The best interests OF our constituents. Under
such IN administration. education Will flourish
most, and the peace aud harmony OF society be
best preserved.
Our Common School system has been SO long
8 prominent subject of legislation, as to have be.
come ma,ured and perfected in many of its most
important features. With 1t, cur whole conmu.
nity are famlliarly acquainted, and it is'quite
unnecessary for me to detaln you by remaiking
| upon it,
The subject the proper education and quail
fications OF the teachers of Common Schools, is
one OF primary interest, "a 1t has been found to DO
of prominent difficulty, in the execution of our
school laws 1t has SO frequently occupied the
abe pens Of my predecessors upon occasions like
this, and of our distinguished scholars and states
men, who have interested themselves IN theprcs
pcrily of our common schools, and the cause Of
education generally, as to leave for me little more
than to invite your anxious attention to this part
of the system, and to the existing provisions ofour
laws relating to it. Some recent legislation al.
fctinr the management ana lGsp eCtonoi schools
the licensing of teachers ard their future educs-
ton, is attracting considerable attention, and ex
citing some interest, in portions of the State
The substitution of a County Superintendent Of
Schools, in the place of the former Town Com
missioners, has given rise to dscontents IN soma
of the Counties and the proposition 10 establish a
school at the seat of government. for the educa.
ton of teachers, appears to be creating serious
apprchenslons in the minds of portions OF our CIT
liens.
Its feared that an institution for The educa-
ton o. teachers for cur Common Schools, under
the supcrintendence Of officers OF the State Gov
ernmapt, and dependent upon tie public patron.
arc ard bounty, viii lead to influences OF dam
eerous character; that teachers 50 sent out, II
the law shall! not make them 80, may feel them.
selves to be preferred and privileged class, and
that the tendencies may be to incline them to use
efforts 10 impress their pupils iavoraOy towards
the Government to which they feel indebted, and
| the system which has given them prcierrnent;
that uaiiorm religious and scctarlau, rs well as
political feeling may come 20 pervade such sn ~
stitution, and through the teachers there ecu
| Gated, be disseminated in the Common Schools,
and that in the end, species of Government e..
tabishmsnt may grow up, giving cast TO tae
education and pollica and religious opinions Oh
our youth, dangerous III lis influences and results.
| Apprchensons Of thus character have been
pressed upon me. with evidences Of popular iee!:
ing upon these subjects entitled to respect, and
feel b,und therefore, To lay them before you.
| in the same connection it IS my duty TO say
that communications from other sources, equally
intelligent and respectable, have been received
apprecia'ing moet highly these PROVISIONS o. Inc
existing laws, as great improvements lnour Com.
mon School system, aud as promising the most
suspicious results, without afofding any Just
ground for the apprehenaions to which have al
uded.
NJ opportunities for personal observation have
not been sufficient 10 cnaole me to form an opB.
ion as 70 he practical workings Of iha change
from The Town Commissioners % the Cyunty So.
perintcndenIs, and 60 not feel qualified 10 make
any suggestion or accommodation in regard
TO 1t. If there be ADJUSTS Of a serious character
they will doubtess be l.ld before you, win ne
evidences OF their existence and you anil then %
able 70 determine whether the defect be IN t's
law, oria rs admnist-at OF, and TO apply the re-
medg WHICH, the evil shown shall require.
The school for the education oil teachers can
not yet have afforded any evidence ofthc ground
lessness or justice, of the approximations to when
| have referred, and have not myself atuciec inc
subject 50 as to authorize me 10 pronounce an
opjnicn Or IN inf roOsn any neutrality-suspicious. ls-