Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-01-28
COMMON SCHOOLS IN PENNsyLyANI.


The United States Gazette notices with appro.
val, the Report of Mr.. Miller, the Superintendent
Of Common Schools in Pennsylvania, made to the
Legislature, giving much and gratifying nforma.
lion concerning the position and prospects of the
Common School System.
This Is subject now so largely engrossing the
attention of the people Of Virginia, that we deem
1t our duty 10 present every fact for their consi.
deration, which it may be our good fortune to pick
up. 1t is axiom that Experience is the best
teacher" and therefore in having the advantage
of the experience of other States, which have
preceded us in tho great work of Education, we
may escape some of the errors which invariably
attend first effarts.
We copy the Gaze,te's abstract Of the Super
intendants Report, and shall endeavor to procure
a copy Of the document itself.
at appears that in 1884, the number Of schools districts
were Ill., Of which number 939 were accepting districts
Ia ls45, the whole number 1852 and the number OF
accepting districts had increased to 1912 exhibiting an in
crease in the total number Of H. and OF accepting Districts
So During the present school yes 1896 the non accept
ing dses have been diminished and the cause Of CON-
mon school education gradually surely gaining ground
The appropriation for 1886, 100000 which will give
to each district the proportion Of forty each
An alteration is recommended in that portion Of the act
OF 1885, which regulates the evyrg Of tax by the school
Directors IN eis euthe dttirtbe provision being that
the amOun to be levied SHOULD be fixed by law with
lain discretionary powers the Directors.
1.-THE average time the schools kept open during
the year, is much less than that Of former years The
son is. Che reduction Of the State appropriation and the
consequent reduction Of the levied by the School Dr.
Eectora.
The eAPedieney q eonferrng upon School Directors
ditoTefonary power, the admission Of children be.
tween four and six Of age suggested matter for
consideration; the being that well informed people
have thought that the progress Of education been
ed blythe erowdng Of the schools with very young children
The principal practical defect 10 he working Of the
system, he considers be "tbe employment in many in
stances, Of those who have sufficiently qualified them
seEes Tor the responsible situation they in becom.
ing teaebers This he attributes "in part to the made
qusey OF the compensation frequently offered and partly
90 the too udugent and informal examination Of the COM
potency Of those who apPly for certificates as nstrue.
IOrs."
"As good and feasible means Of improving the con.
don Of our schools and eevotg the grade Of Teachers
he suggests the appointment Of County SBpsriafsndgn
whose duty should be the School Directors in
ther several districts, preside and old public e1sm
nations Sf Teachers counsel and sign certificates q
Jeaehers WhO have been examined. These officers he
think', might and ecod do, great smount Of good.
1.-THE decline Of the "Comnon School Journal" is noticed
and amenied and the report closes wifh eulogisue re-
Terence 10 the Schools of the County Of Philadelphia where
the operation Of the system hos been carried out most e.
ieohyey, and where the result has been most satisfactory