The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-04-21
OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, FRIDAY, April 81, l848

proper discharge Of their respective duties.
Among the most prominent Of these officers
are the school commissioner aud cr oNCio
county superintendent, and the township
treasurer, who is cr.oficio township super
intendent Of schools. In section Ia and CT
of our Schoollaw detailed duties are prcscri-
bed for these officers, which, if properly dis
charged, cannot fail TO render manifest as
si>tanee in the establishment and cCutin-
ued prosperity Of our schools. All other
school officers have a weighiy responsibility
devolving upon them, which they cannot
with safety neglect.
1t entirely upon these officers that il
devo!vcS to see that the condition Of our
schools III the different counties, is so repre-.
scented as 10 be fully and fairly set forth in
the report Of the State Superintendent the
Legislature Of the State.
y great want Of promptneSS was manifeS-
ted by many county officers in making their
returns TO my predecessor, the consequence
Of which -, that more than forty counties in
the State are entirely and unavoidabiy an.
reported IN his communication to the Legs.
laturp.
twill become my duty in short time to
forward a circular to each commissioner of
common schools for snch report from him
as Is required by law, in answer TO numer-
Gus heterogeneous which will, ut the proper
time. be presented in a systematic form. In
order that attention may be called to the ma.
mre Of these enquiries. will suggest that
the following information vii! probably be
desired. viz:
The number Of schools in each township
in the respective countless number taught
by males and number by females; number
Of scholars in attendance; aud number of
white persons under twcuty-one years Of
age, and amount Of township funds. The
amount annually expended IN each township
for schools; amountraiSed BY an dd rdiOreHt
tax: number Of school houses and their con-
dition; amount of school lands sold price
per acre number of school dis'rict.: aver
age pay per month Of teachers. male and
female; and probably, information and Sug
gcStonS necessary TO show the condition Of
common schools in the state, with the view
Of laying the same before the Legislature.
The Official duties ofthc Secretary Of State
utterly precluding the possibility of his Wis
ting the counties as Superintendent. render
it particularly imperative upon all school
officers that their reports lie made with
.
Parents. teachers. school directors. and
all county school officers or agents. cannot
be ignorant the advantages TO be derived
from the communication Of Suchiuformaion
and such suggestions as it is in their pow
trto furnish 10 the county school commits
>Ioncr, aud which can be derived from
no other source. And it is confidently
expected, that the county commissioner
will manifest 40 IcmisSuCSS in discharinC
his whole dUty IN lhns respect. hy making
fEll, prompt and correct reports to the state
Superintendent.
FemGic IcachpT-In former circular !
briefly alluded to the peculiar demands OF
females upon our citizens, as teachers of the
public schools.
One Of the most celebrated and talented
advocates of common schools IN the United
States, lIENRY Barnard, Esq, a name
which will be transmitted to puStcritv, q
among the brightest lights of the pres cnt
age and to whom am indebted for many
oi my present suggeStious.) in abiding 10
the failure 10 employ female teachers. very
appropriately says. ''thlS is one evidence Of
the want OF prudence in applying the school
funds of the district. and Of the low appre-
citation of the peculiar talents Of females.
when properly educated. as teachcrS-theiI
more gentle aud refined mannerS-pure
morals, stronger interest and grCatcrtaCt and
coulcntment, III managing aud inSlrucunc
young children, and of their powers when
properly developed, of governing even the
most Wi.j and stubborn mind by moral inlu.
cnccS. Convinced as | am from many year,
observation in public schools. that these in.
al,
should on the manners and morals Of the
children educated in them, till large mum
Der Orwell trained and accomplished iema,ls
are employed permanently rs teachers, eth.
er aS principals or assistants. have every.
where and on all occasions urged their pc.
culiar fitness for the Office
We have in this State the elements Of any
requisite number of teachers of this deScrip.
ton, and it is most earnestly to be desired
that the beneficial influence TO he derived
from their immediate preparation as teach.
crS. will be appreciated and acknow lodged
Butwe cannot be unmndiul, in the langua re
of Mr.. Barnard, that 'bclore the supcriol
efficiency of woman in the holy ministry Of
education can be felt in lis largest measure.
her education must be more amply and uni
vcr>aly provided for"
We have. during the past year. been IA
vorcd with the presence of number of eN-
ccIIont and wen educated female teachers
who were sent TO our State under the pat.
ronngc Of society in another State; and
we have noticed with pleasure that these
teachers have been properly appreciated by
our community, and placed in charge of well
filed schools, aud have successfully dis
charged their duty rs teachers with fidelity.
efficiency, aud to the satisfaction of the pub.
lie. Alta time when the demand for quail
fed instructors is daily increasing in om
State, (Which demand is a cheering evil
dcnrc of the awakening intrrcS, of our pco-
pie to the subject of cducatou,) il would be
suicidal policy, which would reject the
prollered services Of well educated. cXperi-
enccd and Trustworthy teachers. Yet am
mpcllcd by sense Of justice to the known
intelligence and peculiar qualifications of the
citizens of our own State, and to the incsti
Unable opportunities for education presented
IN the colleges, ScmuarcS, aud schools of
Illinois, to repeat my former suggestion of
the importance "ihat our common zeal Ia
promote this cause (of popular education
should be directed tothc proper education oI
teachers, in the colleges, ScminaricS. and
schools of oar ORR State. That. although
pptnn,l l,l "a a., H.. l.