The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-04-21
Common Schools,

7 W. SiNN tNIbN S'ilt tNlIdElS from IN
appeal in behalf of common schools in Iii
nois," by II. S. Cooley, Secretary of State
and cN-oIiicio Superintendent of Common
Schools. The object of the writer appears
to be to engage the interest Of our people in
this SO manitcStly important subject. and il,
reference to which they appear to be, COM
Iparatiycly, SO Indifferent. Mr., c. shows
that Illinois has at her command the means
10 ensure the establishment, in very short
period. Of better system Of popular cduca-
ton than any state in the Union can now
boast. Bat this will require vastly more in
tereSt in the subject Tran has yet been taken.
At present not over half the children in the
state have access to the public schools; the
oli,ccs entrusted with their management
neglect their duties and out Of hundred
county supcrinteudents in the state, but six
ty have complied with the laws Of the state
so far as to send in their annual reports. To
remedy such evils, and TO get the people
more alive on so important subject, Mr., c.
urges the appointment Of state superinten.
dent, whose office shall be disconnected with
all others, and whose duty it shall be to Wis
it every portion of the state during the year,
deliver familiar lectures or addresses to the
people, &C., sc. The performance of such
duties by the Secretary Of State is out Of the
question. The business Of his Office, entire
" distinct from the public schools, is already
sufficient TO tax all his energies.
We have aimed, in our extracts, to give
the more important heads Of the Secrctary's
pamphlet:
Numjcr Of ChaGrca and SchoolS.-The
census of our State for the year 1910 shows
that there were at that time IN the State
3o3,IGS persons (more than one half the
whole pOpuation) under the age of twenty
years, aud consequently entitled to share IN
the school money Of the State. IWC-thlrds
or about 100000 Of these may be safely Is.
tmated 10 be Of the proper age TO attend
common schools. Forty pupils to each
school house is n fair avorce in Our State
10 furnish the above number of children
with common school privileges az the above
estimate W0Uid r'qUirc SIN THOUSAND TWO
HUNDRED ASD rIFTY school houses. aud sil
thousand irO hUHdrcd and fUy teachers 10
afford them opportunity for Instruction
That instruction which we are imperativrly
commanded by every dictate of parental
bcnevolcnCe and common Justice to furnish
The able report Of my immediate prcdc-
ceSSor, made as is required by law 10 the
Legislature Of 1867, shows from an aver
age OF returns made TO him 10y the county
schools commissioners from fifty sever
counties Gall ohCr counties rCUiSiBg or jGH-
ing 10 make GHy returns as }rOrjGed by lac
that the number of schools in operation in
the entire state, during that period which
should have been for public convenience Sis
thousand tjr0 b}HdfCd and nh, did not eX-
coed JHRLE THOUSAND srvLN HUNDRED AMI
FIFTY, or Hroc-UhS q the rhOic HumLa
absolutely necessary.
This data will discover to those desiring
information that large number of the chill
dren of Illinois, who are entitled to the ben.
Gifts of the school fund and the privileges OF
common school instruction, are excluded
from participation in either. Buta knUwl
edge OF the just reputation of orr State iol
intelligence and patriotism compelS Us &c
believe that truc and correct report from
crCry county in the State viii show n iaI
more encouraging condition of oul
schools. and hence is manifested the grcat
importance of county school officers using
care and promptnoSS in full and accurate re
ports 10 the State Superintendent. in order
that we may be enabled TO see full Justice
done TO the rising generation, who are to
form the moral strength of our country.
o. School Fgnd.-We at this time possess =
insufficient accumulated fund. the principa,
of whichis nine hundred & Weight thou
sand dolarS.Ovcr fifty four thousand dollars
or six per cent. interest upon this sum. i,
annually paid by the State to the respective
, counties for the support Of schools. These
counties have also one million Of acres oi
school lands tor the availS of the same)to
aid them in sustaining public Instructions
The value O! these lands, Judging from post
and prospective sales cannot be less than
three millions of doNGrS. Anticipating fiI.
turc receipts from the general government
from the sales OF public lands. we NAV safe.
, ly estimate the school fund of Illinois at n
, bout j0Ur millions II doRare.
, This rich inhCritCncC should bcmaic the
panuply and shield Of the best interests o.
, every child in Illinois. II seems incredible
r that good public schools should not be suS.
tanned 10y a people entitled to an income
, from this fund Of the yearly value Of two
hundred and forty thousand dollars.
The most visionary phanthIopiSt cannot
, comprehend the immense substantial good
, which may be made to result from wise
, aud proper annual application ofsuch fund
But It is our duty to reflect whether we are
notllable to place too much reliance upon the
magical influence of this muni!iccncc, aud
whether our own efforts in the cause of ed
ucation may not he relaxed by reason of ON
| confidence in the understanding power
; o! this fund. Should n cessation ofunrcmi,.
ting c2cr;lonS by each and every individual
in Our community, in advancing the cause
Of schools. result from our possession of this
, sum, FAR better would II have been for the
f State and lis coming generations that every
, dollar of il had been buried ia sold oceans
! Depths No wealth could compensate fol
n fatal Indifference which might proceed
, from false sense of security, and cunSc.
f Queut neglect of public instruction.
Public responsibility and action is the lev.
or by which this great system is To be mov-
ed to its destination in Illinois. The system
a lao aIitGippt gnnpprt ,y,,,s IA,