The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-01-04
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUB
Lie INSTRUCTION.

The incumbent OF tho above Office. act
ing upon his own expressed opinion of DIFF
fusion in the revision Of the School Laws,
has spread out his report, with the accom-
panying documents, a la James X. Polk, to
thir,y-two pages. His suggestions arc ma
ny Of them good ones and we trust will be
acted upon by the Legislature now in SEES
sion. Az the report is too lengthy for pub
LEGATION, wo will condensc those portions
possessing general interest.
The formation Of Districts. much
difficulty has arisen under the present de-
lective law, by tho several constructions
given, relative to the formation aud alicra-
ton of School districts, the Superintendent,
recommends the propricty Of assigning the
duty Of adopting plan for their formation
TO at least three officers, with some general
rules by which they are to be governed.
whose action should be binding aud final
Tor fixed period
The Examination of Ieachcrs.-Upon
this subject the Superintendent suggests
several decided improvements in the school
law. Tho branches Of education to be
fought ia our schools should be prescribed;
the ertcnt of qualification necessary to be
possessed by the teachers, would then fol-
low. Different departments no thinks,
should be created in the schools that those
'syoung men Ear advanced ia the classics,' =
be separated from 'chiIdrcn in the alpha
bet" A suggestion rhoHy supcrhuous
under the prcsen, mode Of organizing
school districts, and only applicable to the
larger towns were this feature ofthe school
law remoddlcd, as we trus, il may be-
Further, tho Superintendent recommends
that tho duty Of examining teachers be as
signed to county, instead of township
officer. BY SO doing persons better qualifi-
cd for the duties OF teachers will be select.
ed. In connection he suggests that teach.
ers be better compensated for their toll.
tina. their minds may not be harassed and
perplexsd with pecuniary embarrassment.
Upon this branch Of the subject we give bis
concluding reflections -
"ln the ordinary business OF lie. when
we design constructing some permanan,
work OF art, in order TO insure success, we
arc lavish in the expenditure Of means for
the purpose Of procuring the services Of the
best architects to prosecute the work, bu,
when our object is to mould and fashion the
imperishable intellect, and to adorn aud
beautify the human mind, We rcrcrsc the
rule, and select tho cheapest, aud often the
most inefficient men Of the profession for
the task. |, is certainly proper to use all
laudable eAertions SO as to cur,ail the ex.
penses Of education as to place it within
the reach Of every class Of community, ba,
j. is equally true that this is not 10 he nc
complished by tho erection Of cheap school
houses. and the employing Of cheap teach
ers. The first step to be taken in tho es-
Enlistment of permanent school, is the
CONSTRUCTION Of comfortable school house.
we'll supplied with such conveniences as
will offer every induccment to pupils t.
prosecute their studies with zeal aud inter.
est. Il is next important to secure the scr.
vices Of faithful, competent teacher. |,
is true that such an individual will REQUIRE
u moro liberal remuneration, than those
who teach rs mere matter OF convent
encc, but think may say with safety
that no will compensate his employers ter
fold by the additional services which he il
qualified to render"
The Organisation IF School D;stricss.-
Upon this subject the law is 80 indefinite
and conflicting that much confusion has
prevailed in organizing districts, while
some, in consequence, remain yet morgan.
lied. Whether the directors can establish
more thnn one school in district, the Su-
perintendcnt thinks under the present law,
should DO determined by tho people.
Preceding School Houses. AS time did
not allow building, the directors were obi.
ged to rent school houses tho past year,
The question then arose, under the pres.
cnt imperfect school law, how should the
expense thus incurred be liquidated?-
Whether by voluntary subscription, dis.
Itrict school tax, or from tho school fund