Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-12-19

the one now on the statute book. The re-
port Of the Superintendent Of Public In
struction, together with the report of the
Commissioners will, doubtless, materially
aid you in determining what measures are
necessary 10 advance the interests of
Common Schools.
The Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
ton, in his last Report to the Legislature
takes the ground that some plan ought to
be adopted whereby the expenses attend
ing the management of the School Fund
may be decreased. To remedy the evil,
he recommends that the law providing for
county fund Commissioner. be abolished,
and the Office Of State School Fund Com
missioner created. The labors of the
County Fund Commissioners are arduous
and complicated, and it may be ques,iona-
ble whether State Fund Commissioner
could properly attend to them. The Su.
perintendent may, possibly, submit dif-
ferent plan in his forthcoming report TO
you.-Any scheme which you may adopt,
whereby the objection may be wholly, or
in part removed, would certainly he de-
sirable.
The Constitution provides, in the se-
cond section Of the tenth article, that ''the
General Assembly shall encourage, by all
suitable means, the promotion of intellect
ual scientific, NOR y and agricultural i'm
prorea,ents. No Steps have be Ell taken by
the Legislature, since the adoption of the
Constitution, for the advancement Of agri-
culture. This portion Of the Constitution
is as obligatory and binding as any other.
1t was probably inserted for the reason
that our State has every facility for be-
coming, in an eminent degree, an agricul-
tural State, The best method Of cultiva-
ting the soil is, and it is believed ever will
be, subject Of the first importance to a
large majority Of the citizens Of the State.
The greater portion Of those who attend
our Common Schools will become agricul-
turists, when the term Of their education
expires and consequently, any knowl.
edge which they may obtain, touching tha,
branch OF industry, will be to them of the
most essential service. 1t would there.
fore seem to become your duty 10 enquire
whether books relative TO agricultural
science, can, with propriety, be in,rodnc.
ed in our Normal and Common Schools
l feel confident that ie introduced, The
most beneficial results may be anticipated
The formation Of agricultural societie.
should also be encouraged; and trus
that any facilities which you can supply
for the promotion Of such societies, vii
be cheeriully granted. ..
A law was passed at the last session 70
dividing the State into three districts, AM
for the establishment of normal schoo
in each district for the education of schoo
teachers and others. The State ha. bee
thu, divided and board Of Trustees or
pointed for each district, as required b
{ the act. The law further provides ths
the schools shall be established al Andrew
r Oskaloosa and Mount Pleasant. Th
school at Andrew commenced on the 81:
I Of Nov. lS49. Ii is now under the Su
e perintendence Of teachers who are grad
yates of the New York State Norm;
= school-a respectable number of pupi!
, attend the institution, and its prospects ar
nattering. The Trustees are erecting
building for the use Of the school, at a
estimated cos, Of $4,000, about $1,000 {
: which has been already expended. !
Y very commendable zeal is manifested i
. thai district for the support Of the schoo
f II is understood similar feeling exists i
f each of the other districts, although | al
: no, able TO state the progress of thos
= schools. That information you will prot
d ably obtain from the report Of the Supe,
intendent Of Public Instruction.
0 Wherever the normal system has bee
: in operation, in other States, the most fol
n tunate results have been experienced. B
e the annual report of,he executive commi
: Tee of the State Normal School ofthe sta
r of New York, made to the legislature I
;. that state on the llth Of February, 1856
+ it appears that the first term of,hat scho
began on the 18th Of December, lS4
lr From that period up to the time the r.
[r port wa. made, 42S pupils had graduate
), and large proportion OF them had accep
D, ed situations IN common schools; and Wi
few exceptions, had acquitted themselv'
le in such a manner as to do honor to Il
m school. The committee are ofthe opini'
1T that these teachers have caused great III
2. DfOVemenl Ill Tie SCtIOOAS "uCio ehS y h0
v taught, and that they have been highly il
i, strumental in advancing the cause of cor
,e mon school education.
al Permit me to express the hope that q
xe Normal schools established in our sta
j, will receive the fostering care OF the lt
- islature. I!there exists any opposition
he them, it would seem to spring from mi
he apprehension of their objects. 1t is u
n derstood that there are two features cha
H. ac,erising them which are not found
at other schools or academies: First, Z
ur state pupil is required to devote his a'te
e. ton exclusively TO obtaining an educa''e
us and to such studies as will qualify him
perform, in superior manner, the dut'
n of common school teacher; and, secon
d. ", he is required to learn the best mo
lat Of communicating to others the knowlec
H. which he has obtained As experier
lis teaches that the schools are productive
j, much good, any measures adopted by y
np which will conduce to their perman'
oi. prosperity, will, l feel assured. meet W
at the hearty appreciation of the friends
ch education throughout the State.
nd Hon. Josiah H. Bonney was appo'n
me by me to procure suitable block Of m
nd bic, to be furnished by the state Of 10,