The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-07-25
Education in Minnesota.

Our attention is called TO this subject just
at this time, by the presentation Of two sew
eral series of school books upon our table,
by two gentlemen with whom We have re-
Gently become acquainted, from the East
One of these gentlemen is Mr.. Hall, agent
of a publishing house III Chicago; the other
is Mr.. I.eDuc, of New York city, who is
about opening a bookstore in 81. Paul.
We are glad to take this opportunity to
express our views upon the most practical
bile method Of establishing permanent and
satisfactory system of school education in
Minnesota We have some acquaintance
with the most highly approved systems in
tho States and have conferred, with gentle
men among us,upon the subject.
II is superfiaous to say that tie tone OF
sentimeu, in the territory is for high order
of education. The origin. the intelligence,
the enterprise of this community assure us,
that our aim for moral and intellectual cul-
,ure vii. come nothing short ofthe standard
of the communities whence we sprung
Our pecuniary means are small, but this
fact. if we have schools at all, cannon ma
terially qualify the system we would adopt
indicted, a uniform system is as essential to
economy in the expense of schools as to
any Of The interests conducted 10y combined
capiraI, i'm merchandise, or manufactures.
We want n system-a uniform system, nnd
n hearty concert Of action throughout the
territory. Now is the time to agree upon
j. and to adopt it, While our population
is small and our schools few, we shall! find
il much easier TO accomplish this purpose
than a, some future time. Education is
now regarded in many Of the older states
as one department of State poiity an Of
ficer is elected by the legislature TO super
intend in that department. j, is the duty OF
this officer to inquire for every improve
ment, in the means of education, which
maybe brought out in any part of the world,
TO engraft i, upon the system he superin-
tcntls, or 10 suggest it in his regular reports
10 the authorities This plan has been sue
csssful to a certainty. 1t is as philosophy
cal as il is modern and progressive; it be-
ing agreeable to the theory of division of
labor. The illumination Of one intelligent
mind directed upon this subject, will throw
more light upon IT. than the occasional and
uncertain chances Of whole community Of
individuals. But The most important fea-
tnre, perhaps, of uniform system, would
he in the eyes Of many, the saving OF eX-
pc,ise in the purchase of books. School
books in these days come Gu; in new pat
terus and new editions, as often as cooking
stoves, which after oil save no fuel but
make new expense. Again, schools should
be classed. They cannot be classed with
out uniform books. A teachers time is
TOO valuable and too shor, 10 he devoted, as
i'm older times, to the elaboration of prob
lem 10 a single back-seatcr,w while the minds
of the rest Of the school are running to
waste. A uniform series of books too,
throughout the territory, will qualify pupil
Tor chasing in any other of our schools,
when he changes his residence.
Not TO dwell longer at this time, upon n
subject Of so great importance and upon
which so much ought to be said, we sug-
gest to our citizens the propreiy of propos-
ing to our next legislature, the plan of E.
iec,iDg a superintendent Of schools in Min
nesota; who shall be instructed TO report at
an early day system for our common
schools, or to establish system to be mod
flied if necessary at n future session of that
body. OF course, the labors Of such an Of
ficer would for the present be comparative
iy small, and his salary would he in like
ratio.