Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-01-30
Mr. Bentou,s Report.

we have receiv ed this gentleman's report as Su-
perintcndent Of Public Instruction. II consists OF
% pages. opens with the cheering promise that
the author ssdoes not hope to communicate any
thing that will be peculiarly interesting instruc-
tive.s This is certainly suspicious! The gentle
man Cor whose services, during the last two years.
the State has paid twenty four hundred dollars and
oil expenses. and who has had the noblest orpor-
tunity to promote all our best interests, has now
in his biennial report nothing peculiary ntere st.
ing or instructive" to say! Mr. Benton certainly
cannot be accused OF magnifying his office. Unjust
be that he is the most unassuming of men. But
however modest he may be in his own person we
40 not see why he should not speak out with more
holiness for the cause that is committed to his su
pervision. Many of our citizens are looking with
the deepest interest for the advancement of Elm.
cation in our State. There is no subject of croat
er Importance. And the Superintendent, who is
us cher guardian is naturally expected at all times
and in all places. and especially in his reports to
nave something TO say that will be emn emily inter-
esting and instructive.
We have not found time as yet to read the entire
report. But glance at some Of its pages leads us
to fear that Mr. Benton, in the sentence we have
quoted, has very delicately referred to what may
be the fact in the case. that School System, in
both financial and school departments, has been
brought, under his superintendent, into such
confused and entangled condition, as to create nm
easiness and dissatisfaction in his own mind, ra
Their than give him promise and hope. We have al
ways opposed the plan Of giving the care and con.
troll of the School Fund to the superintendent
That officer should have nothing to do with the f.
nances. There is enough to employ oil his ener.
gtes in the appropriate duties of his Office, Mr.
Benton has generous salary. We wonaertha,b.
mas not put all his financial matters into the hands
OF confidential clerk, and, In accordance with the
ola section OF the law under which he has acted
devoted himself mainly ssto advance the interests
OF Education.
We agree with Mr. B., that every family should
have copy Of the schoollaw. But what is more
needed is that the Superintendent himselc-bv law
the presiding genius Of Education among us
should address the people ,hroughou. the State,
and inspire them with just appre citation of the
sunject' The law says that she shall deliver pub
lie lecture to the teachers and people of each school
dis'fict on The subject of Education, if deemed
practicable" Mr. B. reports that he has lectured
wherever it was practicable. We wish he had been
more particular and stated how many times, and
where. The people want information and instruc.
ton from one who Is authorized to give it. They
VIII listen to an eloquent and PERSIA sve lecture
when they will not stop to read dry law. We con.
ndent!y assure the superintendent tina. the people
are ready and anxious to hear him. They expect
him to come without an invitation.
The amount Of the apportionnen. to Desmoine,
county in ls4s was Sses IS, in 1850 sl.5ss So
The number Of children in the county in ls4s was
A,e4S, in 1850 4,67s, being decrease of CT. we
nope this is a mistake. We have "a schoo, dis
iricts, in which there were Sc schools, 42 male and
IS female teacaers and ,a4s pupils. The number
OF days in which the schools were taught amounted
to 1857. The average wages paid to male teachers
per month was SI2,s4, to female ss.4s. There
are thirty-one school houses in this county.
20 OF wood, Of brick and 4 Of stone, built
at an expense Of $3.50 81. The Fund Com
missioner's salary was $4,000. The amount Of
school fund loaned in this county on real estate is
>i4,s42 Is.
The report contains valuable table of the names
Of teachers, their age and birth place. Ohio fur
nished the largest number, viz: IT'S. We give a
summary Of the number that different states and
h,xn f,,r~