Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-03-22

dicious general instructions and advice,
notifications of Forms, explanations and
enforcement of the law, especially, in cer-
tain essential particulars, the settlement of
difficulties constantly arising, the forming
of regulations to give more efficiency and
uniformity to the system, and to the study
of other systems, and an examination of the
experience of other States.
Every citizen of the State ought to be
spoken to but one man cannot, orally, ac-
complish such a task, under good many
years. In some States they have had, be-
sides general Superintendent, Twho is
mostly stationary, several travelling Lee
turers but while such combination of eff
fort may push on matters little faster, it is
hardly necessary to undertake it.
l hope, in due time, to reach every man
the annual reports Of the Superintendent
or the substance of them, will reach many
thousands and be communicated by these to
others-thus also will radiate general direc-
tions, circulars, regulations, and statistics
from the official Organ or Head
There is, also, now source, however
imperfect, of information, and a Tribunal to
decide or give opinions; and almost daily
applications to me demonstrate to me the
injuries and discouragements heretofore re-
sulting from doubts never solved, difficult
ties never settled, and enquiries never an
swercd
Above all, uniformity and consistency
hope and expectation are beginning to take
the place of dependency and confusion
while light, that is breaking on US, is dis
sipating fears and infusing confidence into
the friends of the cause
A great and paramount object with mo
is to encourage this state of things-to let
the whole State know exactly where we
stand and to have our machinery SO regu-
lated that the friends of the cause will eve
rywhere understand 'ch other, and will
work together, and turn of the lever COM
municate life and motion to every extreme
The universal distribution of the School
Laws will help to promote these desirable
ends; and early in the year, in accordance
with the Act of Assembly, l prepared
new Pamphlet of the Laws in force in re-
gard to Common Schools, with plain Syn
opsis or Digest, Index and Forms, of which,
examined and approved by the President
duO OllONIOAoOI OuC IO,OOO
copies were neatly printed and distributed
among all the Counties, copy for each
member Of the Board of County Superin-
tendants, for each Committee man, and for
each Clerk of the County and Superior
Courts, &c. At the same time prepared
short Address to Teachers and Pupils
which was printed in Handbills and sent
out, copy to be posted in every School
4 house. the ah;aet~heiaestAyvAae4ss>r
State was looking in upon them, as well as
to enable Teachers to enforce good regula-
tions by appealing to the authority of the
State, and to empower the children to judge
Of the character of the Teacher by the stan
dard emanating from the highest official
source. If these were to accomplish no 9TH
er object, they would cause children to en-
quire about the nature of the system of Com
mon Schools, and put them in the way of
gaining information about the State.
Further to promote the efficiency and
uniformity of our system, have prepared
form of Certificate to be given to the
Teacher by the Committees of Examination:
and in this form the grade of rank of the
Teacher is specified. The grades are from
No. 1, the highest, to No. 5, the lowest, on
the studies of Spelling, Reading, Writing,
Arithmetic, Geography and Grammar of
which form, cordially approved by the Lit
erary Board, a supply of copies was printed
and distributed to all the counties.
Under the law of 1852, as you are aware,
the Chairmen of the Board of County Su-
perintendents are authorized to refuse tc
pay any Teacher who does not hold reg
ulaf Certificate from the Committee Of Elk
animation for his county; and these Ger
tifcates have to be annually renewed, anC
are good only in the county where given
From this law, with the kind of Certificate
9 now in use, am led to anticipate the hap
! piest results. The following are part of th
, benefits of Certificates exhibiting the grad
.. or rank of the holder, viz: 1st 1t will b
a cause of just qualification to good Teach
T ers to find themselves ranked according t
: their merit. ID Committees, and the pub
! lie generally, will be enabled to tell by tn
: face of the Certificate the character of tn
person who holds it, and to decide whethe
: the Teacher suits them. 8. Emulation wi
: be excited among Teachers, and each on
), will wish, when he or she renews the Cert
: icate, to advance grade higher. 4th.-
:. Committees, after years trial, viii feel 4
> compunctions in refusing licenses to tho
! who took Certificates with the lowest nun
II bers, and have not improved.
= In accordance with the requirements
= law issued Circular to the Committe
! ! of Examination, explaining the certificate
- and offering suggestions for their guidan
y in the performance of their delicate dutie
~ ~ a copy of which Circular is hereto appe
- ded
cS am gratifed to be able to say that Il
!, working of this system so far has exceedC
eu my expectations; and as an evidence
re- !, these effects, | could file various lettel
Is, from official sources, with this report, b
IOS am restrained from the consideration th
na na this would swell it to an inconvenient siz
III am preparing, with the appreciation
or. Of your Excellency and the Literary Boar
oS' new form of return for the Chairmen, a
N which will be distributed early in this ye
sA These blanks will be of commodious ST
LOT and they will be so arranged that, VI
!W very little labor to the Chairmen, they v
.He exhibit at the end of the year the names
a. all the Teachers licensed and the rank
: each. And thus, if am spared to m;
in my Report to the General Assembly, I '
III bo ablo fo chow our avaof nocifion With