The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-02-15

erected in many counties for school purpo.
SEES % spoken Of a. giving promise Of more
liberal ideas with eegard 10 salaries ofteach.
ers. The increasing number Of int lligent
females that leave our academies every
year, expressly educated for teachers, is al,
70 spoken Of as q good sign.
Unavoidable circumstances have preven.
ted the superintendent from giving early al.
tention 10 the provisions Of the law suthori.
zing him to employ competen. persons ia
submit plans for school.honse aad have
them printed for the use of the Districts
But he has engaged Messs. Sloan g. Stew
art, artists of Philadelphia, to furnish vari.
Gus designs for sc~hool-houses and furniture,
and engaged Thomas n. ~Bnrrowes, of Ian.
caster, TO give the necessary explanations
and supoainiend the printing. The work
will be ready for distribution in the spring,
Some misa~pprehension has existed in regard
10 the distribution of the State appropriation;
but a circular, giving the sdperin,eadent's
construction of the law, corrected this mis-.
take.
The superintendent approves Of the fea.
lure of the new law providing for separate
schools for colored children. He confesses
TO a change of his sentiments in regard to
the separation of the School from The State
Department. He now thinks that the du.
ties cannot be properly discharged by one
head. But he objects TO joining the Office
OF Superintendent 10 that Of Librarian. It
should be a distinct and independent de-
partm ent. A separation would require a
corresponding increase of s~aleries. A bet.
Ter ad ius,ment of salaries Of county superin.
lendenis is recommended.
The report concludes as follows:
"I have thus attempted, so far as the
means were in my power, 10 furnish a state.
nent of The operation Of The common school
system during the past year. My connec.
ton with the Department of Common
Schools has been comparatively brief, but
still of sufficient duration 10 satisfy me of
the popularity of the system and that with
the proper aid and encouragement on the
part of the government, in connection with
educational agencies every where at work,
the system 10 destined 10 early and com.
plete success. Never before were the entire
body of the people SO deeply interested in
the results and successful operation of the
law; and although some, unfortunately,
will ever complain, and | confess that all
perhaps have had cause to murmur at the
unsatisfactory results of former years, still l
am firmly persuaded tina, The great mass Of
our ~cilizens are ardenily devoted 10 the
cause of education by common schools, and
would deplore any reifosads action at this
lime by the Legislature, as a great calamity.
The people of Pennsylvania are by far too
sagacious and pa triotic 10 be insensibie 10
the overshadowing importance of popular
education 10 every relation in life, from the
humblest social right and duty to the most
importan, function and operation of COVE rn-
ment Every one who reats and reflects,
and who does no; in this age and land Of
thought, OF Bibles, of education and ofnews-
papersa knows and understands full well,
that in the moral and intellectual culture oil
the coming generations, we have the only
certain guaranty of the perpe,uiiy of our re-
publican institutions. The character, habits
and pursuits OF the people of Pennsylvania,
above all others, demand the the eleva,ing
and enlishtening agency of popular educa-
tion. No where else is labor more emphat-
ically the active element of greatness and
prosperity (; and 1t should be a matter of in-
tense qualification, that none are more devo-
teddy enlisted in the cause Of education by
common schools, than the industrial inter.
es,s OF the State. The agricultural, mechan-
ical and laboring classes, The rue stamina Of
a conmonwea lth, find in the common
schools a surer source of power thar wealth
itself. For whatever influence the higher
institutions Of Learning have had, or shall
have in the diffusion Of human knowledge f;
il is to the common schools, the peo-
pls's colleges that the great mass of the
people must look for the advantages and
blessings of education. In these humble,
though mighty agencies, labor will find the
secret of its power, and The means of eIeva-
ting itself to that just and honorable position
intended by the Creator"
C. A. BLACK,
Superintendent OF Common Schools.
HAnRisBuRo, January 6, 1856.