The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-01-18
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
To the Honorable the Senator's and Members Of
the House Of Representatives Of hs General
d,ag,bY;
tCONCLUSTON.)


tCONCLUsTON)
The general law Of 1919, with amend
mems aud notifications, was re-modeled by
the last Legislature. The most material
paris Of the old law, which were omitted in
the new, where the sublislrict, the endow.
menf and sec.arian features. The former
was rejected because of the unnecessary
multiplication of officers which il authorized,
and The conflic, which perpetually arose be-
tween The committees and directors and
the latter. because III manifest hostility TO
the true intent oil the common school sys-
TEN. TLsso provisions, which seemed 10
con,emp ate sepera,e school establish nent,
under seclarian patronage, although control
ed by the common school directors, were
originally engrafied upon the acts of 1886,
and 1888, and were again re.enacled in 49,
40. They were very properly stricken from
the system by the law Of las; session. Should
efforts be made in the future, al similar in
novatiots 5, come whence they may, !, is ho
ped they may be promptly rejected. The
system, 10 be efectual, must be simple and
uniform in lis operations. Special legisa-
lion, inconsistent with The general law, ap-
pIicablc to particular localities or districts,
10 answer temporary or partial ends, always
has, and always will embarIass the admins
tra,on OF The general system and should for
this reason be carefully avoided, The ineg-
| rily oil lis orms, not less iaan the means 10
sustain lis operations, should be constantly
maintained, and sacfedly cherished by the
| governments. .s
| 4 new feature in The system, adopted. in
! me Nv O! last6ssssaH, Creating, the of5iclitf
County Superintendent has not, as yet, bef1
| fully tested ard there evidently exists sois4
diversity OF opinion as 10 the wisdom Of llf5
| provision. Il is already very obvious, al
least, that lis beneficial workings mus, De.
peuG manly open The character Of the agents
selected TO carry il into operation. Compe-
len. and faithful Superintendents may pro-
duce the happiesl results willis; The agency
| of the ignoran, or inefficient will be Sileu-
| ded by lhe reverse consequences. In order
10 give this new feature Of the law fair
lIial, il will be necessary, therefore, for the
directors, in the respective counties, 10 se-
leci SupeIinienden,s with sole reference 10
their adaptation 10 lie duties Of The station.
or The many obstacles in the way Of the
complete success of our Common School
system, the ole most prominent, aud most
difficult 10 remove is the want OF compelsn;
teachers. In some commnaiies, | regret 10
say, The sys,eta has fallen into comparative
inethciency, because good teachers canno,
be found and in others the most veXa,ious
consequences have arisen from ihs employ
ment of he iliteIate aad incompetent
Nothing could exercise a more preiudioia
influence; indsed, between very bad
, teacher and none al all, the latter alternative
might, in many instances, be Preferred
This deficiency is clearly manifest, and
hard TO obviate. Some of the best mind:
of the State have been occupied and per
picked with ii and until recently no gener
, al and ptaciibIe plan for lis removal has
) been devised.
The plan Of granting permanent prcfes
sioual certificates, by officers skilled in the
, ART of teaching, and eminent in literary aud
scientific requirements, TO leachers who sat
,slactorily pass thorough examination III
the seve:al branches OF study which the ac
of May, 1854, requires 10 be tau ght in every
district, aud also in the art o. tesching--i'
already obviously efiec!ing decided improve
mont 10 this regard, and il is believed viii
do much towards placing the profession
upon high and firm basis Normal schools
il is urged, could in addition, TO some extent
supply the deficiency, but the expenses o
such an institution would be heavy.
The source of this difficulty, il is clear
can be Traced, in u great measure, 10 III!
want of proper appreciation IN the public
mind, of tile position and business oil
teasher. The profession, for this reason, II
addition TO the absence of fair compensa
lion, has not been attractive. Indeed, II ha:
scarcely been regarded as a profession
all, bu. "a lher as preliminary step 10 SOM
/. other pursuit. Welt directed efforts hav
T, recently been made 10 change the genera
, sentiment on this point, and rejoice IN th
!. belief that these have not been in vain
S and that The day is not far distant, when thu
Q profession ofteacher will be equal 10 the as
: phalions of the most ambitious of our peo
pie; when its distinctions, digui,ies and pc
cuniasy rewards, will command the linn
and attention of The most gifted. ] can Sc
8 no reason why this stale OF feeling shoui
o not prevail; Why the profession Of teache
{ should not rank in honor and.proit with IN
other learned Professions why the scienc