Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-08-31

each library. 1t is known atthis De-
partment how many books each OF the
three classes of boxes above indicated
contained. A. and B. boxes contain
ed l07 volumes each, and @. lie vol
umes more. By the aid Of such q re-
port, we shall know where TO COM
mence the next apportionment Of books
to each township. There being no
providential hindering. we hope to
complete that distribution next June.
The inequalities in.some thirty-fye oi
the larger townships, will be corrected
this fall with funds now on hand
Please ascertain from your librarians
the proportion Of the books, which on
an average. are weekly taken out and
in constant use; and also state your
impression Of the estimation in which
the library feature of our system is
regarded by the citizens ofyour town
ship and the reasons for it, whether fa-
vorable or unfavorable.
would strongly recommend that
the Township Trustees and District
Directors establish the rule of holding
stated meetings, and that they be al
least semi.annual. Such a course
would be productive Of great good,
nsributc To harmony of views, etii-
cheney of action, and liveller inter
est in the cause committed to their su-
pervisiol. Let there be a mutual un-
derste lding between Trustees and Di-
roctors relative to their appropriate
spheres of duty, aud thus forestall neg
ligerce. dispute end dissenson, and
thereby sec are prompt. cordial, and
effective cooperation.
Nothing you can do will conduce.. SC
much to the prosperity Of your schools,
after you have provided comfortable
and spacio IS houses and competent
teachers, rs systematic and frequent
visitation. Endeavor to secure the
company of as many parents as posi-
bic in these educational visits. Ere.
queat calls on the part Of the school
officers and parents viii encourage
both teachers and the pupils. II you
would not employ hand to maui
rails for you a week without at least
one visit, why should your children's
progress and your teachers success be
left uncared for. month after month:
Your schools will necessarily be, in nc
unimportant sense, just what you
make them. Ne law, by its owr
mere inherent power, can infuse life,
impart energy and insure success te
an enterprise, however wise and dis
erect its provisions. AS well nigh
\ you expect steam saw-milh with inn
proved machinery and abundance o
ofiuel, to manufacture good lumber
without efficient management ard sci
entific supervision, as TO look for or
der, substantial progress and success
full teaching in a school, whose in
mates are never cheered by parents
approving smile. nor the official guar
dams cordial commendation. Re
member the employment Of teachers o
doubtful literary competency of ques
tionable moral character and habit
will prove the height of folly even il
a pecuniary view, and in Its literary
and moral asp, cts. is entitled to th'
severest reproduction. Active mind
andIsusceptible hearts are too delicat'
and priceless to be subject to th,
4 moulding influence OF any of doubtful
character or atlainments.
1t is also TO be hoped that you vii
not overlook the advan age to tn
pockets of the parents. the progress O
the pupils and the comfort of the tea
cher, that results from uniformity o
text books. References 70 section III
and l51 will show the intention an.
views of the Legislature on this point
A hearty cooperation with the Stat
: Board on the part of Township Trus
tees. in this matter, would do much t
secure very important element o
success. lis believed that the tex
books recommended by the forme
board and now in extensive use in ou
. schools, are such as TO furnish o vail,
cause for change, except the Geogra
!, ply. for which the present Board, at
ter due consideration and patient ex
, animation, have resolved to substitute
CornelI's series, which in their Judge
ment is sufficiently superior to the on
: formerly recommended to fully justif,
the change: and hope that TOWNSHIP
Boards will lend hearty co-operatiol
in efI'ecting the introduction OF thes
valuable textbooks.
Doubts have arisen in some local.
! ties relative TO the rights of individuals
transferred from their own civil town
: ship to an adjacent one for education
al purposes, to the use of the lib,ar.
Of the township to which they hay
been transferred. On this point it i
{ perhaps. ..sffiucient to remark, that al
; the educational privileges and immu
mites of transferred individual, ir
} respective of county lines, go wit
} him, and that he is entitled TO the us
! of the Library as well as the school o
, the corporation he has selected. Til
, law contemplates and the citizens ex
pect that the Trustees will ctpromp,
, ly and wisely in the location and Gus
tody of the library, and that great car
: will be taken both by them and tn
: librarian they may appoint, in tn
: prompt assessment and collection {
t damages done to library books. Tn
{ price of the books of the firstpurchas
, were no; attached 10 the catalogue
but this oversighs will be corrected j
: the next. No tax or assessment 70
! the use of the books can be iegali
laid on the persons taking them fror
: tie library. Where this has bee
r done, it must be refunded, and tn
: expense of procuring book cases an
: the compensation of librarians mus
be included in the general charge fo
D fuel, repairs, &C.; andsmet according
! ly. II any township wishes to enlarg
a its library by private donation, the
: will find the. Superintendent ready fo
5 any desired cooperation Of counsel 9
r purchase.
There is one error which must