Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-01-12

its rcpuhlcanism viii be the firm support and
sure guarantee of its republican equality.
1T IS time also that the teaching mind should
resume its true place in the schools. In tho
communication of knowledge, to be effective,
mind, in sympathetic contact, must act upon
mind, and with living speaking energy, leave
its impress there. The Great Master himself
thus trained the school which was to reform
a world. But now the book has too much in,
trudcd itself between the teacher and the
! taught, The teacher has too much become
| the mere exponent Of the printed page, and
the mind of the learner the impressed copy of
the text In thus saying, the value and i'm
portancc of books as a means of knowledge,
are not intended to be overlooked or dccried ;
but the uses of our best agencies have thor
limits ; and when we find the book usurping
the place of the teacher, to the injury of the
mind of our YOUTH we should restore each to
its proper pOsition-require from each the per-
formance of its appropriate functions, and thus
confer upon both the full measure of their use
fulness
AS an exped;ent to supply the place of regu-
lar Normal schools till established. and as q
valuable auxiliary to them when in operation,
the Teachers Institute would be of uGguestion-
able value. 1t would bring together the teach
ers of county under the best influences for
consultation and Improvement, and exhibit
them before their fellow citizens in their proper
professional character A portion Of the means
of the State, or of the respective counties.
applicable to educational Improvement, could
not be more proftably applied, than to the
encouragement of the meeting of at least one
such institute, annually, in each county. An
experiment Of this kind recently made in the
county of Chester, is said to have been emi-
nently successful, and strongly Indicative Of
the wisdom of the mcasle
If, in addition to these, or similar measures.
the Legislature should feel warranted-and
the measure has all the sanction this executive
document can give ito make a large addition
to the annual State appropriation to common
schools | believe that all will be done which
the patriotism of the peoples representatives
can now effect and do not hesitate to ex-
press the opinion that the time has come for
this prompt, full and decisive action. Let the
integrity of the system, in its great purposes
and objects be maintained and if changed.
changed to render it more efficient, and to in
crease its power for greater usefulness. What
ever else may distinguish your present session,
it is hazarling little TO predict, that more honor
and benefit will result from the perfection of
the common school system of education, than
from any other exercise of your legislative
powers
The public schools OF Philadelphia are de-
serving of special notice and approval In
their various gradations from the primary
up to the high school, they are models worthy
of imitation and their management and ef-
icicncy reflect great credit upon those to whom
have been committed their supervision and
control. 1t is to be regretted that these
schools, 50 creditable to our great commercial
and literary emporium and so honorable to our
Commonwealth, should find no place in the
annual report of the Superintendent of Com
mon Schools. As at present organized, these
schools are Independent of the State Supcrin-
tendency, and do not report to the school de-
Iartment of the Commonwealth. As every
thing that relates TO the operation of the
common school system and the condition of
the public schools in the State, is important
and interesting, the statistics of those schools
should be furnished to the State Superintcn-
dent, that the same might be embodied in the
annual report of the department A modif-
cation of existing laws on this subject, so far
as to require the controllers of the public
schools of PhilaGel phia, to report to the school
department the number, grade, and condition
of their schoO's--the number of pupils, and
generally such information in relation to their
government as may be deemed useful to the
cause of education, is respectfully recommended
To improve the social, intellectual aud
moral condition of the people-recam tho
erring, and ameorate human suffering, are
objects that commend themselves to the con-
sderation of the phIanthropst and the states
man. Oar educational, charitable and reforma-
tory institutions are Justly the pride of the
State, honorable alike to the wisdom that de-
viScd and the lberality that founded and sus-
tains Them They have strong claims upon
the bounty of the people, and cordially re-
commend them to your care and the Eberality
of the Commonwealth.
The State Lunatic Hospital, at Harrisburg,
in its objects and results, merits our hi chest
appreciation. The just expectations of its pro-
jectors and founders have not been disappoint-
I'd Kindness and love, with their softening
and subduing influence, constitute the rule of
its government Many of its former unfor-
tunate inmates have been restored to reason
to friends and home, and the enioymcnts of
social life. Those that remain require our
sympathy and aid. They should not be with
held. The report Of the directors will exhibit
in detail the operations of the institution
The nece ty ard Importance of providing
additional accommodation for the insane of
Western Pennsylvania have been strongly
pressed uPoA my attention The present ac-
comm0dationS are clearly insufficient. aud these
nave been provided principally by the contri-
buttons of benevolent citizens. 1t is urged
that the rapid advance of our population--the
u1OomV iucrpaSn q of the jpSa np---an1 the made
quacy Of the present asylumnS for their care
and management, render il impcratively ne
cessarv that effective aid should be given to
that portion of the State, for the establish
ment of new and entirely distinct WeStcrn