Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-04-19
Remarks of Mr, Lap0rte,


any act of mine to impair the efficiency of tie
common school system of this Commodwealtl;
but in urging a repeal of the law creating the
office Of county superintendent. helieve I not
only obey the wishes Of nv constituents. but
also take such a course As is necessary. to $
cure the welfare and harmonious working OF
the school system. - ~gH
6rst will examine the origin Of this law
1t was passed in 1854 and have examined
the journal Of that session to see if there was
any expression from the people in favor OF the
creation of such an Office / -calinot mud that
a sugle petition sent to the Legislature hy
the people asking for this law, and must
conclude that it originated here, perhaps in
the School Department aud new Office was
created and fastened upon the people without
any expression from them in favor Of its es-
tabliShment.
An innovation like this without any express
sion from the people in its favor, could not
fail to meet with opposition and the history
of all important laws of the like character is,
that they have been either inoperati1e e or have
created discomfort and dissatisfaction among
the people.
Il will next notice the actual operation of
the law as shown by statistics.
In 1853 we had in Bradford county 3+4
schools-wc have now but 328--a falling off
in two years of sixteen schools, when there
should have been natural increase to keep
pace with the wants of growing population.
/. / will next examine the salaries OF teachers
and find that in Bradford county there has
been an increase in two wears of about sixteen
per cent on the salaries of male teachers, aud
twenty per cent. on the salaries of female
teachers.
d. In the State at large ] find an increase Of
about fifteen per cent in the salaries of male
teachers, and about twenty-four per cent in
the salaries of female teachers
Now, do not object to an increase of the
salaries of teachers where there is an increased
qualification for the business but so far as
have heard, VIC have the same class of teach
ers
1t is no part of the duty of county supern-
tendent to educate teachers Wherever they
have done so, it has been ont side Of their Off
cial duties and in large counties the officer
has quite enough to do according to law with
out undertaking the education of teachers.
know that the superintendent does not fix
the salaries of teachers but it is a singular
coincidence that this increase of salaries has
taken place mainly during the administration
of county stperintendents and when we con-
slider that no teacher, whatever may be his
qualifications, can receive the public money
without certificate from the county superin-
tendent, we can readily perceive the effect of
this office upon the salaries of teachers
In Bradford county there is wide spread
and general dissatisfaction with the opera
tons of this Office, and | must here notice
clause in the report of the State Superintcn-
dent which does great injustice to the people
of our county He says: "1'he Office is OPP
posed by many who Judge of every enterprise
by the money it may cost, without regard to
the results anticipated from it but by far
the fierceSt opposition comes from those who
are opposed to the cause of popular education
at the public expense, and who strike at the
the vitals of the system through the Office of
county superintendent
Now, it seems to be admitted that the fer
cest opposition 10 this law comes from Brad
ford county, county that has always upheld
the common school system, and in which it
has nouriShed with as much vigor as in any
county of like means in this Commonwealth.
The statistics show that there was levied last
year, for school and building purposes, in that
county over nineteen Thousand dollars.
Our people are: attached to the cause OF
popular education, but they look upon this
Office as clog and hindrance to the system.
While they received from the State about
three thousand dollars for schools, the gem
tleman who supcrintcnded its outlay received
fifteen hundred which is fifty per cent on the
State appropriation. Our school system in
that county is in confusion, and in many dis
tricts the people have met in town meeting
and passed resolutions requesting the county
superintendent to stay away from their schools
They wish to get rid of this officer and are
satisfied to allow their school directors to ma
mage their schools, as those directors now bear
the important and sometimes oncrous duty of
levying the greater part of the moneys nee
essary to carry on the syStcnl
have listened with pleasure to the clio
quent remarks made by the gentleman from
Erie, Mr.. BALr.,) and also the gentleman
from Ecnango Mr. McCAGMoNr,) in favor of
the common school system and it is perhaps
fortunate that this debate has taken so wide
a range. as it will o5viatc the necessity for
much effort when the appropriation for com
mon schools shall come up for consideration
] will not allow them, however, to class me
with the enemies Of education. ! think it
wise to educate the children of the State
consider general education as necessary 10 the
success of our institutions and when we come
to vote for an appropriation for common
schools, will 60 with those gentlemen for the
highest sum that they will name If the State
has not the means, will vote for n project
to raise money to make such appropriation
and further, sir in view Of the great want of
competent teachers Of our common schools if
the Office Of coun ty superintendent can be
abolished am willing to vote to appropriate
the thirty thousand dollars now used yearly
to pay that unpopular and generally useless
officer, for the education of teachers in the Sc
veral counties of the Commonwealth Give
us fifteen hundred dollars for the education of
teachers in Bradford county. and you will con-