The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-09-16
TO DIR ECTORS.

whether appointed District Superintendent or
uv', 10 'oo vs.;~f. --~-~s;-~ of7;vor of st,o
board, ard as such, he should make It his
business TO see that all neediul preparations
are duly made Tor The opening Of the fall and
winter schools. Public notice should be CIV
en- OF the time The SCHOOLS Of the district will
open, so that parents can have the children's
clothing ready, and textbooks provided, in
order thai pupils may commence punc,ually
on the first day of the term. He should see
that The school houses are in order, broken
windows mended, general repairs made, and
fuel provided. When the board have en-
gagged The teachers, the Secretary should see
that a written contract be entered into with
each one, so as 10 avoid dispute and conse-
quent ill-feelng afterwards. Blank contracts
can readily be procured of the printers at
the county seat for mere lrAe. The will
save much labor and insure greater accuracy
The collector and treasurer should also be
looked after, in order lha; The funds may be
at hand 10 punc,ualy meet the teachers
wages and incidental expenses.
This iorelhought may be little trouble.
some, but will save vast deal more of lrou-
BILE and perpexily in the outcome. And at
any rate, public duties are of public impor
lance, and not TO be lightly regarded; and if
any incumbent is not satisfied with the du.
ties belonging TO his position, nothing can
be easier than 10 vacale the post, and pc init
il to be filled by some one who will moi
shrink from its responsibilities.
The Secretary should, however, receive a
reasonable compensation for his services,
wherever the resources OF the district will
justify it.
Uniformity Of 1ert books.-The provisions
OF the 25lh section of the act of 1854, were
intended to secure good textbooks and ex-
clude poor ones, but more especially TO es.
tablish local uniformity, for the reason that
without such uniformity pupils cannot be ar
ranged INTO suitable classes, and the differ
ent branches taught 10 The best advantage
Without pro3er Classification, the efforts OF
the teacher can accomplish but hule pTacli-
cal good for the school; and The school Term
results in little better that loss Of time and
money for all parties. Textbooks are now
published in almost countless thousands,
and book agents are 10 be found everywhere,
seeking 10 introduce them; so that directors
cannot justly complain that ample facilities
are not furnished 10 their hand, for the dis
charge of this important branch Of their off.
cial duty. They should make the best selec.
lion that may be practicable, and then firm.
ly adhere to il until fully nirodncsd. Bu,
this done, frequent changes are 10 be avoid.
ed, and The annual meeting required by the
law, only used TO correct pal pable mistakes
that may have been made in former selec-
lions. But directors should resist impor,uni-
lies 10 introduce The works of one author or
publisher merely to displace those Of another
when The difference between The Two is pruc
tically immalerial. Frequent changes of This
nature defea, the object of The law, create
great dissatisfaction Oh The pau of the parents,
and prejudice The public against the school
system; and are therefore greatly 10 be dep
recated. The greater portion Of textbooks
BOW issued from the press are SO nearly
equal in substantial merit, that the particular
series selected is of much less importance
than the uniformity of such as are useJ.-
The great dependence of the school, under
all circumstances, must be upon the Teacher,
not upon the textbook. A good teacher
can be very successful with an inferior sci
or textbooks, if he but have enough of the
same kind TO enable him 10 arrange his pu.
pills into classes; while a poor teacher will
fail, no m alter what the character and assort.
ment of books.
County Superintendent's Postage-The post
age on all official letters and documents TO
and from the School Department is paid by
the Department. But each district should
tefray the expense Of its own local cores
pondence out of its own treasury. County
Supe:intendents are not provided with funds
10 pay postage on their home official bus-
ness, which, though made up Of small items,
amounts 10 large sum in The course Of a
year, and becomes oppressive. Teachers,
directors, and others, who have occasion TO
write 10 the County Superintendent on Off
cial business - should always enclose a
three cent stamp 10 pay The return postage.
The postage paid by directors should be do.
ly reunded 10 them out of the district treas.
ury.
Suggestions. of the suggestions 10
Superintendents this month will interest