Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-01-23

OF your attention.
The report OF the Superintendent o
Public Instruction, for the last year, which
has been laid on your table, will prescn
the results Of the operation OF the schoo
system. during the first year after It's la
test revision. The wisdom Of many o.
the changes, introduced by your predeces
sors into our Educational Code, has devel
oped itself more and more, during the
two years which have transpircd since
the revision. Though not perfect II hai
fully justified all reasonable expectation
and confirms the belief that II rests on a
basis Of sound principles, and reliable OK.
perience. Suggestions contained in the
aforesaid document and the forthcoming
report will, doubtless, receive due consid-
eration. The Library system has more
than realized the expectations Of its
friends, and fully redeemed the pledges Of
its most earnest advocates. The extent
to which 1t has been used in many town.
ships in various parts Of the State seems
almost without parallel, demonstrating
its power and usefulness as an education
al instrumentality. would, most earn
estly, recommend that 1t be made per.
manent feature Of the system. A reduc.
ton Of the present tax for its support, oi
at least three-ffths, would be no detrimeni
to its healthy progress.
The peculiar requisitions of the Con-
stitution, as defined by the Supreme Ju-
dietary Of the State. compel the Legisla-
ture to consider the claims Of our youth to
a period Of tuition, adequate to their
wants, and equal to their necessities. The
townships have, to great extent, nobody
entered on the discharge Of their duty,
by the erection Of school houses; having
levied, within two years, more than three
quarters Of q million of dollars on the
property and polls, for that purpose. Be-
ing deprived Of the statuary authority to
assess a tax for tuition, they looked TO the
Legislature, and demand redemption Of
the Constitutional pledge to furnish the
requisite amount Of funds for this pur-
pose. Is not this claim reasonable ? Is
II not unquestionable =? Is IL not just p
Thcn, 1t should be promptly and fully
met No consideration Of economy should
induce the Legislature to postpone the
redemption Of the educational pledge OF
the Constitution. Such claims are para
mount to oil others, and should bc so re-
garded. OF equal urgency and necessity,
is the want Of competent instructor -
Teachers Institutes, or Normal Schools,
arc tho appropriate remedies for this evil.
AS the State has not appropriated a dol
lar to this purpose, heretofore, the ques-
tions naturally occur-What does econo-
my demand What does justice claim?
When the township erect school houses,
tho State cannot honorobly evade, post
ponc, or repudiatc the obligation to pro-
vide tho appropriate means for six
months tuition annually for her 6vo hun
dred thousand children.
The establishment and successful opc-
ration OF State Teachers Association,
FOR tho last two years, Is On encouraging
sign Of progress; and the publication Of a
monthly Educational Journal, by the
same Association, ls, also, q significant
sign, Of the same general character.
The important service that this pcri-
odical might render the State, suggests
tho propriety Of cnlisting II, as an auxili-
ary to tho department Of Public Instruc-
ton, In communicating with tho township
boards, and county Auditors.
You will perceive, from the report Of
tho Superintendent that our Colleges are
In fourisning condition; nobly compo-
ting with each other, In the race Of use.
fulncss in the higher departments Of edu-
cation. A condensed report Of their his
tory and progress, WILDE found in tho re-
port for this ycar-showing what our citi-
gems have done in their associate capacity
for collegiate education.
Patents have been received for tho addi-
tional grants Of lands TO the State Uni
versity, at Bloomington. In disposing Of
these lands recommend that the proceeds
bo set apart for the endowment of an Ag-
ricultural Professorhip, in connection with
tho purchase of farm, for practical test
Of labor, and agricultural improvement
The question Of providing, by tho ope-
ration Of judicious and effective laws, for
tho prevention or mitigation Of those vi.
cos and evils, public and domestic, which
have their origin in tho Incorporate use OF
Intoxicating liquors, requires, from you,
tho most profound and serious considea-
ton. The judiclous legislator will look
with moro care to the prevention Of crime
than to tho punishment Of Its results.
In former communications, addressed
TO tho General Assembly, on the subject
Of making laws to regulate tho traffic In
intoxicating drinks and to check and re-
strain the vice Of drunkenness, referred
to the danger Of arousing reaction in
popular sentiment, by tho enactment Of
laws so stringent that they could not BE-
carried into effect. Subsequent event,
have developed nothing to induce mo te
change the views which were then OK.
pressed.
Tho constitutional right Of tho Legis,
laturo to make laws for regulating the
traffic in Intoxicating drinks, and punish.
ing the vice Of drunkenness, has existed
sanctioned by judicial authority. from the
organization Of the government to tn,
present time. The making Of such laws
however, requires the exercise Of q grea
degroo Of prudence. II the laws be tot
weak, they will become worthless, ant