Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-04-11
COMMON SCHOOLS.

WIN
March, 1867.
To tho COMMITTEES appointed to examine and pass
on the qualifications of those soishsng to te0c"
Common Schools: FIFTH ANNUAL LETTER OF IN
srRrcr1oNs AND SUGGESTIONS
GENTLEMEN: Since my last annual communication
to YOU several occurrences have happened OF great
importance to our system Of Common Schools.
These events l had anticipated with anxious '.i-
terest: and II affords me pleasure to be able now 10
relate them to you and to congratulate you and all
the friends of system upon these papaole signs
Of progress.
During the past year an effort was made to get to-
gether the leading teachers and the active friends OF
the cause of general education in North-Carolina;
and for the first time in the history of the State not
wtbstandng frequent attempts had been made, there
held large and highly respectable Educational
Convention, representing most of the Colleges and
mahy of the Academies of North Carolina.
Common Schools were also well represented; and,
in fact they were recognized in this enlightened and
patriotic assembly, as the leading educational inter-
est of the State-rst in honor, first in importance
and entitled to the anxious care of all classes OF the
people
Their history, condition, and prospects. were the
subject of discussion; and there full and Tree
interchange of opinion in regard to the means adop
ted for the improvement of teachers.
The law upon this subject was approved, and the
course of the Superintendent fully sustained
1t was thought, however, that the time had come
fof the initiation of other or additional means-ana
there is decided probability that legislative aid Will,
in time, be granted to carry out some feasiose pan
for the education and training of persons who wish
to devote themselves to the business OF teachins.
In the mean time it was deemed OF great imPor-
lance rigidly to enforce existing regulations; ana l
obtained from the last Legislature an act which l
have long desired, and which will enable us to have
active Examining Committees in all the Counties
According to the provisions Of this act, the several
Boards IF County Superintendents are allowed to
appropriate part of the School moneys of their res
pective Counties, to the pay of members OF the Ex
aiming Committees; and the Board is to hx the
sum, allowing, in each County. the same compensa-
allowed, per day. to each member should be at least
equal to the cost of boarding man and horse, per
day, at the hotels of the County town; would re-
commend this as the lowest sum, and OF course 1t
will vary in the different Counties, while each Coun-
ty can fix its own price, taking care to allow each
member of the Committee the same sum.
This law completes the machinery OF Examining
Committees and while it affords me sincere gratf-
cation to be able to announce this CT justice to
one of the most useful classes of our citizens can
not be disappointed in the hope that it will insure
the existence of Committees everywhere, and the
faithful performance of their duties.
have regarded you, gentlemen, as an lndlspens-
able part of our Common School System, constitu-
ting Of its most promising features; have uni
formly urged that you should be paid at least for
your expenses and finally have obtained an act
for that purpose of the most judicious and liberal
character. The Legislature does not undertake to
fix your compensation, and leaves that matter to
those from whom you hold your appointment and
under whose immediate observation you act.
Another most favorable sign Of our progress IS
the publication of quarterly Journal OF large size
for gratutous circulation among all the officers OF
our System. have long desired medium for the
periodical communication Of useful statistics and
~ l. IF thnS y,s-
tenn, and especially to District Committees, who con-
stitute the largest Glass; and who from the very ma
ture of things, are difficult to be reached with new
and important ideas.
They cannot be dispensed with; they are often
plain men, not accustomed to read works on educa-
ton and while they are honest, and DESTROYS OF act
ing properly they have not generally the facilities
which you have, for gaining knowledge of the gen.
eral progress of things and the nature OF their du-
ties and obligations to the public. They so
merous, and widely scattered, that they can only
be reached through the mails; and have been EN-
inently fortunate in being able to make an arrange
ment which now gives them an advantage not en-
joyed by Committees in any other State but one
have been enabled to make the advertisements
pay for four thousand copies of a large quarterly
magazine, devoted to Common School matters, and
copy of this magazine is sent out for the Commit
tee Of every District in the State and for every 9TH
er officer of the System.
q School Journal among all the Schools; in large
number of other States they have journals issued to
but for North Carolina reserved the
good fortune of having Sch. Of journal sent to all
the officers and schools, free of all cost to the State
and to the readers.
The fact shows in the most practical and decisive
manner the importance which our Common School
System has acquired in the eyes of business men
who advertise in their organ and the regular crcu
aton of this vehicle of plain information, facts sta
tistics and advice, among all classes in every
~, and in every neighborhood of Notwithstanding,
must, in time, produce very great results.
Thus you see, gentlemen that in the short COM
pass of one year, our Common School System has
been distinguished by succession Of events, each
in itself an unmistakabe indication of its vigorous
life and of its growing Importance
The Convention which assembled in Salisbury,
ormed permanent State Educational Association,
lnder the most promising auspices; and it recon-
nended that County and District Societies, affiliated
With the State Association, be formed by teachers
md the friends of the all North Carolina.
The next meeting of the State Association will per-
haps be in Warrenton, early in July, though the
lime and place have not yet been fully determined
on; and at this meeting Constitution and By Laws
WILL De adopted, and form Of organization recon-
mended to all the Counties
Ihave been thus full in recountng some Of the
occurrences Of the past year, that you may be the
more impressed with respect for that System of
which you are an essential part
The System, imperfect and of slow growth, is of
ncalculable Importance; and the tribunal which
on the merits of its teachers has in its hands
vast powers for good or evil.
have, heretofore, repeatedly and fully given my
views of the duties of Examining Committees; and
in the second number of the Common School Jour-
nal will be found digest of all these views. copy
IF this easily be Obtain ed; but that it may be
within reach of each of you for constant refer
ence three copies will be sent TO the Chairman of
zach County for the use of the Committee.
It is necessary now only to make brief explana-
lion Of regulation which has not always been I'M
lerstood, and to offer additional suggestion which
/ is now time to begin to enforce.
l. You will obs. rye that the certificates for teach
LII Il