The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-01-14
.rected and occupicd.

residence Oh TfoiesSoIS, Lecture naiIo
and Dormitories for students, to be built
of stone, four stories high, two hundred
aud thirty three feet in front, with wings;
and to cost 6fty-6se thousand dollars:
This building is already in progress, ihd
1t is hoped that part of it may be put
under the roof and be SO far completed
as to enable the Board to make arrange
inents to receive few students before tbs
close OF the current year" The Lcsis-
lature, at their last session, appropriated
6fty thousand dollars to this institution,
one half Of which has been paid; the re,
naming twenty FIVE teousand dollars to-
be paid on condition that an equal sum
be realized from other sources, within
three years from the passage of the scs
making the appropriation.
The objects and character Of this iDsti.
tution--its relation to agricultural knowl-
edge, and as the pioneer in the great
work of agriculture education, commend
1T to the generous patronage of the Legi,-
lature, and to the confidence and liberal
| ity Of the people of the Com lonwealth.
The report to be submitted by the Su-
permit, ndebt Of Common Schools will pre-
sent clear and satisfactory statement of
the general operation of tue system du-
ring the past year.
| The separation of the school from the
State Department, BY the act of the last
session, was a just tribute to the import
ance and value of our Common School
system. The great educational interests
of the State, the care aud guardianship of
the intellectual, social and moral i'm prove
ment of the youth OF the Copmoneesltb,
should occupy prominent and indspend-
eut position among the Departments Of
the Government Ii the care Of the trea-
sure of the Com " onwe aItb. the deyelops-
peDt Of her material wealth, and the sd-
vancemeDt of her polite l-econonieal in
terests, have received from the Govern
meDt the marked and distinctive reeogni-
ton of their Importance; how much more
should the mind of her youtb-with its
wopdrous actiVities-its constantly unfol-
ding energies, and it, iD6rite superiority
to the material and physical, claim a .,ill
higher consideration, and rec.ivs fron.
tho Representatives OF the people, a more
honored cosuition.
As an lndeFe ndeBt Department, great
er efficiency viii be given to the system
"a Gore direct and iEl4ediate supervis-
ion will be Seeured-the details of it's op-
GRAFTON more carefully ohsers edits de-
hclencieDeies dIsco9ered-itS errors COR
rected--the accomplishment of noble pur-
poses and objects rendered more certain
and the systeH itself saved from the dan
gerous and debssing influence of political
excite ment, and par,izan prejudice.
The County SuperinteDdency, tested By
experience, has realized the just expects
tions Of the friends Of the measure, sna
Hay now be regarded as permaDen, aud
Indispensable part Of the system. When
committed to competent neD, ii has ae-
compilshed noble work in promoting
the success and usefulness of our Con-
men Schools; and wherever the du:ies Of
the Once have been faithfully performed,
the character of the schools has been ele-
waited, their Dumber aDd the number of
scholars increased and the confidence and
encouragement Mt of the public secured. 10
suits have not been obtained; but on the
contrary, opposition has been provoked.
and the cause of common School eduea-
tion retarded. This Office should not be
committed to any but men thoroughly
qualified by educstion and experience for
the performance of its arduous end re-
-pobsible duties; and If the School Direc-'
tors OF any county. in disregard of their
obligations, from opposition either to the
system OF the ofice, select an incompe-
teut person for the place, the odium of
:be act. and of failure to secure the beue-
fits resulting from proper and intelligent
Of the Office, should rest
upon them, aud not upon the law author
izlng the appointment. The defects of
tho system when clearly established should
be promptly corrected; but change is not
always reform; aud innoysiiop, induced
by seitshness or prejudice, may end anger
Its pernaneDcy ana destroy its efficiency.
The Act of the 10th day of May, 1851,
providing for the due training of teschors
for the Common Schools Of the State, by
encouraging the establishments of Nor@ai
Schools within the Districts designated in
the law, has received the cordial spprs-
baton of all interested 10 the success of
our Common Schools. The passage Of
that act iHaugurated a new era in the his
tory OF Coumon School educ stion in
Pennsy ylvsnia. Ii is a movement in the
right direction; full encouragement aud
hope for the greater perfection and use
tulness of the system. Large and eDthu.
-iastic meetings of the friends of edusa-
ton have been held, in many OF the
to promote the establishment Of
Normal Schools, contemplated by the
act; and liberal sums Of money have been
subscribed to secure this desirable object
4 noble work has been eommenced; and.
sustained by individual enterprise aud
iberality by the State, aud
vindicsted by its own intrinsic merit it
must go on until State Normal Schools,
n number aud efficiency, equsi 10 the
supply Of well trained teachers shall be.