Litchfield enquirer., 1859-05-12

After deducting the cash on hand, and the sum of S3.67377, which is due for taxes, the indebtedness of the State will be s4S S62017, or $32 $40 s9 ess than year ago. The expenses have been S28, ,965. relating to our receipts and expenditures should be considered with due respect for that sentiment which insists upon strict economy on the one hand, and the fulfment of every just obligation on the other.
 The school fund has had the watchful care of our able Commissioner, and on it's capital of S2 O43,- 372Ol, has yielded revenue, during the year, of Sl42, ,5O3 42-or nearly seven per cent. There is now surplus of nearly S2S. S46 90, in the Commits sioners hands. The incomes from the investments in bank stocks has been S5 360 less than for the previous year. A dividend of Sl 30 has been made for the benefit of each child between tue ages of
 The number of children in the State, in January last, was l03 l0S, being increase of 16l7 for the year.
 Our system of education combines the guardian ship of the Stateswith voluntary efforts the part of the people. The power exercised by the State is not arbitrary but persuasive. The cause stands 80 high above party, and is under the control of the people, through their district and town organi cations, that it cannot be permanently used for sell fish purposes. The State has established Normal School for training teachers in the best methods of conducting common schools. It has appointed principal of that institution, and made it his du- ty to hold conventions of teachers, annually, in each county, for the purpose of nstructng in the best modes of governing and teaching;' and it is his further duty to exercise general supervision over the public schools of the State.
 The State has also provided fund, and offers it's benefits to the people, on condition that they em- ploy teachers of prescribed qualifications, and tain the schools at least six months in the year. To accept these provisions is not obligatory but when accepted, the school is open to every child If the public fund does not defray the expenses the deficit Is assessed upon the parents according to the at- tendance of each scholar, or by tax property, or by an assessment combined with tax.
 The policy of sustaining our schools by tax up- on property is gaining favor and may be regarded as nearly established.
 That growing interest has been excited in the cause of education is evident from the marked i'm provement in our school houses and their furniture rom the greater number of graded schools from the demand for teachers of higher qualifications ;
 rom the prosperous condition of the Normal School with It's increasing numbers from the fact that all but six of its graduates have been teachers in the common schools of this State, and that. during the past year, more than three quarters of our towns nave had the services of Normal pupils and, above a rom the fact that above 85 per cent of our emu merated children are registered as in attendance at our public schools.
 The true patriot and the sound political econo- mist Will ever regard the cultivation of our mental powers and moral faculties as of higher importance !nan tne developement of our material wealth, and u.scefnlng men are becoming more and more con- yinced that the value of the latter is increased or dminished just in proportion to the developments or tne former through our plans of education.
 m 1891, the General Assembly appointed eight trustees to establish the State Reform School for the instruction, employment and reformation of juvenile offenders" whenever the sum of ter thou sand dollars should be paid into the State Treasury, Dy inuivlduals for the same object The State has paid SS4 48 to establish and sustain the school Of this sum nearly fifty thousand are invested in the buildings. furniture, and fixtures. and in over one hundred and sixty acres of land.
 The institution has not accomplished all that its founders anticipated. They may have been toe sanguine of success and not have fully appreciated the obstacles in the way of enterprise of such g character This want of complete success may be attributed, in part. to the original plan. which quired large pecuniary means and in part to the management. The superiHtendence of the institu ton has recently been placed in the hands of gentleman whose heart is in the wovk, and who is dsyoting hishost energies for its success. The dc