Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-03-04
BEDFORD INQUIRER.

! Perhaps they will be interesting to many Of
your readers.
| do not wish to trouble you or any person
else, with an extended detail of statistics, and
therefore would merely remark that there are
one hundred aud seventy niue schools IN tie
county at this time. Two hundred and ,xeu-
ty-eight applicants were examined during the
term. Two hundred and eight certificates were
issued, many OF which were OF the lower grs des.
Some of these were employed from necessity
and not from choice. In soule districts better
teachers could not be obtained for tho wages
offered, and in others, better ones could not be
had at all. TIE standard of the teachers
qualifications was raised little higher than il
was last year, requiring little more to get as
good certificate. The schools throughout the
county, wherever / was able 10 visit them,
have been doing better this term than tue last,
with only two or three exceptions. The signs
OF general Improvements are beginning to be
seen in many places. Teachers institutes are
regularly held in most of the DISTRICTS for pur-
poses of mutual improvements; disposition to
build better sckool houses, and employ better
teachers, is showing itself, and 10 many places
there is a more general waking UP 20 the claims
aud responsibilities Of the subject;
Que Of The true principles OF political ccono-
my IS, that every State should educate its own
| children, or at least seu mat they are eduep-
ted. This Is nothing more than carrying out
the principle that calls for every government to
establish laws fer the protection CT life aud
property. and the Punishment Of cr;u:c. 1t is
nor difficult TO see that good school house:
well occupied, is worth much moro than auy
jail OF any code Of penal laws, as a preventive
OF vice aud wickedness. The legislation Of
our State has hitherto acknowledged this psiu-
ciple, aud has acted upon it, especially 80 dur
Ing the last twenty-five years. Hence eduoa-
tonal laeans, fully able to accomplish the pur-
poses for which they are designed, have been
literally provided. The question then forces
itself upon he mind: Are ,he common schools
OF our county, as they are now organized, ac-
comprising the purposes Of their institution?
| that is, do they give thorough elementary in
siTuctoa aud proper moral training to tho
children Of the people? am sorry to say that
tbs question cannot be answered fully and sat
isfacIorily IL the affirmative. It is true that
much, very much has been accomplished al
ready, aud the standa, q Of the schools is highs
er uUw than at any time in their previous bis
tory; aud, as general thing, they were better
tS1bA'3 AId hlDIb thtIbtEh WAC CIV
en- during the past session than ever before;
and, though more interest was taken in their
success, by directors and parents, han for.
merly, aud though it is acknowledges that the
inseres, is increasing, and the tendency is up
wards, yet all this does not bring US up to what
We ought 10 be. We are SO Gar back. TEere
is room for great improvements. Much must
be done before VIC can enjoy the full benefits Of
| our school system. It is said, by oomresen,
judges, TO be Of the best in th. world,syet
there are many persons who object to y in
,ss prosens form, aud would olject toit ialauy
other form. Those are not wanting who OBJ
ject even 10 the laws of God. Il is true, there
may be some things to object to in The present
system, but Whatever these objections may be,
they bear no comparison with the hinderances
to It's proper working, throws in the way BY
some parents, some directors and some teach
ers also. OF these will speok hereafter, and
Of each district IN particular. some are de-
serving of much praise.
SUPERINTENDENT
Bedford, Feb 1859. q