Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-01-12

hand of nature. The Governor has an
abiding confidence that the result will abun-
dainty prove the wisdom of the measure,
which, while it guaranteed the completion of
one Of the greatest improvements ever pro-
jected IN the Commonwealth, it at the same
time divorced the State from the Improbable
and demoralizing management of her rail
roads and canals. He thinks it would be
public calamity, if, by the happening of any
contingency, the Commonwealth should be
constrained to again become the owner. and
resume the management OF any portion of the
public Improvements.
Aboleshfaent Of Canal Department.
The Governor refers to the argument be-
fore the Supreme Court, to test the constitu-
tionality of this transfer of the public works,
and says, that since the act was sustained by
the unanimous judgment of the Court, there
can be no further need Of Board of Canal
Commissioners or 4 Canal Department, aud
recommends their abolition.
An Interesting Era.
The Governor thinks that in view of this
sale and the financial exhibit above, that the
State has reached most interesting era in its
history. Relieved from the entangling en-
barrassments OF an extensive system of in
ternal Improvements, the means of the State
are now ample for all legitimate purposes,
and her public debt is gradually but certainly
disappearing. From these and other causes,
governmental action has become greatly sim
plfed, and the nature Of the subjects of its
operation has changed in a degree 10 less
remarkable
The almost entire disposal of tie lands
which belonged to the State, has already dis
pcnsed with one Of the Departments created
for their care, and will, ultimately, render
the other unnecessary, except for preserving
the evidences of their transfer. The sale of
the public works has relieved the Executive
branch of the Government Of many of its
most responsible and perplexing duties, and
in effect, dispensed with one of its most formi-
dable and difficult departments In the same
proportion the action of the Legislature will
if the representatives of the people be true to
the interests reposed, and sternly refuse to
entangle the public with those numerous pvo-
jects and enterprises which are continually
seeking its alliance, be simplifed and econo-
mized, purified and strengthened.
Public Education
| The close and scrutiniziDg attention of Ike
| Legislature is invited to the annual report OF
the Superintendans of Public Schools, In
gliding the city of Philadelphia, there were
in the Public Schools of the State, during the
| year which terminated on the first Monday OF
last June, 62S, 20l pupils; these were in
structed during an average term Of 4 little
over five months, in II, ,2S1 schools, By
13 $50 teachers, at total cost OF S2,427
632 II. He thinks the Sine has arrived
when the full importance of public education
should be recognized and its due administra
ton made the duty of a fully organized aud
effective as well as a separate department il
the government. The Governor earnestly
recommends the organization Of department
in the room Of those for the care of mer'
matter whose agency has been or soon will b.
discontinued by the onward and upward pro
gress of the Commonwealth, who shall super
wise, first, the collection, arrangement, ant
practical deductions from population and in
dustrial statistics from natural defects, sucI
as deafness and dDmbness. blindness an
lunacy; from crime in its various forms an
developments; together with such contro
over the literary and scientific institutions i
the State, as shall bring their full conditio
into view:
But this alone is not sufficient. The Gov
ernor takes up the subject of the education o
teachers. and proves that on their prope
qualifications depends the life and success c
S our Common Schools Some startling fact
. are presented OF the 1888 teachers Q
our public SCHOOLS, exclusive ofthose n Phi
, adelphia, only 5,0S7 are reported as quail
!, fed for their important trust; while 5,3S
q are returned as mediums" or such as ar
only tolerated till better can be obtained an
S that 2 ,313 are stated to be unfit" Iu oih
+ er words of the 500. $50 children attendiD
e the schools out of Philadelphia, only abol
u $50, ,050 Oess than one-half) are under prol
r er instructions and training; while about "a
n 900 are receiving insufficient instructio
st from inferior teachers, 100, 900 are actual
e in charge of persons wholly unfit for the tasl
l. When, however, we look further into Il
1, special statistics of this branch of the syste
Of the material for Improvement is found to
lie of the most promising kind. Of the II, 80
teachers of our common schools, 10,SS9 a
under thirty years of age, and ,946 a
er natives of Pennsy lvania, aud large propc
,y ton than in most of the other States are pc
it manently devoted to the profession of to
u ching. To render them fit for the position
ry which they Systematically. one of
as most useful and honorable in the word-a
he to raise up constant supply of we'll qualih
d. successors, is the work to be done
nd OF all the modes for effecting the educatl
he Of teachers proposed Gov. Packer prefers Il
nv devised by the Act of May 20, 1858, eatit
N s'an Act to provide for the due training
ne teachers for the common schools OF the ota
he It places, in relation to the State, the
,nt cher on the same footing with the memb
.ge of professions as have been recognized
* public authority and he recommends
be State to afford, such aid, or at least hold
yill such inducements as shall enable this me
eat ure to be fairly tested?
m The passage of law guaranteeing the ?
.gh ment of moderate sum to Teachers oc'
m. in each Of the twelve districts created by
ats sc. Of 1857 would, he thinks, cause 9