The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-01-12


dispensed with one of the Departments ere.
ated TOR their care, and will. ultimately. rem
der the other unnecessary, except for pre-
serving 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 aud perplex.
ing duties, and in effect, dispensed with one
of its most formidable and difficult depart
mens.
In the same proportion, the action of the
Legislature will, if the representatives of the
people be true to the interests reposed. and
slernly refuse to enlangle the public with
| those numerous projects and enterprises
which are continually seeking its alliance,
be simplified and economized, purified and
strengthened
And it is as remarkable as it is propitious,
that an era which has thus relieved the
State authorities OF burhens that consisted,
| either OF mere material interests, or the care
| OF local administration on,-commtting the one
TO the local sovereignty of the people, aud
the other to private or associated enterprise,
should also present for consideration and
promotion intellectual and moral claims of
peculiar importance.
1t is al this period in our history that the
system OF public education challenges the
attention of the most unohservant And
shall be much mistaken in the cautious but
steadtast character of the people of Penn
sylvania, if their Representatives do NOT
make it the first object of their solitude.
The annual report of the Superintendent
OF Common Schools, will lay before you the
present condition of the Common School
Sysem. and Of its operations during the past
year. Your close and scrutinizng aten-
tion is invited TO the details of that docu.
ment.
Including the city of Philadelphia, it will
be observed, that there were in the public
schools OF the State during the year which
terminated on the frs, Monday of last June,
62S, ,20l pupils; these were instructed dur.
months, in 1881 schools. by 1856 teach
ers at total cost of 81, 2,427 632 III.
Here is public interest, which, ,-wheth-
er we regard lis rarniica'i1ns into every
portion Of onr social fabric, its large cost.
the important powers over the present which
it wields, or its incaculable influence
upon the future, undoubtedly transcends
all others committed to the care of the secu-
lar authorities. This being the case, have
no hesitation in asserting that the time has
arrived when its full importance should be
recognized, and that its due administration
should be made the duty of fully organiz-
ed and effectives, as well as a separate de-
partment in the government.
But the mere care and promotion of our
system of Common Schools-importan
and extensive as it obviously is,-should
not be the sole object of such Department.
II it is true that the power 10 punish crime
includes also the right TO prevent it, by pro-
viding for the proper intellectual and moral
irainn !. of the people, it would seem to fol-
low that the department charged with the
latter momen,ous duty, should also be in
possession OF a | Il eNsources ard sHhiecls Of
information, calculated 10 shed light upon
the object of its action. Hence the coltec-
ton, arrangement, and practical deductions
from population and ndusir alstatistics; from
natural defects, such as deafness and dumb
ness, blindness, and lunacy; from crime in
its various forms and developments; togeth-
er with such control over all the literary and
scientific institutions in the State, as shall
bring their fnll condition into view-should
also belong 10 the same Department.
Therefore, most respectfully, but ear.
nestly, urge upon your favorable considera-
ton, at the present. propitious moment, the
organization OF such Department, in the
room of those for the care of mere matter
whose agency has been or soon will be dis
continued by the onward and upward pro-
gtess of the Commonwealth.
suitable Department of Public Instruc-
tion, will not, however, of itself, effect all
that is needed in this direction. The gem
eral results of the Common School system,
already cited, show the importance of its
nature, and the magnitude fits operations.
II we look, also into Its special statistics,
the conclusion will be equally clear that
certain Improvements in its working ma
chinery, are equally indispensable.
is needless 10 attempt TO prove the tru-
ism that the properly qualified teacher is
the life and success of the school, But the
facts are startling, that of the 12,S28 teach.
ers Of our public schools, exclusive of those,
in Philadelphia, only 5,0s7 are reported as
"qualiied" for their important trust while.
3s7 are returned as medium" or such as.
are only tolerated till better can be obtained:
and that 2,3l3 are stated TO be "unfitn In
other words: of the $780, $3.50 children attend
ing the schools out of Philadelphia, only
about 1000 (ess than one half are under
proper instruction and training; while about
$4,000 are receiving insufficient instruction
from inferior teachers; 100000 are actually
in charge fpersons wholly unfit for the
task
This presents the subject in light that
can not be shut out; and, though the great
and commendable efforts recently made by
the teachers of Pennsylvania, for their own
improvement, are fully recognized, il cam
not be concealed that there is work yet to
be done, in this relation, which would seem
10 be beyond their unaided power to accom-
plish.
When, however, we look further into the
special statistics of this branch of the sys-
tenn, the material for improvement is found
TO be OF the most promising kind. Of the
l2,S2S teachers OF our common schools,
l0,Ss9 are under thirty years of age, and
10 1916 are natives of Pennsylvania and
a larger proportion than in most of the
other States, are permanently devoted to
the profession of teaching To render these
fit for the position 10 which they aspire
undoubtedly one of the most useful and
honorable in the word-and to raise up a
constant supply of well qualified SUCCESSORS,
is the work 10 be done.
Various modes of effecting this object
have been suggested or tried; but, after ma
ture reflection, am led TO prefer that devil
sed by the Act as May 20, 1858, entitled
"An Act TO provide ior the due training of
teachers Tor the Common Schools of the
State" 1t places, in relation TO the State,
teacher OH the same footing with the mem.
bers of such of the other learned professions
ashave been recognized by public authority;
and it is TO be regretted that the prostration
of business and scarcity of money, that SO
soon followed the passa0e of the act had