The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-03-04
cOMMUNic cATiON.
OUR COMMON SCHOOLS.
MEssRs EpiTcRs

L am now nedrIy
through visiting the schools for the present
term. | desire TO say few things in reg ard
TO them. II you give me little room il your
paper, | will furnish few short articles on
the subject. Perhaps they will be Interesting
10 many of your readers.
do not wish TO trouble you nor any per-
son else, with an extended detail OF statistics,
and therefore would merely remark that there
are one hundred and seventy nine schools in
the county at this time. Two hundred and
twenty eight applicants were examined during
the term. Two hundred and eight certificates
were issued many OF which were of the
lower grades. Some Of these were employed
from necessity and not from choice. In some
districts better teachers could not be obtained
for the wages offered, and in others, better ones
could not be had at all. The standard Of the
teachers qualifications was raised little higher
than ii was last year, requiring little more to
get as good certificate. fhc schools, through
out the county, wherever | was able TO visit
them, have been doing brtter this term than
the last, with only two or three exceptIops.4-
The signs OF general Improvement are begin
ming 10 be seen in many places. Teachers
institutes are regularly held in most Of the
a disposition TO build better school houses and
employ better teachers, is showing itself, and
in many places there more general waking
up 10 the claims and responsibilities OF the sub
iect.
One OF the true principles Of political econo-
my is, that every state should educate its own
children, or at least see that they are educated.
This is nothing more than carrying out the
principle that calls for every government to
establish laws for the protection of life and
property and the punishment Of crime. 1t is
not difficult TO see that good school house,
well occupied, is worth much more than any
Jail or any code of penal laws, as preventive
ot vice and wckedneSs. The legislation of
our State has hitherto acknowledged this pIinci-
pie and has acted upon it, especially so during
the last twenty five years. Hence Educational
means fully able to accomplish the purposes for
which they are designed, have been literally
provided. The question then forces itself
upon the mind Are the Common Schools Of
our county, as they are now organized,
accomplishing the purposes of their institution (!
tha is, do they give thorough elementary IN
structon and proper moral training TO the chill
dren OF the people 2 ! am sorry TO say that
this question cannot be answered fully and
sltisiaco ly IN the alHrmati e 1t is true that
much, very much has been accomplished and
the standard Of the schools is higher now than
at any time in their previous history and as
general thing, they were better taught. and
more thorough instruction was given during
the past session than ever before, and, though
more interest was taken in their success by
Girec ors and parents than formerly and,
though il is Acknowledged that the interest Is
and The tendency is upwards; yet
all this does not bring us up to what We ought
TO be. We are so far back There is room for
great improvements. Much must be done be-
fore we can enjoy the full benefit Of our School
system. 1t is said, by competent judges, TO be
one of the best in the world yet there are
many persons who o6lrct TO it in its present
form and would object TO it in any other
form. Those are not wanting who object even
to the laws Of God. 1t is true, there may BE-
something 10 object to in our present system,
but whatever these objections may br, they
bear no comparison with the hindranceS to its
proper working, thrown in The way bv some
parents, some directors and some teachers also.
OF these will speak hereafter, and of each DIS
trio; in particular, as some are deserving Of
much praise.
cJ-DCDINTINN