Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-02-10
Public Schools in Pennsylvania.
HARRIsHUGG, Jan. 81.

UtiL VI to.uOH CcuOO!Sg Was litsGu'-u
to the Legislature to-day. Since the pub
lie schools Of the State have been uud5.
the direction Of separate Department, the
reports Of the Superintendent are looked to
with annually Increasing interest. The
present one Las been prepared with great
care, and exhibits fully the condition Of
the Common Schools. TIE statistics show
the magnitude Of our System. As Ptila-
delpLia is under a separate local govern
ment, the statement does not include all
its statistics. The number Of schools ID
the State, outside Of Phi!alelphia, Is
ll,495. The average length Of time du-
ring which the schools have been KEEP,
open during tie year, IS reported al five
months and line days The whole nun
Der of teachers in the State, inclaling
Philadelphia, is ll.07I, Of which S,43I
are males, and ; &c ssmaies. The aver
age monthly salary Of male teachers is
32i Sc, and Of female teachers CIT 20.
Whole number Of pupils Ia tae common
schools, ezc!uiiag ph.lade'pLia, 10 .251;
including Philadelphia, the .5;a! is G34,,
65l. Amount ezpenl-l flr tuition, fue!
and contingencies, exclusive ot HL.laiei
phia, was $l.jI,S90; including PLila-
deipLia, the sum expended was S2,0l7,-
COL. ADJ to this the amount expended
for purchasing ground, building school
houses, e., tie t.ial expenses during the
year amounted to 8. 5-9.o75.
This appears to be very large sum,
yet in the great aj1rity of cases the com
peasatioa Of teachers Is entirely inadequate
to the trying fatiguing laJ1rs they are
compelled to perform. During the past
year, notwithstanding the pressure OF the
times, the average pay Of teachers has
slightly increased.
The advances made in our common
school system, are very apparent, when the
facts set forth in this report are contrast
.d with the cou.ii;ion Of the SCHOOLS ten
years ago, before the ad p.i5n Of the Cyun-
y School SuperiuteLdeucy, and the en-
argcment of the Central Department
Now, there is something Ike government
md uniformity. The standard Of teachers
las been raised. Their average compcu-
alton is greater. The time Of keeping
choo.s open in c5un,ry districts, Is grail (
'llly eularging. Normal Schools have I
yeeu established Teachers Institutes are /
n operation, to excite emulation and pro-
luce Improvement; and there Is 4 central
.ower, directing the system, and giving it
nifty and efficiency.
The term of the present Superintendent
xpires during this session. lie has Ia
ored faithfully aud intelligontIy to per
ect system of school government which
ad to encounter many difficulties aad OF
ections, and j; is hoped that his successor
lay be equally f4iihfu! and compe;ent.-
hHld. phia La.yer.
ENTERTAINMENTS REPORT.
We are iudeb;c4 10 uENRY {. HICKoK.
%, State Superintendent of Common
chco!s, for copy Of his annual report for
$50. Il is document of great value,
Die, clear, and full, from the c0mmeuce-
eat Of the report to the last page l74)
interesting matter. We think that We
e within the limits Of truth when We say
lat it is by far the most able and inter /,
ting report that has been issued by the
epartment-in these respects exceeding
y Of Nh Hickok's former reports as
ell as those of his predecessors. There is q
lly one thing in it-bcsides The reported
'gligence of Directors in several districts
which we regret to see; and that is the
9sipg paragraph, in which the Superin- I
ndeat a!!udes to lis separation from the Il
ice at the close of the school year, in L
lne next. No man has laborei more d
ly, earnestly, aud indefatigably Cor the
ccess Of the Common School system o
an HENRY q. HICKoK-no man under IL
.nds it SO thoroughly in al! its machine
and workings-no man has done halt F
much to place it on its Presen, solid to
none, in our opinion, II
I'D DO as much to advance its interests h.
the future. 1t is therefore to be deep Is
regretted that any reason should exist ee
his separation from the Department, i
a moment hen his experience, indus lr
3, and ability are more required than ii
n before. We owe this tribute to Mr. II
ckok, who, besides being a most anna Il
and exemplary gentleman, has been tt
faithful and efficient officer. If our
h could prevail, he would remain IN
ere he is, for at least another term, to of
ye the commonwealth in advancing her d,
ools to a higher degree of excellence el
IN they have yet attaiaed.-Huris5pry OF
atiad. IN
The difficulties in the Cabinet at Wash - -
ton were fist, with Postmaster General o,
1T, who refuses to hold Office unless lib Ia
Y is given him to remove Isaac Cook pi
II ~