Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-02-17
UNION 60. PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
County Superintendent's Report.


Changes or reforms are brought about IN man
utacturins or agricultural pursuits. As Ion;
as there IS no distinction made IN the price o
dllierent qualities Of goods or produce in ou
market We must not look for a very superior
article, Inasmuch as the production of a goot
or superior article Is accompanied with more
expense than the production of an inferior ar
ucie. Hence, the merchant who paid as
much for bushel of wheat. that was mlxeC
with rye-chop and cookie, as he paid for a
bushel of pure wheat, encouraged wrong
because he either paid too much for the one
or too little fer the other.
"Nelshbor, why don't you clean your wheat
or get some improved seed !" Whats the
use | can RAISE more of that stuff TO the
acre than you can do. Then what's the uset
| This was the case with our grain market, mol
many years ago. But since the farmer is paid
for his produce according 10 It's quality; since
our State and County Agricultural Societies
and Associations offer premiums for the best
article OF produce, the most improved specI-
men of live stock &c, we fad great change
10 have taken place in agricultural affairs.
So IN almost every other industrial pursuit.
This reform was accomplished by system
of inspection, which is designed 10 reward
every one according 10 the true value oi has
production.
Prior 10 the enactment Of the school law of
1854, the teachers were either not examined
at all, or examined by persons who knew but
Little of their duties or responsibilities. The
nature Of the questions were often neither
calculated 10 instruct the teacher, ascertain
ms mental capacity, nor 10 induce HIM 10 seek
for higher attainments IN the art al teaching.
was once examined by board OF direc-
tors TO whom was an almost entire stranger,
and had no letter OF recommendation 10 them:
but after asking me a few questions As 10
where | was from, what had been at, &c,
they gave me a paper, certifying that | was
"a man OF good mora! character, and competent
10 teach a schooi,' (Some, no doubt, by this
means first discovered that they had a moral
character, aud were Competent school mas
tersA Others were examined at the same
time, and received the same sereotyped edi-
ton of certificate, differing from mine only in
the name. discovered that mental capacity
or skill in teaching, neither altered the char
acier of the certificate, nor the teachers CON-
pensation. Thus, the efficient and inefficient
were placed side by side: the one locking 10
the future for brighter days, when his pupils
should be able TO appreciate his tolls, and re-
ward the same by proving useful 10 society,
true 10 their country, and grateful 10 their
Creator. The other. looking 10 the future on
ly for his dollar, and longing to be liberated
from his prison acknowledging his unItnesS
for the duties he assumed, not by his works,
but by words. But If you asked him why he
did not qualify himself for the duties Of
teacher, he told you IL would not pay to spend
time and money for an education or for prep- |
ara,ions for duiy which directors would pay
him 10 perform WithOut any preparation on ms I
part; that he could get certificate readi- !
ly as he who had spent wears IN preparing /
himself for the work. On ne other hand, the |
more efficient teacher, who, al first, with zeal, |
entered upon the discharge of his duties, find |
ing his labor unappreciaied, and himself /
weighed in the balance with him who was ig- 1
norant Of the first principles Of those branch /
es he pretended to teach, bee anne discouraged |
and olen sunk. instead Of rising, IN his PRO |
ieSSion. The evil resulting from this system /
was seen and felt by many, no, only IN this /
county, but throughout the state, and no doubt .
led TO the enactment of the law Of 1851.
When this act was first announced, many /
Of The friends of education looked upon IT as
calculated To bring about not a speedy but uI- /
,imately the G,sT.d change.
The County Superintendent meanwhile en-
tered upon the discharge Of hrs duies. unac-
throughout the county. stranger 10 the
majority Of teachers, and obliged 10 tread IN
an unbeaten path. should We be more surpri-
sei if he made some mistakes than if he mad,
pons ? In due time, his first duly was done.
The TEACHERS had passed the examination, and
we're found IN their respective school houses.
But were they any better than they had been
before the examination To this question
gou received from the majority OF our people.
an emphatic No, For, as We are supposed
10 live IN a fast age, IL was no doubt expected
by many that the County Superintendent
should be able, BY a single examination, 10
the Indifferent and inefficient
school master, and place him before "Young
a finished scholar and a master Of
MS profession. But this power not having
been conferred upon him, he was doomed 10
isappuint the expectations of those, who,
ike the ancient Jews, looked for a miraculous
not from bondage, but from hea-
W taxes or indifferent schools. This was
some ewha, the condition in which found my
held of labor. Four years have elapsed, and
srll the ehange that some have looked for is
not yet effected to their satisfaction; but
changes are not always improvements, except
when we change poor school houses into those
suited for the purpose-ineflic ient,f for efficient
eachers-boards of directors that go in for
short sessions and cheap masters, regardless
If their qualifications or character, for those
who see that economy in education consists
n competent instructors, good school houses,
seats and desks, and longer terms.
In order to induce teachers TO improve
themselves, the standard Of qualification was
alsed, every year, according to the number
# more efficien, applicants that were expec-
ed 10 apply for schools. But not until last
all did we find a sufficient number Of appll-
ants at the public examinations to supply the
wants of our schools.
Only four applied for private examinations,
md two of them were rejected because they
lad no written requests from the directors.
was obliged TO annul one certificate for
dishonesty in the holder. He received No.
certificate in an adjoining county; but, on
crossing the river, found such figures could
lot secure employment; so he changed three
3s TO three Is, and got school on condition
hat would ndorSe his certificate. he taught
wo months, and left for parts unknown, with
put either certificate or money.
The first year, was obliged to grant GER
ihcaies varying from No. l to No. S, in order
% keep all the schools open. Last fall,
granted but three grades, besides two county
certificates. All who could not reach Nos. l,
. or 3. were rejected. This measure either
lends the incompetent teacher 10 school as a
student, or ou: OF the schoo! as teacher.
School Direci0rs.-Poilics or opposition to
rec schools is not test of a mans qualihca-