The Hillsborough recorder., 1860-05-23
SEVENTH ANNUAL LETTER

TO The Committee appointed TO Examine and
Pass on the Qualifications Of those wishing
10 Teach Common Schools:
GENTLEMEN: official position is be-
coming one of the most important in North
Carolina.
That yoe may understand the force Of this
assertion aud appreciate the responsibilities
OF your situation, would urge you to keep
IN mind the following facts there are in the
State at least two hundred and twenty five
thousand white children between the ages of
SIX and twenty-one.
VI these, one hundred and fifty thousand,
at the lowest estimate, are receiving instruc-
ton in the Common Schools and we may
safely calculate that one hundred and seven
ty-hye thousand, or seven ninths Of the ris-
ing generations will, under God, owe more
or less OF their mental and moral character
to the Common School System.
Upon this system is annually expended
nearly three hundred thousand dollars, nine
ty-fse per cent. of which is paid for teach
ing; and it employs at least twenty five
hundred teachers, all of whom come annu-
ally before you, and are, to a great extent.
dependent on you for their position and in
tuenee.
You have right, and it is your duty
critically to examine into the moral and
mental qualifications Of this whole body of
teachers; and while none can be employed
at the public expense without an endorse
ment Of their character and fitness by you.
the grade Of each is fixed by you, and all
are required to present themselves before
YOU every year for examination and approval.
This il simple statement of some Of the facts
Of your situation and surely il is well calcu-
lated to impress you with sense of heavy
responsibility to God and your country.
Whoever may enjoy the honers, and fill
the high places Of apparent power in that
country, its future destiny, under Proyi>
dence, is to great extent in your hands;
and il our system continues to revolye in
its present orbit, the rooms where you con-
duct your examinations may be considered
as the true halls OF legislation, the cabinets
where the policy Of the country is shaped
for ages to come.
The principles that are TO govern the
world do not always proceed from its high
places; and men who are unknown and un
observed are often sowing, in the fallows of
time. .he seeds which are to ripen into har-
You are certainly thus sowing; and ne
class 1t men in the State have more need of
the help and guidance of Him who is the
Author and Giyer Of every good gift.
The first and most essential qualification
of every good Examining Committee is
true sense of its obligations, and an humble
and sincere desire TO be guided, in their
discharge, by the Spirit of God.
IL should be looked to as the Architect
AMI Builder Of the House we would rear,
aud We should regard ourselves as UNDER
laborers, worsgrs together with Him. The
ult!er become the more | am satisfied that
the man deceives himself who supposes that
he can be a patriot and philanihropist. in
! tie highest sense oil the terms, and vet be a
disbelieyer in the one living and true God,
Of whom, and from whom, aud to whom are
all things.
For, not to refer to other essential consid-
cratiUns. it is necessary to the character OF
such a one to believe in the eternity and in
sineibility of Truth; and in world like
ours il i, impossible TO have such faith with
nut belief in an eternal, almighty. space.
peryadipg and perfectly holy Deity, from
whom al truth and right proceed. and who
Viii maintain them against all apparent
ODDS.
Sath confidence il eminentlv becoming
IN those Who labor in the positions which
soa anI | occupy; aud with such views we
can encourage ourselves under every Diff
Guilty, and be always enabled to know that
whatever may be present appearances and
circnmstanees, ii We have true zeal for the
lpiipf uI tod. our work shall not be in vain.
I LIT o., lhen dedicate the Great House
nh.rh we are building to His glory--let US
ruk to Him as the Chief Architect aud seek
t.i. guidance in our labors and Ills favor as
our reward. aud We have nothing to fear.
We can do all this. feeling a personal de.
prnlcnce on God. and asking Ills direction
anI blessing On all our official lahois. without
acting in such a way as to cause or countes
nance seciariau agitation in the schools and
a. FIR ~ our direct religious influence in
these IL concerned, il must be exerted by ex
ample. by prccept and admunition. and by
excluding immoral aud infdel teachers from
them.
You cannot be too wa,chfal in this respect;
and would again. kindly, but earnestly,
admunish YOU firmly to refuse certificates TO
all persons Who tlu not furnish satisfactory
evidences of good moral character.
Iii yonr right aud your duty rigidly to
enforce this rule without exceptions, for any
cause.
have gi,en NV views SO fally, ia former
communications. with regard to the mental
qualifications Uf teachers, that Il would be
necessary TO add but lttle now but for the
fact that the examining committee has prob
ably been charged il a number Of counties.
F,rr this reason. | here repeat 4 portion Of
nv last Annual Letter. which deem worthy
ot your consideration now; and will briefly
add a few other suggestions suited to eur
present circumstances
j. The wants VI the public and the cUndi.
ton of The system Of schools are now tOls.
rably well understood aud appreciated; aud