The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-01-19

own feelings, were / to forbear copgratu-
lating you upon the result. 1t Is the
i first fruit Of law WHICH seems to be as
much in accordance with the cautious.
yet generous, character of our people, as
tits almirsbi y adaptedto 70 effect 5le great
end in view, l
4 aAllthat seems requisite tcteiVe fulI'cf-
] feet ana general success to the plan, is, at
this jurcture, to gnard it from nutilation,
or radical change IF the intelligent and
liberal minds that are now weighing the
project, and contemplating its extension
Ito ether parts of the State, De assured
fftfizze fris IS the settled policy, theircforts.
will be concentrated, their activity In
4creased and final, ssaecess he hastened.
Whereas. radical ior ilnpeftaat changes,
will destroy this growing, confidence
crush the hopeful efforts now being madAs
and postpone tqr3 years, If not totally de-
stroys all hope Of success In this essential
|depMtnente of public instruction. The
true course teil be to cherish the law,
and bring it into general operation, by
holding out the certainty Of Stare aid to
each institution established under ID, as
sotr4 as a, certain nr4nbeF, to be fixed by
law, shall have been legally recognized,
and are in full operation, The money Of
the State, appropriated in this manner,
will effect more beueit, in proportions to
the outlay, tnan in any other of the oper
ations of the system. The instruction of
the child, is duty; but the instruction
of the teacher, is economy as well as duty
1t will propabl y be advisable to make such
appropriations, payable only when the
schools a.e legally recognized and in full
operation. This course wdb have the
double effect of guarding against loss by
rthe State and of stimulating. into early
existence, sufficient number of inStitu-
tions to supply the exiseipg want in every
dnarter Of the State.
The period for the third election Of
County Superntendents is rapidly ap,
Troachlng, and tho pubic mind will nat
urally be turned to the results of the Of
! 6ce My own observation, as we'll as in
i formation from various and reliable sourc-
IS, leads TO the opinion, that this Office,
when flied bY Tie proper person, and It's
duties discharged in full compliance with
the design and spirit Of the law creating
it, has been of great advantage to the
schools Indeed, no caadid person can
deny the fact, apparent tc even slic ht OBJ
servation, that more Improvement has
been effected in the workings and results
of the system, since the creasons of the
Office of County Superintendent, than in
any previous period cf even double dara-
| tion. 1t is true, that when exercised by
incompetent officers, or crippled by insaf-
dcient pcnsation, little, if any, advan-
| tage has accrued But this is no argu-
| ment against the Office itself; and it is to
be hoped that the directors of counties
thus heretofore deprived of the benefits
of this agency, will, at the next election,
acting under the teachings Of experience
at home, and the light Of success from
ether parts, correct this evil and realize
the full benefits Of this provision of the
tItY.
The increasing ease and soGndness of
our financial condition, WILL, at 70 remote
period, justify an addition to che common
ischooI appropriation. The general policy
Of the State has been that each district
shall raise within itself the main support
/ of It's own schools; but, an annual dona-
ton, distributablc amongst them all, in
proportion TO population, has also been
part Of that policy. The object Of this
State grant seems to betwo.f fold: First---it
isa means Of securing regularity in the
proceedings and reports of thc several dis
trio S 50 that the Department Of Common
Schools shall have the requisite informa-
ton for she due discharge Of its funG-
tions: and seccnd-lt lightens, in some
degree, the burden Of local taxation, to
the relief Of the poorer and more sparsely
peoplcd districts. An increase Of The au-
nuaI appropriation would cnhaDce both
these objects, aad, whenever the finances
Of the government will Justify it, com
meuds itself to the favorable considera-
tion of the Legislature
Theaid which the Legislature has hith-
erto extended to the establishment of the
Farmers High School Of Pennsylvania,
strongly cvinccs their high appreciatio1
of the advantages which it is anticipated
will grow out of that institution. WhEt
it must be admitted that knowledge is as
essential 70 she art Of farming, as it is to
all the other empioyments of life, We can
not but feel deeply interested, that com
nunity so peculiarly agricultural as we
are, should have all the advantages of an
education which combines in itself, as
well the knowledge of the practical art of
agriculture, as scientific requirements in
sll those branches Of learning which are
! especially applicable to its profitable pur-